Deadline Day Review

Montreal Canadiens acquire Mathieu Schneider and a conditional pick from the Atlanta Trashers for a 2009 2nd round pick and a 2010 3rd round pick.

Looking back, this was a good trade by Montreal.  Schneider was arguably the best defenseman to change addresses during the deadline and he went for a reasonable price considering the cost for Derek Morris and Jordan Leopold.  Schneider has 6 points in 6 games with the Habs and has really solidified their powerplay, helping the Habs making a recent run toward the playoffs.

Ottawa Senators acquire Chris Campoli and Mike Comrie for Dean McAmmond and a 2009 1st round pick.

Stupid move by Ottawa.  First off, Ottawa is 16 points out of 8th place, so their playoff chances are slim to none.  They have already been through the Comrie experiment before and it did not work so well.  Comrie is also a UFA at seasons end so what is the point of the deal?  If your going to re-sign Comrie, why not wait until July 1st and save some assets?  Campoli has been injury prone and although he is a RFA, is he worth a 1st rounder?  No.  Thankfully for Sens fans, the 1st rounder (currently slated to be 4th overall), is not theirs', it is San Jose's first rounder.  

The Dallas Stars acquire Steve Begin from the Montreal Canadiens for Doug Janik.  

A depth move for the Stars.  Begin is a gritty 4th line type who can get under the skin of opponents.  Janik is a depth defenseman who played two seasons in Tampa Bay.  Overall, fairly minor deal.

The Anaheim Ducks acquire Ryan Whitney from the Pittsburgh Penguins for Chris Kunitz and Eric Tangradi.

The Ducks acquired another stud defenseman who is under control for a few more seasons.  With most of the Ducks defenseman UFAs this summer, they needed someone for the long haul.  Whitney is one of the better offensive defenseman in the league at a reasonable price.  The Ducks had plenty of forwards (Getzlaf, Ryan, Selanne, Perry, Kunitz) so one of them was expendable.  For the Penguins, Kunitz is the forward they have been looking for to compliment Crosby and Malkin.  They already have Gonchar, so Whitney was expendable especially with his 4 million price tag.  Tangradi is also a very good prospect.  The Ducks got the better player, but this deal helps both teams needs.

The New Jersey Devils acquire Niclas Havelid and Myles Stoesz from the Atlanta Thrashers for Anssi Salmela.

A good move by the Devs, picking up some depth on defense.  Salmela was a fringe player who was good offensively but struggled to play in his own zone, which is slightly important for a defender.  Havelid is a solid defender who will help one of the top 3 teams in the East come post season.  For the Thrashers, if Salmela, 24, can become more responsible in his own end, he could end up a decent pickup for a guy who was not going to be re-signed.

The St. Louis Blues acquire Danny Richmond from the Pittsburgh Penguins for Andy Wozniewski.

Both defenseman are fringe NHLers and are nothing more than depth moves.  Richmond is only 23 though while Wozniewski is 28.

The Buffalo Sabres acquire Mikael Tellqvist from the Phoenix Coyotes for a 2009 4th round pick.

With Miller out, the Sabres needed some goaltending help, and instead of losing assets for a Manny Fernandez or Martin Biron, the Sabres got Tellqvist for close to nothing.  Tellqvist is a decent backup, but once Miller returns, the goaltending situation in Buffalo is no longer a real issue.

The Ottawa Senators acquire Pascal Leclaire and a 2009 2nd round pick for Antoine Vermette.  

After placing Martin Gerber on waivers, the Sens needed a new goalie.  The former 1st round pick had been replaced by rookie sensation Steve Mason, so he was expendable.  For the Sens, the need for a new young goalie was immense and they accomplished this.  For the Blue Jackets, they added a dynamic offensive force to play with Rick Nash and co.  The Blue Jackets are really trying to push for the playoffs.

The Boston Bruins acquire Steve Montador from the Anaheim Ducks for Petteri Nokelainen.

The Bruins were rumored for another Anaheim defenseman, but had to settle for Montador.  A solid move for the B's as he is an upgrade over Shane Hnidy and Matt Hunwick.  Montador did not cost any roster players and they did not need to gut the roster for a Pronger or Kaberle.  Montador is a physical defenseman who led Anaheim in PIM and +/-.   For the Ducks, Nokelainen is a young banger who is a physical gritty player.  While his offense has been disappointing, there is hope the former 1st round pick could figure it out.  The Bruins also save 850,000 next year.

The Calgary Flames acquire Jordan Leopold from the Colorado Avalanche for Lawrence Nycholat, Ryan Wilson and a 2009 2nd round pick.

The former Flame is back.  Leopold, one of the better defenseman on the market, is joining the Flames cup run.  This is a great move by Calgary.  Nycholat is a fringe NHLer and Wilson is a decent prospect.  Nothing not to like from the Flames side of this deal.  For the Avs, they should have tried to sign Leopold, who is a very good defender, but that could not be done and they got a fairly good return for him.  Wilson could turn out to be something, he is lighting it up in the OHL.

The Calgary Flames acquire Olli Jokinen and a 2009 3rd round pick for Matthew Lombardi, Brandon Prust, and a 2009 or 2010 first round pick.

The biggest move of the deadline, Jokinen is reuniting with Mike Keenan.  Lombardi, a fan favorite in Calgary, could never take his game to the next level, and Jokinen could be an elite centerman under Keenan.  Prust, the former 3rd round pick, spent time between the NHL and AHL this season.  Depending on how Phoenix drafts, they could get some more young talent on their roster.

The Boston Bruins acquire Mark Recchi and a 2010 2nd round pick for Matt Lashoff and Martins Karsums.

The Bruins desperately needed a left-handed shot and with the asking prices of Eric Cole and Keith Tkachuk a little too high, Recchi is a nice consolation prize.  Recchi will play on the powerplay and 3rd line most likely as Marco Sturm's replacement.  Karsums did not have a spot on the team and could be a 3rd liner in Tampa.  Lashoff, the former 1st rounder (22nd overall), never showed the Bruins enough at the NHL level and considering that 2nd round pick could be in the late 30s, early 40s, you have to like that trade for the Bruins.

The Columbus Blue Jackets acquire Kevin Lalande from the Calgary Flames for a 2009 4th round pick.

Lalande is going to be the 3rd goalie for Columbus behind Mason and Dubs.  With Leclaire gone, the Blue Jackets needed to pick up some more depth.  Lalande has played well in the ECHL and AHL this season.  

The Pittsburgh Penguins acquire Bill Guerin from the New York Islanders for a conditional pick (5th rounder, 4th rounder if the Penguins make it past the first round, 3rd if they make it past the 2nd round).

We all assume there was a deal with Washington that fell through.  This was a great trade by the Penguins, acquiring Guerin for close to nothing.  He will really help that offense and most likely play with Crosby since Kunitz is with Staal.  I'm surprised the Islanders could not get more for Guerin considering he was one of the better veteran forwards on the market.

The New York Rangers acquire Nik Antropov from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 2009 2nd round pick and a conditional pick.

Brian Burke wanted a 1st, but settled for a 2nd plus.  Good deal by the Rangers, they desperately needed offense and got a 20+ goal scorer for a fair price.  Now it remains to be seen if Antropov and Torts can get along, but on the surface, solid deal for the Rags.  Burke did a good job getting a 2nd for a guy he knew he did not want as well.

The New York Rangers acquire Derek Morris from the Phoenix Coyotes for Dmitri Kalinin, Nigel Dawes, and Petr Prucha.

Very high price for Morris.  I don't like this deal for the Rags, as it takes away from their depth.  Kalinin was a solid defender and Dawes was a good 3rd liner who seemed to score timely goals.  I don't know why Rags fans hated Prucha, 20+ goal seasons his first two and then his ice time dwindled.  I like this deal more for Phoenix as again they stock up for the future.  Don't know if this deal really helps the Rangers, but they do save some cap space.

The Anaheim Ducks acquire Erik Christensen from the Atlanta Thrashers for Eric O'Dell.

Christensen, acquired in the Hossa deal, is a decent 3rd line player who likely replaced Sami Pahlsson on the Ducks.  Again, the Ducks are restocking for the future adding some more young forwards.  O'Dell was the Ducks 2nd round pick and is playing well in the OHL.  Seems like a trade where Anaheim gets the better player, but in the long run O'Dell could be something.

The Chicago Blackhawks acquire Samuel Pahlsson, Logan Stephenson, and a conditional pick for James Wisniewski and Petri Kontiola.

The Hawks needed a center badly, since Sharp is not a natural center and Versteeg has struggled lately.  The Hawks are not necessarily poised for a Cup run, but they could do some damage in the playoffs and Pahlsson is a shut down center who played very well during the Ducks cup run.  Wisniewski is another young defender who can help the Ducks next season.  

The Toronto Maple Leafs acquire Olaf Kolzig, Jamie Heward, Andy Rogers and a 2009 4th round draft pick for Richard Petiot.  

Basically a salary shedding move by the Bolts.  Hard to believe the Leafs need Kolzig after claiming Gerber off waivers.  Bolts save some money, Leafs get another pick.

The Buffalo Sabres acquire Dominic Moore from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 2009 2nd round pick.  

Solid move by the Sabres.  DoMo has had a career year thus far could add to that offense.  With Vanek coming back, this team could be poised for a 1st round upset.  Moore will likely replace Ales Kotalik in the lineup.  With the Kotalik move, you have to wonder how much better this makes the Sabres, but you can't fault them for this move.  For the Leafs, they stock pile more picks for this years deep draft.  Got to like Burke's rebuilding plan.

The Philadelphia Flyers acquire Dino Carcillo from the Phoenix Coyotes for Scottie Upshall and a 2009 2nd round pick.

I don't get this move.  Upshall is a decent young player who was once a lottery pick (6th overall in 2002).  I don't think trading him AND a 2nd rounder for a goon is a good idea.  Carcillo led the NHL in PIMs last season, and is a one tough kid, but is he really what Philly needs?  I mean they are a physical team as is, doesn't seem like a good deal.  For Phoenix, they take this and run.

The Florida Panthers acquire Steve Eminger from the Tampa Bay Lightning for Noah Welch and a 3rd round pick.

Great deal by Florida.  They have a very good defense with the addition to Eminger.  He is only 25 and has some offensive spunk to his game.  Florida is really pushing for a playoff spot by adding Eminger and keeping Jay Bouwmeester.  Welch is a fringe NHL defenseman.

The San Jose Sharks acquire Travis Moen and Kent Huskins from the Anaheim Ducks for Nick Bonino, Timo Pielmeler, and a conditional pick.

Good depth move by San Jose.  Moen was another contributer for the Ducks on their Cup run.  Huskins is a nice depth defenseman incase of injury.  San Jose did not have to give much up for these two players.  

The Philadelphia Flyers acquire Kyle McLaren from the San Jose Sharks for a 2009 6th round pick.

Depth defenseman who maybe can turn it around.  McLaren has floundered in San Jose, maybe he can do something for Philly.  Don't see the point of this deal other than to add a veteran body.

The Edmonton Oilers acquire Ales Kotalik, and Patrick O'Sullivan, the Carolina Hurricanes acquire Eric Cole and Edmonton's 2009 5th round pick, the Los Angeles Kings acquire Justin Williams, and the Buffalo Sabres acquire Los Angeles's 2009 2nd round pick.

Edmonton wins huge on this deal, basically Cole and a 5th for Kotalik and O'Sullivan.  Both are good players and will really help this team.  Cole was not doing well in Edmonton, and going back to Carolina could turn his game around.  Los Angeles loses heavily in this deal, trading away O'Sullivan AND a 2nd for the injured Justin Williams.  It still does not make sense why Buffalo traded Kotalik after acquiring Dominic Moore.

The Buffalo Sabres sign Tim Connolly to a 2 year, 9 million dollar deal.

Could end up a good, or a bad signing.  If Connolly can stay healthy, he will put up the points deserving of this contract.  That is a big if.  If Connolly ends up hurt like he has, then this deal could really hinder Buffalo.

The Los Angeles Kings sign Sean O'Donnell to a 1 year extension.

O'Donnell wanted to stay and this is a good signing by the Kings.  Nothing wrong with locking up a veteran for one more season for cheap money, especially with young guys like Doughty and Johnson in the system.

Martin Gerber claimed off waivers by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Leafs really needed some goaltending with Toskala out, so this makes some sense although his contract isn't that great.

Sean Avery claimed off re-entry waivers by the New York Rangers.

This will be interesting....

Brendan Morrison claimed off waivers by the Dallas Stars.

Morrison is having a decent season.  3rd line center for the Stars, not a bad pickup at all.

Craig Adams claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Wasn't doing much in Chicago, and the Pens need any offense they can get.  

WINNERS

Calgary Flames

Boston Bruins

Toronto Maple Leafs

Anaheim Ducks

Phoenix Coyotes

Pittsburgh Penguins

New York Rangers

LOSERS

Washington Capitals

Philadelphia Flyers

New York Islanders

Detroit Red Wings

San Jose Sharks