AOL Evaluates NHL Trade Deadline
WINNERS
San Jose: The Sharks ended their search for a top defenseman when they acquired Brain Campbell from Buffalo in what was strictly a business move by the Sabres. Campbell is set to become an unrestricted free agent in July and was unable to come to terms on a new deal with the Sabres. Like it or not, Campbell now becomes the Sharks top defenseman and can expect to play almost 30 minutes a game and anchor the power play. Campbell has great offensive skills and he will definitely give the Sharks some much-needed scoring punch from the blueline.
Dallas Stars: The Stars are one of the NHL's hottest teams and by adding Richards from Tampa Bay, they've beefed up their scoring and added someone who knows the pressures of playing in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Richards was the 2004 Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the Stanley Cup playoff MVP for the Lightning. The Lightning are in the sweepstakes for the coveted No. 1 pick in the June draft and they've improved their chances of having the pick of the litter by dealing Richards.
Pittsburgh Penguins: By landing Hossa, the Penguins out-dueled Ottawa and Montreal for his services and became the only team to make a significant move in the wide-open Eastern Conference. The Penguins, who also received forward Pascal Dupuis, didn't give up that much. Angelo Esposito is a prospect whose stock has fallen, while NHL regulars Erik Christensen and Colby Armstrong are borderline top six forwards. The Thrashers also received a first-round draft pick. The heat is definitely on Hossa to show he can handle the pressure, especially since he is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. He has a lot to prove. He had one assist in four straight losses by Atlanta to the New York Rangers in the first round of the '07 playoffs. He joins a Penguins team that includes league scoring leader Evgeni Malkin and superstar Sidney Crosby, who has been sidelined the past several weeks with a high ankle sprain.
Washington Capitals: The Capitals added depth in goaltending in the form of Cristobal Huet, who came over from Montreal for a second-round pick in the 2009 draft. He will take some of the pressure off Olaf Kolzig as the Capitals make a push for the playoffs. And by adding Sergei Fedorov from Columbus, the Capitals added a veteran presence that will help calm nerves heading into the playoff sprint.
Colorado Avalanche: If only for hitting the replay button on the song, Living In The Past, Back To The Future. Adam Foote (from Columbus) and free agent Peter Forsberg were heroes for the Avs almost a decade ago and it's hard to imagine the Avs a) making the playoffs; and b) going deep into the post-season with the geriatric set of players in the line-up.
LOSERS
Montreal Canadiens: By dealing Huet to the Capitals, Carey Price has become Montreal's goalie of the present instead of the goalie of the future. The Habs have enough up front and on the blueline to do damage in the post-season but the pressure is squarely on the rookie Price not to let his teammates down. Montreal GM Bob Gainey said in the days leading up to the trade deadline that he wanted to add an impact forward but he failed to achieve that goal. The Canadiens lost out in the Hossa sweepstakes and it appears there was no Plan B.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Acting GM Cliff Fletcher emerged from the Air Canada Centre to say that he was pleased with his deals, four draft picks for role players Wade Belak, Chad Kilger and Hal Gill. But nobody is buying his spin. Fletcher was brought in to sweep the decks of the under-achieving talent and the trade deadline was his first big test. While he was hampered with five players with no-trade clauses, the fact remains there is too much post-deadline dead wood wearing the blue and white. As far as first steps go, it was disappointing.
Ottawa Senators: The Senators also lost out on acquiring Hossa, and all GM Bryan Murray could show for his efforts was adding Martin Lapointe from the Chicago Blackhawks for a draft pick. Lapointe will not be enough to get the Senators out of the funk they are in, leading to speculation that coach John Paddock is on a short lease. He could soon be replaced by Murray. Ottawa's biggest issue is in goal, and the mistrust the players have of Ray Emery has infected the dressing room.
San Jose: The Sharks ended their search for a top defenseman when they acquired Brain Campbell from Buffalo in what was strictly a business move by the Sabres. Campbell is set to become an unrestricted free agent in July and was unable to come to terms on a new deal with the Sabres. Like it or not, Campbell now becomes the Sharks top defenseman and can expect to play almost 30 minutes a game and anchor the power play. Campbell has great offensive skills and he will definitely give the Sharks some much-needed scoring punch from the blueline.
Dallas Stars: The Stars are one of the NHL's hottest teams and by adding Richards from Tampa Bay, they've beefed up their scoring and added someone who knows the pressures of playing in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Richards was the 2004 Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the Stanley Cup playoff MVP for the Lightning. The Lightning are in the sweepstakes for the coveted No. 1 pick in the June draft and they've improved their chances of having the pick of the litter by dealing Richards.
Pittsburgh Penguins: By landing Hossa, the Penguins out-dueled Ottawa and Montreal for his services and became the only team to make a significant move in the wide-open Eastern Conference. The Penguins, who also received forward Pascal Dupuis, didn't give up that much. Angelo Esposito is a prospect whose stock has fallen, while NHL regulars Erik Christensen and Colby Armstrong are borderline top six forwards. The Thrashers also received a first-round draft pick. The heat is definitely on Hossa to show he can handle the pressure, especially since he is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. He has a lot to prove. He had one assist in four straight losses by Atlanta to the New York Rangers in the first round of the '07 playoffs. He joins a Penguins team that includes league scoring leader Evgeni Malkin and superstar Sidney Crosby, who has been sidelined the past several weeks with a high ankle sprain.
Washington Capitals: The Capitals added depth in goaltending in the form of Cristobal Huet, who came over from Montreal for a second-round pick in the 2009 draft. He will take some of the pressure off Olaf Kolzig as the Capitals make a push for the playoffs. And by adding Sergei Fedorov from Columbus, the Capitals added a veteran presence that will help calm nerves heading into the playoff sprint.
Colorado Avalanche: If only for hitting the replay button on the song, Living In The Past, Back To The Future. Adam Foote (from Columbus) and free agent Peter Forsberg were heroes for the Avs almost a decade ago and it's hard to imagine the Avs a) making the playoffs; and b) going deep into the post-season with the geriatric set of players in the line-up.
LOSERS
Montreal Canadiens: By dealing Huet to the Capitals, Carey Price has become Montreal's goalie of the present instead of the goalie of the future. The Habs have enough up front and on the blueline to do damage in the post-season but the pressure is squarely on the rookie Price not to let his teammates down. Montreal GM Bob Gainey said in the days leading up to the trade deadline that he wanted to add an impact forward but he failed to achieve that goal. The Canadiens lost out in the Hossa sweepstakes and it appears there was no Plan B.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Acting GM Cliff Fletcher emerged from the Air Canada Centre to say that he was pleased with his deals, four draft picks for role players Wade Belak, Chad Kilger and Hal Gill. But nobody is buying his spin. Fletcher was brought in to sweep the decks of the under-achieving talent and the trade deadline was his first big test. While he was hampered with five players with no-trade clauses, the fact remains there is too much post-deadline dead wood wearing the blue and white. As far as first steps go, it was disappointing.
Ottawa Senators: The Senators also lost out on acquiring Hossa, and all GM Bryan Murray could show for his efforts was adding Martin Lapointe from the Chicago Blackhawks for a draft pick. Lapointe will not be enough to get the Senators out of the funk they are in, leading to speculation that coach John Paddock is on a short lease. He could soon be replaced by Murray. Ottawa's biggest issue is in goal, and the mistrust the players have of Ray Emery has infected the dressing room.
posted by Daily Observer at 9:47 PM
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