This year’s trade deadline tied the record for the most deals done in one day with 25. 45 players have a new home this Wednesday, and plenty of draft picks have also changed hands. This list will give you my opinion on the most significant trades of the day.
5) Cristobal Huet to the Washington Captials / 2009 2nd round pick to the Montreal Canadiens
This is a deal that really makes you scratch your head. Huet, the Canadiens’ top goaltender, had helped carry his team to an impressive spot in the standings, and is now all of a sudden out of town. It seems like Montreal wanted to make one more deal, but just couldn’t bring someone in before 3pm. They won’t see any benefit from this trade until at least 2009. The Capitals, on the other hand, get a solid goaltender to add to their already crowded list. It will be interesting to see what they do as far as shuffling these guys around. Kolzig is still in a Caps uniform, so you have to think a battle for the starting job will ensue.
The San Jose Sharks really got the better part of this deal. By captializing on the futile negotiations between Campbell and the Sabres, they pick up a top notch defensman who’ll have an immediate effect on the team. His power-play skills will certainly help the subpar performance of San Jose, who are currently 20th in the league.
This deal really shows that Darcy Regier wanted to just get what he could, and get something quickly, for Campbell and be done with it. That kind of desperation leaves a clear winner on the San Jose side.Steve Bernier is not a good replacement for Campbell. Perhaps one of the biggest underacheivers on the San Jose roster, it won’t get any easier for him in Buffalo. At least the Sabres got a 1st round pick out of the deal.
3) Adam Foote to the Colorado Avalanche / Conditional 1st round picks to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The ultimate homecoming for Adam Foote. Here’s a guy who’s said he’s always regretted leaving Colorado and how much he misses playing for the Avs. When asked by the team if he would waive his no-trade clause after contract talk breakdowns, Foote stated he’d only go to Colorado. How fortunate for the Avalanche, who’ve sorely needed help on defense since the season-ending injury to Brett Clark. Add this to the Forsberg trade and you have the Avs of old that consistently won their division and won two Stanley Cups. Fans will eat this up, even if Foote doesn’t make a huge difference stats-wise.
Columbus wins big as a rebuilding team by picking up some key draft picks. Due to the conditions of the trade, the Jackets are one team that will be praying the Avalanche do well so they can hurry up and draft. If Colorado makes the playoffs, Columbus gets a first round pick this year (if not, next year). If Foote resigns with the club, the Jackets will get another 4th round pick in 2009. Columbus fans are going to hate losing their captain, but this team wasn’t using Foote to his full potential anyway. It’s time they start young like the Coyotes.
A lot of names moved with this one. Let’s take a look at the goaltenders first. Mike Smith gets an immediate starting job in Tampa, which is a welcome switch from playing in Turco’s shadow. Dallas gets a great backup goaltender back in Holmqvist, who will be a reliable backup for the team. This is really a win-win situation for either team.
Brad Richards is a tremendous acquisition for the Stars. Richards will instantly add an offensive presence that will have more room to breathe and grow. Which brings me to why he didn’t work in Tampa Bay. He was one of THREE superstars on that team; having to share ice with Lecavalier and St. Louis didn’t really make him as significant as he should be. His salary also was a factor, $7.8 million a year really kept the Bolts from doing anything significant as far as future signings.
In return, Tampa gets, not only get a defensive specialist in Halpern, but also a shootout sniper in Jokinen. Not bad.
If you saw this one coming, then I’d like for you to come with me to Vegas. Most people had no idea Pittsburgh was even interested. I’m sure this deal really threw a wrench in the plans of teams like Ottawa and Montreal, who were both really gunning for Hossa. This adds another layer of depth and scoring to a Penguins team that now has a tremendous amount of firepower for the final stretch and beyond. As easy as it may be, Pascal Dupuis should not be forgotten in this deal. He brings a veteran presence and playoff experience to a young Penguins team looking to have a better showing in the playoffs after last year.
What is Pittsburgh giving up though? Some say too much when you start talking about top prospect Angelo Esposito. What happened in the span of a year that the Pens organization just decided he’s not worth their time anymore? Espositio was more than impressive when he played for the Quebec Ramparts, and this may become a steal in later years for the Thrashers.
Colby Armstrong and Erik Christensen are also tough calls. It’s hard to deny the chemistry Armstrong had with his linemates in Pittsburgh, and his numbers showed it. Armstrong had 9 goals and 15 assists this year in a Pens sweater. While those aren’t record-breaking amounts, they do show that Armstrong had the ability to produce with the likes of Malkin and was able to step up with Crosby out of the lineup. Christensen has 20 points (9 goals, 11 assists) so far this year, which when added with Armstrong’s totals, puts a big dent in production that Hossa may or may not make up for.
Both teams really have potential to gain a lot from this deal, but I see most of Atlanta’s share hinging on what happens next season. Pittsburgh, however, has a must win situation on their hands if they want to keep Hossa around for the long run.
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Think another trade should have made the list? Sound off in the comments!
