So the trade deadline “month” came and went, with about 40 trades being completed in the last 30 days. Rather than break down each trade individually, I will go team by team to outline whether they are better off or not heading down the stretch. First up, the Eastern Conference, where big names came in, while some teams that probably could have used an upgrade did nothing.
Two of the biggest trade deadline acquisistions are now facing off on the same team – The Penguins. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
IN – Brenden Morrow, Jarome Iginla, Douglas Murray, Jussi Jokinen
OUT – Joe Morrow
OVERALL– The Penguins already had arguably the two best players on the planet, and the additions add a lot of depth and leadership. The biggest question marks still lie between the pipes, where Marc-Andre Fleury is inconsistent at best, and in terms of the health of Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang
WINNER/LOSER? – Winner
MONTREAL CANADIENS
IN – Davis Drewiske, Jeff Halpern
OUT – none
OVERALL – The Habs made a couple of depth additions, as well as dealing Erik Cole for Michael Ryder just before the trade window. Halpern was a waiver claim from the Rangers who gives the Habs some grit and faceoff ability that might have been lacking before.
WINNER/LOSER? – Winner
WINNIPEG JETS
IN – none
OUT – none
OVERALL – A team that was on the slide heading into the trade deadline, the Jets stood pat and did nothing to change their fate. The Jets could slide right out of the playoffs very quickly.
WINNER/LOSER? – Loser
BOSTON BRUINS
IN – Jaromir Jagr, Kaspars Daugavins, Wade Redden
OUT – Lane MacDermid
OVERALL – While they lost out on Morrow and Iginla, the addition of Jagr solidifies the top 6 and will help the Bruins power play. Daugavins brings penalty killing ability that the Bruins lost with the injury to Chris Kelly. Redden gets a chance on a contender, but is a depth move.
WINNER/LOSER? – Both. They improved for the now, but didn’t get the players they wanted.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
IN – Ryan O’Byrne
OUT – David Steckel, Mike Brown
OVERALL – They did not address the goaltending needs that they admittedly wanted to. While losing Steckel and Brown hurts their depth, they are easily replaced from within. O’Byrne partnered with Liles in Colorado, but isn’t much of an upgrade, if at all, on what they already had.
WINNER/LOSER? – Loser. Not for who they got, but for who they didn’t.
OTTAWA SENATORS
IN – Matt Kassian, Cory Conacher
OUT – Ben Bishop, Kaspars Daugavins
OVERALL – The Senators have addressed two needs – toughness and scoring – at the expense of dealing an expendable asset. As long as Anderson can stay healthy, the goaltending is sound and Conacher brings a potential top 6 forward and instantly becomes the clubs top scorer.
WINNER/LOSER? – Winner
NEW JERSEY DEVILS
IN – Matt D’Agostini, Steve Sullivan
OUT – none
OVERALL – Sullivan provides a veteran presence and can play a number of different roles. D’Agostini is a solid player who won’t hurt the club at all.
WINNER/LOSER? – Winner
NEW YORK RANGERS
IN – Ryane Clowe, Derick Brassard, Derek Dorsett, John Moore
OUT – Marian Gaborik, Jeff Halpern
OVERALL – For whatever reason, Gaborik did not shine in the Big Apple, and needed to get shipped out. The return was bountiful, and they basically stole Clowe, who will thrive with the change of scenery.
WINNER/LOSER? – Winner
NEW YORK ISLANDERS
IN – none
OUT – none
OVERALL – Another team that held firm, but probably should have done something to make a push, especially with the teams around them improving. The Islanders have made the playoffs in 5 years, and this was a good opportunity to send a message.
WINNER/LOSER? – Loser
WASHINGTON CAPITALS
IN – Martin Erat, Michael Latta
OUT – Filip Forsberg
OVERALL – The hard-charging Capitals are moving in on the playoffs and they resisted the urge to deal pending UFA Mike Ribeiro and brought in Erat, who could thrive in the Caps system. Giving up a solid prospect in Forsberg will hurt down the line, but didn’t affect the current roster.
WINNER/LOSER? – Winner
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
IN – Steve Mason, Adam Hall
OUT – Michael Leighton
OVERALL – Bringing in a more expensive backup goalie (who was backing up a goalie the Flyers shipped away in the summer) and adding a depth forward off waiver don’t exactly solve the woes of the Flyers, but injuries and cap space have tied the Flyers’ hands.
WINNER/LOSER? – Loser
CAROLINA HURRICANES
IN – Marc-Andre Bergeron
OUT – Jussi Jokinen, Adam Hall
OVERALL – The Joni Pitkanen injury necessitated the acquisition of Bergeron to keep the Carolina D afloat. Having to keep some of Jokinen’s salary hurts.
WINNER/LOSER? – Loser
BUFFALO SABRES
IN – prospects Matt Hackett and Johan Larsson
OUT – T.J. Brennan, Robyn Regehr, Jason Pominville, Jordan Leopold
OVERALL – The expected fire-sale didn’t materialize, and the Sabres kind of went just half-way. They got a great return for Pominville from the Wild that will help set up the rebuild.
WINNER/LOSER? – Loser for now, but gained lots of assets for the future
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
IN – Ben Bishop, Adam Hall
OUT – Cory Conacher, Marc-Andre Bergeron, Adam Hall
OVERALL – The Lightning now have two of the tallest goaltenders in the league, in Bishop and Anders Lindback. Whether either one of them becomes a true #1 goalie remains to be seen, and they have given up a solid rookie point producer. They traded Bergeron for Hall, and then promplty lost Hall on waivers the next day.
WINNER/LOSER? – Loser at the moment, but if Bishop reaches potential, then they win.
FLORIDA PANTHERS
IN – T.J. Brennan
OUT – Jerred Smithson
OVERALL – The Panthers have issues, and they didn’t do much to address them for now (which didn’t really matter) or for the future. Their biggest addition will be a high draft pick this summer, which should be top 3 minimum.
WINNER/LOSER? – Loser
So, the big winners were the Rangers and Penguins who improved greatly. The Jets and the Islanders did nothing and that could result in wrecking a promising season by sliding out of the playoff race.