Trade Deadline Day

I checked intermittently throughout the day on the action and had the following thoughts about todays many moves;

---> Tampa Bay: Petiot-D
---> Toronto: Kolzig-G, Heward-D, Rogers-D a 4th rnd pick

A salary dump on to the Leafs who accept the dump for a 4th rnd pick.

---> Buffalo: 2nd rnd pick
---> Edmonton: Kotalik-L

A useful big body who can play on different lines for a 2nd. Good deal for both teams.

---> Carolina: Cole-R Edm, 5th rnd pick
---> Edmonton: O'Sullivan-L, 2nd rnd pick
---> LA: Williams-R

Another deal where all sides win. O'Sullivan has oodles of untapped talent, but needs to find his way. Cole was unhappy and unproductive in Edmonton and returns to ride shotgun for Staal. The only headscratcher is that Cole is UFA and needs to be re-signed, making the deal risky for Car. Williams is older, and more consistent than O'Sullivan and should fit better into the chemistry of the Kings - if he can stay healthy.

---> San Jose: Moen-L, Huskins-D
---> Anaheim: Bonino-L, Pielmeyer-G, conditional 4th

Two prospects of dubious quality (though Pielmeyer as the 18th rated Duck prospect has a good chance at being a real live goaltender at some point) and a low pick for a high tempo checking winger and a depth defenseman. Yawn.

---> Chicago: Pahlsson-C, Stephenson-D, conditional pick
---> Anaheim: Kontiola-C, Wiseniewski-D

Two prosects of dubious quality (though Kontiola, as the 9th rated Blackhawks prospect, has a good chance at being a real live third line center at some point) and a low pick for a high tempo checking center and a depth defenseman. Yawn 2. The dismantling of the Ducks 3rd line for dubious prospects and marginal defenders is now complete.

---> Columbus: Lalande-G

---> Calgary: 4th rnd pick

According to my back of the envelope review (ok, so I actually looked up Hockey Future's depth chart) of Calgary goaltenders, Lalande falls somewhere after; Kiprusoff, McIllheney, Irving, Keetley and Spratt on the depth chart. Which is to say I believe we just got something for nothing.

---> Tampa Bay: Welch-D, 3rd rnd pick
---> Florida: Eminger-D

The funhouse in Tampa Bay just keeps on making people smile. That said, Welch and a 3rd is a pretty nice return on Steve 'Suitcase' Eminger.

---> Anaheim: Christensen-L
---> Atlanta: O'Dell-L

Once considered a key component of the Hossa trade, Christensen was just traded by Atlanta for a prospect Hockeys Future doesn't even have rated.

---> Rangers: Morris-D
---> Phoenix: Prucha-L, Dawe-L, Kalinin-D

Dawe is a decent AHL sniper who has never translated his game to the NHL except as an injury call-up (see Jamie Lundmark in Calgary for another example). Morris is definitely an upgrade on Kalinin - but an expensive one. Prucha being thin, small and weak, was included purely to make the money work as he has no exceptional talent except as the trigger man for a superstar like Jagr who can cover for all of his faults whilst setting him up in the slot, and I don't see anyone like that in Phoenix.

---> Rangers: Antropov-C
---> Toronto: 2nd rnd pick, conditional pick

Obviously all that talk of getting a 1st for Antropov was way overblown, but getting 2 picks - including a 2nd rounder for him is probably fair value. I do wonder what the #@*^%*$ Sather is thinking though. He now has three 2nd line centers on his roster (Drury, Gomez and Antropov) getting a fortune in cap-space. Antropov would have been a way better pickup by any number of teams looking to add to their depth - but the Rangers aren't one of them.

---> Philadelphia: Carcillo-L
---> Phoenix: Upshall-L, 2nd rnd pick

Carcillo is a much tougher, and also much slower version of Upshall, but has a slightly better contract (by half a million or so), and is signed for one more year than Upshall. Phoenix is clearly hoping they can use the holding rights to sign Upshall as a bonus to getting Carcillo for the 2nd, while Philly saved a little money and got another bully for Broadstreet.

---> Islanders: A 5th, 4th, or 3rd rnd pick
---> Penguins: Guerin-R

The conditions are on whether the Pens; miss the playoffs, make the playoffs but exit in the first round, or advance past the 1st - pretty nice return for a guy whose best days are long past him. The Penguins get a slightly less dinged up version of Gary Roberts for their playoff run. A win win in my books.

---> Tampa Bay: Lashoff-D, Karstums-L
---> Boston: Recchi-R, 2nd rnd pick

A rental character guy and a 2nd round pick for two prospects - one of whom (Lashoff) has a legit roster chance next year. Win-win.

---> Anaheim: Nokkelainen-L
---> Boston: Montador-D

A fringe left winger (from that dissapointing Finnish trio that includes Tukonen in LA) for a fringe defenseman in Montador. My junk for your junk. Everybody wins!

---> Buffalo: Tellqvist-G
---> Phoenix: 4th rnd pick

Buffalo needed goalie insurance, Phoenix needs...everything, and a 4th can only help.

---> Penguins: Wozniewski-D
---> St Louis: Richmond-D

Depth D-man swap. I'm trying hard to care, but its just not happening.

---> Ottawa: Leclaire-G, 2nd rnd pick
---> Columbus: Vermette-C

I love this deal for Ottawa, they get a legit NHL goaltender AND a 2nd rnd pick for a light scoring high speed 3rd line center. Nice. I see the upside for Columbus in this, Vermette fills a gaping hole in the middle, and his all-round game is likely to appeal to Hitchcock, while Leclaire was redundant for the team with the emergence of Mason - not to mention chronically injured. Still, I think Murray just crapped himself at his good fortune today.

---> Calgary: Leopold-D
---> Colorado: Nycholat-D, Wilson-D, 2nd rnd pick

Sweet. Leopold can easily play in Calgary's top four and gives them a huge depth advantage over many teams as we wheel into the playoffs. Wilson is a way below the radar prospect, and Nycholat is pure salary dump - so its really Leopold for a 2nd, which rocks.

---> Calgary: Jokinen-C, 3rd rnd pick
---> Phoenix: Lombardi-C, Prust-L, conditional 1st

A steaming cup of AWESOME. Jokinen is just shy of being a franchise caliber pivot. He's 6'3", 215, has brawn, speed, and a high skill level to go with near elite playmaking ability. The only knock on him is that he has always played for loser teams that don't make the playoffs - as if that was always his fault. Bonus points - Keenan loves him, and Ollie loves Keenan back - so we can expect to get a maximum return on his potential - which is considerable. Lombardi to be fair is a quality NHL player with elite speed, but he's never put all his tools into the same toolbox. After watching him for years I'm convinced he's a slightly more versatile Paul Ranheim clone. He can play a great checking role on a third line. Prust is a dime-a-dozen energy line winger who can drop the gloves. He's a player, just not a great one, or even really, a good one. Losing the first will hurt the teams depth in the long run, but with the Flames close to being among the elite contenders, its the right time to sacrifice the future.