NHL Trade Deadline Winners and Losers

March 5, 2009

By Rafal Ladysz…

Winners

Calgary Flames

May as well start out with a bang. Calgary acquired Olli Jokinen from Phoenix and Jordan Leopold from Colorado. These are two moves that will ensure the Flames will be considered a contender in the Western Conference when the playoffs arrive.

First, Jokinen will no longer be the longest active NHLer without a game of experience in the postseason. Calgary will most likely place him on the second line because you don’t want to jeopardize the chemistry between Jarome Iginla and Mike Cammalleri.

This gives Mike Keanan another scoring threat, especially on the power play where Jokinen can unload from the blue line. Leopold will begin his second stint with the Flames, and he adds to a defense that already has offensive capabilities.

With his previous experience in Calgary, the 28-year-old should have no problem fitting in and perhaps surpassing the 33 points he produced there in 2003-2004.

Pittsburgh Penguins

There’s no substitute for experience come April. The Penguins picked up Bill Guerin who will serve as Miroslav Satan’s replacement should he be dealt. Pittsburgh has looked like a new squad under Dan Bylsma even without Sidney Crosby—again.

Chris Kunitz has already made a mark in a Penguins uniform, registering five points (three goals, two assists) in his first three games.

Ryan Whitney was a good puck-moving defender, but Sergei Gonchar has already shown he’s capable of leading the way even after a lengthy absence. It appears as though the Pittsburgh Penguins are back to their old ways.

Buffalo Sabres

Calling the Sabres a winner after today may be a bit of a gamble. After all, they re-signed Tim Connolly to a two-year, $9 million contract. A healthy Connolly would definitely be worth this value as he is a play making genius.

An 82-game healthy? It’s a nice dream. Reality may have other thoughts.

Also, Buffalo addressed its goaltending needs and grabbed Mikael Tellqvist out of Phoenix. The veteran has been a dependable back-up throughout his career, and will assist Patrick Lalime between the pipes.

Anything is possible. Wade Dubielewicz leading the Islanders to a playoff berth two years ago is living proof.

Finally, Dominic Moore was added to give the team some energy. He has already set personal bests offensively with the Maple Leafs, and will give the Sabres a capable center who can hopefully continue his great year.

Boston Bruins

This latest losing streak must have gotten the Bruins to think. Mark Recchi has been added for the playoff drive, and he has shown that he can be the man to get them to the promised land like he did with Carolina in 2005/2006.

Steve Montador was shipped from Anaheim, and he gives Boston a rough defender who can chip in with offense from time-to-time. The native of British Columbia also brings experience to the table being part of the Calgary group that reached game seven of the 2003-2004 Stanley Cup Finals.

Boston is certainly ready and waiting for their first round opponent.

New York Rangers

Here’s a team that’s in dire need of offense. Nik Antropov should be able to help in the goal-scoring department, and his size will be valued on a Rangers team boasting plenty of smaller players.

Derek Morris resembles the style of Montador, and will give the opposition second thoughts about running over Henrik Lundqvist in goal. The defense is struggling to put pucks into the net as well.

Morris did produce some great statistics in Colorado and Calgary. Dmitri Kalinin, Nigel Dawes, and Peter Prucha were sent to Phoenix in exchange.

Florida Panthers

Ultimately, they are winners for hanging on to Jay Bouwmeester. In the long run, they will be made to suffer when the defender is signed elsewhere as a free agent in July. However, the fact is, this city needs to make the playoffs for their fans and owners.

Florida has been one of those questionable markets for an NHL team, and a postseason appearance would take off some of the heat for the time being. Steve Eminger will play for his third team just this season.

He has shown decent offensive flair with Tampa Bay, and Florida’s defense is that much stronger. Bouwmeester, Bryan McCabe, Keith Ballard, and Eminger. Not bad at all.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Pascal Leclaire wasn’t expecting to see much action with Steve Mason now becoming the team’s saviour. Leclaire is now an Ottawa Senator and Antoine Vermette joins a Columbus group that, like Florida, needs to establish themselves in the playoff picture.

Vermette has struggled for the better part of the year, but has come to life recently. The 26-year-old can easily become a 20 goal, 20 assist guy in Columbus.

There’s also his speed, and penalty-killing abilities that make him perhaps the last piece of the puzzle for the Blue Jackets.