Pickin' The Corners: 2.27.08

Posted by Ian Smart on 02.27.2008

Gather around class, it's time to give out deadline day report cards

Trade deadline has come and gone, and it is was a surprising day to say the least. One team traded their number one goalie, despite being a legitimate contender, while other teams held on to unneeded talent, and someone actually traded for Cam Janssen!

So here are the grades for deadline day 2008.

Anaheim Ducks B+

When you are the best team in the National Hockey League, very little is required of you at the trading deadline. The Ducks big moves came in the form of Scott Niedermyer and Teemu Selanne sitting out portions of the year and then returning to the team. A cunning move given that if any other team pulled a similar strategy Brian Burke would be kicking up a storm. The Ducks acquired a backup plan in J.S. Aubin if the worst happens to Giggy and Marc-Andre Bergeron to solidify the back end.


Atlanta Thrashers A

The Thrashers dumped their high priced winger Marian Hossa and winger Pascal Dupuis for three solid young talents prospect Angelo Esposito, forwards Colby Armstrong and Erik Christensen. The Thrashers also received a first-round draft pick. The Thrashers were going nowhere this season, and by moving Hossa in exchange for good young talent put themselves in great position for a rebuilding phase.


Boston Bruins C

The Bruins, who are in the playoff picture in a wide-open Eastern Conference, failed to pick up the much needed scoring help that would have solidified them as a potential playoff contender. They could have used a guy like Martin Lapointe or Darcy Tucker; someone that could give them a bit more production. To their credit, the Bruins also did not give up any prospects needlessly, so it was not a failure by any stretch of the imagination.


Buffalo Sabres B-

Things simply have not been going right in Buffalo as of late. Just when the Sabres get themselves back into the playoff hunt, Brian Campbell leaves town. Losing Campbell after both of the team's captains walked in free agency had to sting this team and its fan base. Campbell is a quality defenseman, and the kind of person you can build a team around, so a better effort should have been made to keep him in town- he is just now entering his prime. In return for their best skater the Sabres picked by Steve Bernier and a first round draft pick. A little light in the compensation, but Campbell does have the option to walk at the end of the season. A good young player like Bernier (although he is an RFA this off-season) will aid in a quick turn-around for the Sabres- those five first round picks they would have gotten for Thomas Vanek would also help.


Calgary Flames C-

Calgary was looking to improve their scoring depth and they failed to do so, which could come back to haunt them in an incredibly competitive Northwest Division. A player like Sergei Fedorov would have been just what the doctor ordered, but the conservative Flames chose to stick it out with what they got, which is surprising, because the team seems to have been a player or two short for the last three seasons, and yet they didn't take a chance on deadline day.

Carolina Hurricanes C

The Hurricanes seem to be walking the fence between improving for this season or preparing for next season. They are currently in third in the East because of their atrocious division, but it appears as though they recognize that they have little chance in the playoffs. They made their big deal prior to the deadline and then traded Andrew Ladd for Tuomo Ruutu. Ladd for Ruutu may workout simply because both players need a change of scenery, but Carolina should have taken advantage of their good fortune and taken a chance on improving the team this season by picking up a UFA to be, such as Vaclav Prospal or Michael Ryder.


Chicago Blackhawks B

The Blackhawks know that they are playing for next year and will likely be more active in the off-season looking for someone to run the powerplay. Small upgrade in Ladd over Ruutu and they got rid of Martin Lapointe whom they did not need and got something in return, although not much.

Colorado Avalanche A

The Avalanche improved themselves tremendously on deadline day by picking up Ruslan Salei and Adam Foote. They needed a puck moving defenseman and got one, and seem to be in a good position going into the playoffs provided they can get their team healthy. The addition of Peter Forsberg is an important one, since Forsberg vowed to return only if he thought that he could contribute, so one would have to believe that he will be able to.

Columbus Blue Jackets B+

The Blue Jackets got rid of two big contracts in Foote and Fedorov, which will give them space to make a big splash in the offseason. There was little else the team could do except possibly jettisoning Michael Peca for a Draft Pick.

Dallas Stars A-

Dallas pulled off a steal by picking up former Conn Smythe trophy winner Brad Richards for Jussi Jokinen, Jeff Halpern, and Mike Smith. Richards contract is big, but he will fit well in Dallas, and Mike Smith does not project to be a clear number one in the NHL. With this move, Dallas has cemented themselves as the number second favourite in the West behind Anaheim. The Stars may have trouble keeping all their talent under one roof this offseason though as they are already up against the cap.

Detroit Red Wings B-

The Red Wings have been on a skid recently, primarily because 80% of their defensemen are injured. Defense will be critical for the Red Wings who need to keep the shots down to help their shaky goaltenders. Brad Stuart gives them much needed depth at that position, and the loss of the picks is inconsequential for a team that has been able to get talent from every round in the draft.

Edmonton Oilers D

A harsh grade, given simply because the Oilers failed to dump two players who have no place in their rebuilding process - Geoff Sanderson and Marty Reasoner- both of whom are UFAs and will not be returning. They should have gotten something for them, anything. They also failed to capitalize on what I believe was an opportunity to move Dwayne Roloson who is not getting the minute in Edmonton that he wants and deserves.

Florida Panthers B

The Panthers still have a shot at the playoffs, because of their division, and Olli Jokinen is still under contract so there was no reason to move him. The rest of their UFAs and RFAs had minimal value (Bouwmeester excluded), so there was little to be done. Karlis Skrastins is a good pickup and should be the anchor on the second pairing for the Panthers.

Los Angeles Kings C

Apparently, Rob Blake was not going to waive his no-trade clause, but the King still had other UFAs that could have been moved but were not. Brad Stuart and J.S. Aubin were good people to let go, but Ladislav Nagy and Scott Thornton should have followed them out the door.


Minnesota Wild C+

The Wild could have used a scoring centre (Fedorov?) or some help on the blueline (Salei?, Stuart?), which they did not acquire, but they also did not give up any of their young talent for a playoff run that has little chance of enduring in a difficult Western Conference. The pickup of Chris Simon is an odd one, especially given his troubled past and the fact that he knows that he is on thin ice, meaning he cannot play with the same aggression that he used to play with.

Montreal Canadiens D

Went back and forth on this trade. Huet is the best goalie on the Canadiens, but he was definitely leaving in the offseason, considering Carey Price is the clear goalie of the future in Montreal. That being said, trading Huet effectively states that your club is not serious about contending this season. A second rounder pick is also light for a number one goalie. If you are compelled to make this trade, the Canadiens should have looked for a player who could step into the lineup today (Jason Williams from Chicago?), rather than a draft pick. The Habs also failed to part ways with malcontent UFA Michel Ryder.


Nashville Predators F

Holding the eighth spot in the West, the Predators should have been looking for a top six-forward – they did not acquire anyone. If you are not trying to push yourself to that next level, than you have to be looking to the future, which means Martin Gelinas should have been packing his bags. The Predators are still reeling from the Peter Forsberg debacle last season, and it cost them today, because while other teams sought to improve, they remained stagnant.


New Jersey Devils B-

The Devils could have used someone on the backend to eat up minutes and run the powerplay, although they are currently surviving with what they have. Bryce Salvador is not that guy, but he gives the Devils some depth. Up-front their stars have been struggling, but making a trade just to shake things up is dangerous. On the plus side, the Devils got rid of Cam Janssen and his one career NHL point. When asked to comment on being traded, Janssen grunted loudly and returned to gnawing on his forearm.

New York Islanders D

The Islanders are slipping after overachieving in the first half of the season, so they should have been looking to jettison UFAs in order to bring in more young talent- they failed to do that. Miroslav Satan, Ruslan Fedotenko, Bryan Berard should have been shipped out of town. They did manage to get someone to take Chris Simon off their hands, and picked up Rob Davidson so all is not lost. Mike Comrie also represents an interesting signing, because a one-year deal could spark him to break his perpetual disappointment tag.


New York Rangers C-

The Rangers failed to improve their team in any great way, but they also did not hurt themselves in anyway. They could have used a better Defenseman than Christian Backman, but in a tight East he gives them a bit more insurance. I give them a poor grade for getting little in return for Al Montoya, who has shown that he can be an NHL calibre goalie through his play in the AHL.

Ottawa Senators B

They made their big trade prior to deadline day, and it was a good one, netting them some experience upfront and on the backend. Martin Lapointe is an underwhelming acquisition, but he could provide a bit of a spark for line three or four. Senators could have used one more guy upfront, and had the disposable young talent to offer a team for such a player (Miroslav Satan?).

Philadelphia Flyers C

On a slide as of late, the Flyers tried to replace injured forward Simon Gagne's scoring with Vaclav Prospal who is sure to disappoint now that he is away from Vincent Lecavlier and Martin St. Louis – just look at his time in Anaheim. The Flyers gave up a young, and talented forward, in Alexandre Picard, who at age 22, still has time to develop and become a top four defenseman. This move could come back to haunt the Flyers simply because Prospal will be difficult to sign in the offseason at the money he will be demanding, and his production will decline now that he is away from two of the best offensive players in the league.

Phoenix Coyotes A-

No one really thought that the Coyotes would be competing this year, so the fact that they are on the doorstep of the playoffs should be taken as a blessing rather than a sign that more needs to be done. The Coyotes made a great move picking up Al Montoya, Marcel Hossa and a conditional draft pick for a mixed bag of players. Letting the team develop as is, and potentially compete for the final spot in the West is better than trying to make a deal that could disrupt the team's growth at this point.


Pittsburgh Penguins C with the potential for an F

The Penguins gave up a lot for a player (Marian Hossa) who has been a ghost in the playoffs and who will not be able to be signed long-term. This is one of those deals that if it works out, the Pens' front office is lauded, but if the team flounders in the playoffs, will be looked back on as a massive blunder. There was a great youth movement in Pittsburgh – the team was playing well in the absence of the league's best player- and this move is just too big of a gamble, seeing as how the Pens gave up two roster players, and what essentially amounts to two first round draft picks.


San Jose Sharks B+

In Brian Campbell, the Sharks acquired the powerplay quarterback that they needed, drastically improving their area of greatest need. Bernier and the first round selection were necessary losses to acquire a talent of Campbell's level, and hopefully, for the Sharks, the team can lock him up long-term. Campbell should pay immediate dividends helping San Jose increase their production.

St. Louis Blues C

For a team that needs to rebuild, the Blues made some peculiar moves, discarding a young defenseman in Backman and acquiring Cam Janssen., while holding on to UFAs Martin Rucinsky and Mike Johnson. The latter two should have been dealt for some more young talent or draft picks, while Cam Janssen should simply not have been acquired at all, unless you need someone to soften some walls with his head.

Tampa Bay Lightning A-

The Lightning made that they have always needed to make getting rid of Brad Richards and his bulbous contract, and as well as selling Vaclav Prospal while is stock was overvalued. I think they got a little less than market value for Richards, but the cap space now available to them should make life easier over the next few years.

Toronto Maple Leafs B+

It is difficult to blame Cliff Fletcher, given that he is tied down by his predecessor's penchant for giving out no-trade clauses. Mats Sundin's refusal to waive his no-trade clause meant that the Leafs could not move their only truly valuable asset, so very little could be done on deadline day. For his part Fletcher dropped some excess baggage in the form of Wade Belak and Hal Gill and received draft picks in return. I give good grades to Fletcher for getting done what he could, but if this team was going to improve, its captain needed to let himself be traded to help out a team he supposedly loves. If Sundin leaves Toronto as an UFA this offseason, his refusal to waive the no-trade clause will go down as one of the most classless moves in recent memory.

Vancouver Canucks B-

There really wasn't a lot that the Canucks could do an deadline day. They do not have a wealth of talent to offer, so they were more or less forced to stick with what they already had.


Washington CapitalsB-

The Capitals acquiring Cristobal Huet was a big play on their part, as they acquired a number one goalie for a second-round pick, but Huet is a UFA, so it may all be for nothing in the end. If Huet continues his strong play he could get the Caps into the playoffs, but failing that, this deal will appear to be an unnecessary loss of a draft pick. The same can be said for the Fedorov trade; a peculiar pickup for the 11th seed in the East- Fedorov being a UFA at the end of the season.