Trade Deadline ‘Sizzles’ And ‘Fizzles’ So Far

Mar 5, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers right wing

(26) warms up before taking on the Toronto Maple Leafs at Madison Square Garden. St. Louis was traded from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

There were a number of big name players that moved locations at or just prior to the March 5th trade deadline.  Now, two weeks later, some have made a positive impact while others have fizzled.  Here is a look at 15 of the bigger names that moved and what they have done so far in the limited action they have seen with their new clubs.

Some have been great (the Sizzle), others have been disappointing (the Fizzle) while the jury is still out on others, who have neither exceeded nor disappointed to a great extent (the Neutral)

FIZZLE:   Martin St. Louis, NEW YORK RANGERS

Mar 13, 2014; Saint Paul, MN, USA; New York Rangers forward Martin St. Louis (26) looks to pass during the first period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

St. Louis was acquired not only for captain and heart and soul of the Rangers Callahan, but also a 1st and 2nd round draft pick. I stated at the time it was a terrible deal for the Rangers, and after 7 games played, St. Louis has but 2 assists and the Rangers have gone 3-3-1 and moved from a tie for the final playoff spot to…a tie for the final playoff spot.

STATS:  7GP, 0G, 2A, -1, 19 SOG

SIZZLE:   Ryan Callahan, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Mar 13, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing

(24) reacts after he made a shot on goal and missed against the Florida Panthers during the second period at Tampa Bay Times Forum. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The other half of the St. Louis deal has worked out pretty well for the Bolts.  Callahan has contributed some grit as well as some points in his 5 game stint with the Lightning.  And even if the player cannot come to terms with Tampa for next season, the Lightning still have a first round pick and a second round pick that came along with him.

The Lightning have gone 2-3-0 since the trade.

STATS:  6GP, 1G, 2A, 3 PTS, +3, 16 SOG

SIZZLE:  Ryan Miller, ST. LOUIS BLUES

Mar 13, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Edmonton Oilers right wing

(64) takes a shot against the defense of St. Louis Blues goalie

(39) during the first period at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

The biggest current name of the bunch of goalies that moved at the deadline, Miller has been rejuvenated in St. Louis.  It doesn’t hurt that the team was in third place overall at the time of the trade.  Since the deal the Blues have gone 7-0-1 and vaulted into first place overall.

STATS:  7GP, 6W, 0L, 1 OTL, 1,70 GAA, .932 SP

SIZZLE  Michal Neuvirth, BUFFALO SABRES

Mar 13, 2014; Raleigh, NC, USA; Buffalo Sabres goalie

(34) makes glove save during the 2nd period against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

The Sabres ended up with Neuvirth after they dealt Miller for Halak and then flipped Halak to Washington.  The brutal Sabres in front of him hasn’t allowed for much in terms of wins, but his personal stats have been stellar and Buffalo might have a new #1 for the future.

STATS:  2 GP, 98 Shots against, 2.56 GAA, .949 SP, 0-2-0 record.

FIZZLE – Thomas Vanek, MONTREAL CANADIENS

March 6, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Montreal Canadiens left wing

(20) in action against the Phoenix Coyotes during the third period at Jobing.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Vanek hasn’t been the same player since his Olympic controversy, and that includes his post-trade performance for the Canadiens.  The Habs have gone 2-3-0 since bringing Vanek in, and he hasn’t contributed a whole lot offensively.

STATS:  5 GP. 0G, 1A, +1, 20 SOG

SIZZLE – Ales Hemsky, OTTAWA SENATORS

Mar 15, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Ottawa Senators right wing

(83) and Montreal Canadiens center

(51) battle for the puck during the second period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

While it was too little, too late for the Senators and they have bigger issues to deal with, Hemsky has been personally revitalized in Ottawa after becoming stagnant in Edmonton.  Hemsky has produced more offense than any player dealt at the deadline despite the Senators muddling along with a 2-2-1 record in the 5 games since acquiring him.

STATS: 5 GP, 1G, 6A, 7 pts, +1

NEUTRAL  – Andrej Meszaros, BOSTON BRUINS

Mar 9, 2014; Sunrise, FL, USA; Boston Bruins center

(34) celebrates his goal with defenseman

(41) and right wing

(18) as Florida Panthers center

(67) skates past in the second period at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

Meszaros was brought into a solid Bruins group that was suffering from some long term injuries.  He has been dressed for 3 of the Bruins’ 6 games so hasn’t been overly productive.  He has a goal and a +3 rating while the Bruins have been scorching hot going 6-0-0.

STATS:  3GP, 1G, 0A, 1 PT, +3

NEUTRAL – Matt Moulson, MINNESOTA WILD

Mar 9, 2014; Saint Paul, MN, USA; St. Louis Blues goalie

(1) makes a save on a shot by Minnesota Wild forward

(26) in the third period at Xcel Energy Center. The St. Louis Blues defeated the Minnesota Wild in a 3-2 shoot out. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports

The Wild brought in Moulson to be a goal scorer for a team that is lacking true finish.  In 5 games he has lit the lamp just once, while the Wild have gone 1-1-3 and sit in the first wild card spot.

STATS:  5 GP, 1G, 1A, 2 PTS, even +/- rating, 16 SOG

NEUTRAL- Marian Gaborik, Los Angeles Kings

Mar 13, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings right wing

(12) celebrates scoring a goal with teammates during the first period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Gaborik was one of the most intriguing pickups, because of the different style of play between him and the Kings.  Gaborik has displaced Dustin Brown from the Kings top line and has points in just 1 of the 5 games he has played.

The Kings have gone 3-2-0 in his short stint so far.

STATS:  5GP, 1G, 1A, 2 PTS, -1, 17 SOG

SIZZLE – Roberto Luongo, FLORIDA PANTHERS

Mar 16, 2014; Sunrise, FL, USA; Vancouver Canucks left wing Alex Burrows (14) scores a goal against Florida Panthers goalie

(1) in the third period at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

Luongo finally got his wish, and got dealt out of Vancouver.  While the Canucks have been in disarray since the deal, Luongo has added stability in the net to a franchise that is growing up in front of him. They are not going to make the playoffs this year, but Luongo can cover up for a lot of mistakes.

STATS:  2-2-1 record, 2.57 GAA, .916 SP

SIZZLE – Andrew MacDonald, PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

Mar 8, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing

(19) is hit by Philadelphia Flyers defenseman

(47) at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Flyers 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Flyers needed help on the blue line, and they got it in the defensive minded MacDonald. He won’t show up on the stats sheet very often, but he is a minute muncher who can help insulate the offensive minded guys like Kimmo Timonen and Mark Streit as well as make the life of the Flyers goalies easier

STATS:  5 GP, 0G, 1A, 1PT, -1 rating, 11 hits, 11 blocked shots

NEUTRAL – Martin Erat, PHOENIX COYOTES

March 6, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Phoenix Coyotes right wing

(10) moves the puck against Montreal Canadiens center

(27) during the first period at Jobing.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

After scoring just once in 53 games in Washington this season, Erat managed to score one in his first 4 matches in Phoenix.  However, he suffered a concussion and has missed the last 2 games for the Coyotes.   Phoenix has gone 4-2-0 since the trade.

STATS:  4 GP, 1G, 0A, 1 PT, +2

SIZZLE – Tim Thomas, DALLAS STARS

Mar 16, 2014; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Dallas Stars goalie Tim Thomas (30) makes a save during the first period against the Winnipeg Jets at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

Thomas was brought in as insurance against an injury to Kari Lehtonen, and it didn’t take the Stars long to have to cash in that policy.  In Thomas’  second game as a backup, he was called into duty after Lehtonen suffered a head/neck injury and he has taken the ball and run with it.  He got the win in that game and has since gone 1-1-1, and despite less than stellar numbers has helped to keep the Stars in the playoff mix.

STATS: 2-1-1 record, 3.31 GAA, .892 SP

NEUTRAL – Jaroslav Halak, WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Mar 16, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals goalie

(41) makes a save against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Paul Frederiksen-USA TODAY Sports

Halak had a whirlwind trade deadline week, moving from Stanley Cup contender St. Louis to last place Buffalo to playoff hopeful Washington. He didn’t play a minute for the Sabres, and has played 5 games for the Caps, putting up decent but not overwhelming numbers and has been a slight upgrade over Braden Holtby in the Washington net.

STATS:  5 GP, 3-2-0 record, 2.42 GAA, .924 SP

SIZZLE – Tuomo Ruutu, NEW JERSEY DEVILS

Mar 14, 2014; Sunrise, FL, USA; Florida Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo (1) makes a save as New Jersey Devils left wing Tuomo Ruutu (15) leaps in front in the second period at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

Ruutu was brought in as a veteran presence to give the Devils a push in the playoff race.  He has contributed offensively in the Devils’ top 6, and had the winning goal against his former Carolina teammates.   The Devils have gone 2-3-0 since his arrival.

STATS:  5 GP, 2G, 2A, 4 PTS, +1 rating