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Recapping the trade deadline |
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With the 2013 trade deadline now in the books, everyone instantly recaps the winners and losers (as if you can really do that just a few hours after the deadline). Usually, everyone just looks at the current day's moves; occasionally, people look at all of the moves in the days leading up to the trade deadline. That's the approach I'll take here.
A few of the winners are (or should be) obvious. Pittsburgh, St. Louis, ... clearly better after trades. Chicago, NY Islanders, Florida, Toronto, even Montreal ... clearly in the "no big deal" crowd because they either did nothing noteworthy or didn't do anything and didn't really need to. Then ... there's a few that need explanations:
WINNERS
Columbus - I know, some of you think picking up Gaborik was terrible for the Jackets because (A) he's been inconsistent this year, (B) he's allegedly not great in the playoffs, (C) he's overpaid, (D) he's not a guy you build around, ... keep the reasons coming. In football and basketball, the axiom is "whoever gets the best player wins the trade" - and Jarmo Kekalainen clearly got the best player here even after accounting for how inconsistent players involved have been. He also did it without having to give up the 1st-round pick he was publicly dangling just 24 hours ago - which means he stil has it as a trade chip or a piece to add to the organizational depth down the road - and he did it by trading off largely replaceable pieces. Yes, it's a potentially high-risk move - but if Gaborik even just becomes a consistent 30-goal guy (which he's done even in lousy years) for the next few years for the Jackets, that could become a high-reward move unless Brassard suddenly explodes into that 1st-line, 80-point center some thought he'd be when drafted in '06.
A 3rd for Mason, who's (still) sporting a GAA near 3 and a SV% (still) near .900? The Flyers should complain about getting robbed; given the way goalies go to Philadelphia to have their careers implode, Mason's chances of success are about as good as mine are of landing Kate Upton for a weekend this summer.
Buffalo - No, they didn't deal off Miller ... but Darcy Regier absolutely loaded up on picks in a deep draft. Matt Hackett is a solid backup with some potential to be a #1 guy down the road, and Johan Larsson is going to be a serviceable forward for years to come. Now if the Sabres would just spend money a little more wisely ...
Nashville - This won't be evident for years to come, but Filip Forsberg has the potential to be a real force for the Predators - and only at the cost of an enigmatic Martin Erat. Losing Scott Hannan isn't that big of a deal; the Preds have the depth to replace him.
Minnesota - the addition of Pominville signals the Wild is in "go for it" mode this season. That's not a bad thing. The pieces lost aren't exactly franchise-breakers, especially since the Wild have pieces in place that can carry the team for several years to come. Plus, if they can get Pominville to stick around and play #2 center behind Parise, that team gets dangerous going forward.
LOSERS
Detroit - as other teams near them in the standings in the West improved, the Red Wings added ... college player Danny DeKeyser. Well, at least they've got cap space to try and buy free agents this summer - because that plan worked so well last summer.
Philadelphia - that Mason trade? Yeah, that wasn't exactly what they needed - unless the goal is to see how quickly his career can get officially tanked. They got Kent Huskins from Detroit, too? Wow, that was ... not such a big deal. If the Flyers can pull themselves into a playoff spot, this won't matter as much - but at 4 out even with the win over Montreal tonight and 12 to play, and 5 regulars out of the lineup (possibly all for the rest of the season), that's a tough road to haul for a franchise that expects to be in the playoffs every year.
Washington - Erat. For Forsberg. Well, if the goal is "get into the playoffs, hope for a Kings-like run" OK - but otherwise, I don't get it. It screams "short-term gain, long-term pain."
Winnipeg - as much as I didn't like Washington's move, at least they improved for the present. The Jets didn't even do that, and sitting at just +2 on Washington with 2 more games played, 10 to go, and a very real possibility that it's "win the division or miss the playoffs" in the Southeast, ... not doing anything may come back to haunt Winnipeg.
Vancouver - the plus was that the Canucks got Derek Roy from Dallas. On the other hand, they've still got Roberto Luongo - which means the media circus about the goaltending is going to continue throughout the rest of the season and into the playoffs. If anything, it will crank up into another gear - and I can't see how that's a positive.
Dallas - Yes, I'm going to be critical of Joe Nieuwendyk. Maybe the Stars weren't headed to the playoffs, but I think he bailed on the team too early and signaled as much well before that. I like the acquisition of Kevin Connauton, I'm OK with the acquisition of Joe Morrow (though I think he's overhyped and won't hit his full potential, topping out as a PP specialist who should be playing 3/4 but ends up more a 5/6 guy), and I think the other two guys acquired are nothing special - but all in all, it looks and feels like "let's get some picks and prospects, and plan for the fuuuuuuture." The Stars have already missed the playoffs 4 years running (it will be 5 after this season); that streak could get to 7 or 8 pretty easily - and the franchise should be better than that.
TOO EARLY TO KNOW
Tampa Bay, Ottawa - if Ben Bishop finally establishes himself as a #1 guy, this could be good for Tampa. If Cory Conacher can show he can put up points semi-regularly with guys not named Stamkos and St. Louis, this could be good for Ottawa. There's reasons to think it could backfire on either (or both) teams, though. This one won't be answered for a while.
NY Rangers - I could throw them in the "winners" group, but I'm not really sure how to score them (yet). Yes, the opening night's results look good (Clowe finally scored on the season - twice! - and Brassard has a goal and a pair of assists) but one night isn't the full story - and the Rags have played well one night against a good team, then laid an egg in the next game against a team they should beat. If Brassard can unlock that oft-mentioned, oft-dreaded word "potential" that he has, this could look really good. If Clowe can regain his form going forward, that would help as well. At a minimum, the Rangers opened up cap space for signings this summer - and that's a good thing, provided they spend it wisely.
Calgary - What can you say? The rebuild that Jay Feaster said wouldn't happen is on. Presumably, Feaster will try to wade into the FA market this summer and buy guys to come in; if that doesn't work, Plan B looks like "pray for a miracle" - especially since Kiprusoff has said he's going to retire at season's end (but no $4.9 million cap penalty for retiring before the end of a front-loaded contract; good thing you fixed that in the new CBA, NHL!), and the current #1 guy in the system is either Leland Irving (who has been OK in the minors, but not real impressive in a couple call-ups to the NHL so far), Karri Ramo (who couldn't stick with Tampa, but who Feaster says is one of the 2 best goalies outside NA) or Reto Berra (the other best goalie not in NA). If you're a Flames fan and reading this and feel optimistic about the team for '13-14, let me know why.
Others (not a complete list of the remaining teams)
Anaheim - got depth with the acquisition of Matthew Lombardi. That will help come playoff time.
Boston - lost out on Iginla, but got Jagr. I actually like the deal, but it was more a "gotta keep up with the Pens" move than a "we really gotta have him because we have a hole in the lineup" move. Don't get me wrong, though - it was a plus for the B's.
Edmonton - I thought the pick sent for Jerred Smithson (the Oilers gave a 4th) was about 2 rounds too high, especially since Smithson's redeeming qualities are summed up with "better than average at faceoffs" and "can play on the PK." In other words, at this point in his career he's Mike Eastwood without the miracle 20-goal season.
Los Angeles - did pick up Robyn Regehr; unfortunately, it's not the Robyn Regehr of about 2006-07. Still, they pick up depth and experience for the playoffs - though the way luck has run for them, Regehr will be on IR at season's end and out for a few more weeks after that.
Carolina - did pick up Marc-Andre Bergeron, but he's not going to make up for the loss of Joni Pitkanen. He also can't play in net to remind Canes fans that Cam Ward is out of the lineup. Not really much more they could do; what they really need is for guys to get healthy.
Colorado - ideally, sitting last in the West they would have been "sellers" ... if only they had pieces to sell. The best they could do is deal Ryan O'Byrne for a 4th. You know in the 17 games Ryan O'Reilly has been back, the Avs are 4-12-1? It's not like we can say, "... and with O'Reilly in the lineup, they can make a charge to the playoffs." I'm not sure you can even say they're going to be playoff-contending next year, either.
San Jose - dealt Clowe to the Rangers and Handzus to the Blackhawks, got Hannan from Nashville and Torres from Phoenix. Are they better? Worse? Well, they did at least shuffle a few chairs on the deck.
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