NHL Trading Deadline Deals
New York and Calgary Make Day’s Biggest Moves
The NHL's trading deadline always promises to be a busy day, and this season's was no exception, perhaps more for who didn't get traded than who did. Here's a rundown of who's going where for what:
Jay Bouwmeester Not Traded
Perhaps the most significant move of the trading deadline was that Panthers' defenseman Jay Bouwmeester was not dealt. It looked like the Flyers and Canucks had the inside edge on acquiring the eminent free agent. But the Flyers would have had to make other significant moves possibly involving the likes of Martin Biron or Matt Carle in order to free up cap space to get Bouwmeester, and allegedly dealing defenseman Kevin Bieksa was a sticking point for Vancouver. So Bouwmeester stays in Florida and perhaps this sets the stage for him to declare free agency on July 1st and shop himself on the open market this summer.
Olli Jokinen Dealt to Calgary
So with Bouwmeester not being moved, the biggest bang of the day was the Coyotes dealing Olli Jokinen to Calgary for forward Matthew Lombardi, center Brandon Prust and a 2009 1st round pick. Calgary deals a lot of youth to Phoenix to acquire Jokinen, arguably the best playmaker and biggest offensive threat on the block. No question that Jokinen is a great player, and the deal has a lot of potential upside for the cap-heavy Flames, but Calgary gives up a lot to get a player who has never played an NHL playoff game. So while he puts up solid offensive numbers every regular season, what if anything he can do in the post-season remains in doubt.
Leclaire Traded for Vermette
With Steve Mason looking to be the rookie of the year, Columbus moved Pascal Leclaire, the starter in goal at the beginning of the season, to Ottawa for Antoine Vermette and a 2009 2nd round pick. This deal works out well for both teams: Ottawa gets someone who will battle rookie Brian Elliott for the starting goalie job next season, while Columbus gets a veteran defensive forward who can help stabilize a mostly younger locker room.
Mark Recchi Shipped to Boston
No surprise that Mark Recchi gets moved. The former Stanley Cup winner gets shipped to Boston for a 2010 second-round pick, defenseman Matt Lashoff and forward Martins Karsums. Recchi, a rent-a-player and a free agent at season's end, makes the top-seeded club in the Eastern Conference that much deeper up front, while Tampa builds for the future with two decent prospects.
Rangers Acquire Morris and Antropov
The Rangers get the defenseman they've been looking for, the defenseman Wade Redden should have been this season, by acquiring Derek Morris from Phoenix for defenseman Dimitri Kalinin, and forwards Nigel Dawes and Petr Prucha. New York trades some spare parts, and a potential impact player in Prucha if he can get his game back to the level it was last season, to a Phoenix club in yet another rebuilding phase. In return, the Rangers get good and bad news; the good news is that the club gets a puck-moving defenseman. The bad news: Morris underperformed this season and, like Redden, has been on the decline over the last few years.
Nik Antropov was also acquired by the Rangers for a 2nd round pick and a conditional future draft pick. Antropov isn't having a bad offensive season with 23 goals at the deadline, but he is an impending free agent and if he continues to play well and improves on his -13 the rest of this season and into the post-season, this could be the steal of the day.
Bill Guerin Sent to Pittsburgh
Despite a lousy season peppered with injuries to top stars and dismissing their coach, the Penguins are still looking to make a run for the post-season by getting Bill Guerin from the Islanders for a conditional draft pick. Guerin is a solid veteran who can still score. This isn't of the magnitude of the Marian Hossa deal from last season, but getting Guerin gives the Penguins yet another scoring option.
Flyers Acquire Carcillo From Phoenix
Are the Broad Street Bullies back? In a surprise move, Philadelphia obtains perennial penalty minute leader Daniel Carcillo from the Coyotes for forward Scotty Upshall and a second round pick. Carcillo is a bit more skilled than current Flyers' tough guy Riley Cote, and Upshall gets a fresh start in the desert after being in John Stevens doghouse earlier this season. The Flyers have been salary cap heavy nearly all season, and the Upshall move also frees up money for the club to make future acquisitions. The Flyers also get defenseman Kyle McLaren from San Jose for a sixth-round pick.
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