USA TODAY International Edition
Capitals, Penguins nail trade- deadline deals
The NHL trade deadline was like the Fourth of July without the fireworks. Since several key players were traded before Wednesday, the event had few sparklers and big bangs. Our look at the winners and losers, including what happened in the days leading up to the deadline:
Winners
1. Washington Capitals: The No. 1 team in the NHL, boasting the league’s best goals- against average and No. 3 offense, added the top prize in the marketplace, defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk.
2. Pittsburgh Penguins: You knew general manager Jim Rutherford wouldn’t let that stand with no response. The Penguins, who earlier had added defenseman Ron Hainsey ( Carolina Hurricanes), acquired Mark Streit from the Philadelphia Flyers by way of the Tampa Bay Lightning. The two have a combined 1,658 games of NHL experience.
3. Vancouver Canucks: By trading Alex Burrows to the Ottawa Senators and Jannik Hansen to the San Jose Sharks, they added two intriguing forward prospects ( Jonathan Dahlen and Nikolay Goldobin). Plus, a fourthround pick becomes a firstrounder if the Sharks win the Stanley Cup. 4. Chicago Blackhawks: Johnny Oduya will be reunited with Niklas Hjalmarsson. If Michal Rozsival plays in the playoffs, the Blackhawks have six defensemen with a combined 14 Stanley Cup rings. Oduya is a perfect fit.
5. Calgary Flames: The Curtis Lazar acquisition is a good roll of the dice. If Lazar’s game comes together, the Flames have another high- quality, young player to fit with their strong cast. Acquiring defenseman Mike Stone was another strong move. He rounds out their defensive corps.
Losers
1. Montreal Canadiens: We appreciate that general manager Marc Bergevin did a good job of making his team difficult to play against. He added considerable size and belligerence in Steve Ott and Dwight King ( plus defensemen Jordie Benn and Brandon Davidson). But is that the right strategy, considering the game seems to be all about speed these days? This team needs help at center, though, in fairness, not much was available in that area.
2. Marc- Andre Fleury: Given his reputation for classiness and the professional way he has handled losing his job in Pittsburgh, Fleury should never be called a loser. But it is disappointing that there was no real trade market that would have allowed him to be a No. 1 goalie again.
3. Jaroslav Halak: He’s exiled in the American Hockey League, and rumors he might be traded never came to fruition. There was no true goalie market.
4. New York Islanders: The Islanders are in a doozy of a battle to make the playoffs and yet stood pat. We understand the marketplace wasn’t deep, but are we to believe there was nothing that could have been done to send a message of optimism?
5. Buffalo Sabres: Their fans are disappointed the team didn’t at least move its potential unrestricted free agents. GM Tim Murray swears he wasn’t asking too much. Maybe this is being unfair, but it’s hard to believe he couldn’t have found a creative way to make it an asset- gathering day for a rebuilding team.
Other thoughts
Best hockey trade: Sharks GM Doug Wilson boldly gave up a forward prospect ( Goldobin) to obtain veteran forward Hansen, who is going to help the Sharks in the postseason. He improves their team speed and adds a layer of grit. He is also under contract for another season. Best magic trick: Presto! Lightning GM Steve Yzerman made Valtteri Filppula’s contract disappear. It was hurting the team from a money and play standpoint. What we don’t understand: Why Radim Vrbata is still with the Arizona Coyotes. Surely, he was worth as least as much as Thomas Vanek, who was traded for a third- round pick. Heartwarming transaction: At 39, Jarome Iginla was freed from the Colorado Avalanche’s horrendous season and given an opportunity to play for the Los Angeles Kings, a team that still has aspirations of qualifying for, and excelling in, the playoffs. Iginla has never won a Stanley Cup.