The NHL's trade deadline was Monday, Feb. 27 at 3 p.m. ET. Here are moves that were made in advance of the deadline – as well as deadline-day deals – with analysis.
ANALYSIS: The Canucks do not want to be pushed around in the playoffs anymore. So they made a bold move for 21-year-old Kassian, the 13th overall pick in the 2009 draft. He has played only 27 NHL games, but he's a 6-foot-3, 214-pound power forward who can play now and in the future. Hodgson was a lot to give up. He's only a candidate for the Calder Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year, a 22-year-old who went 10th overall in the 2008 draft. But Hodgson needs to play a No. 1 or No. 2 center role, and he wasn't going to do that in Vancouver behind Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler. To win the Cup, the Canucks needed more prototypical No. 3 and No. 4 centers with experience, and they added another one earlier today in Sami Pahlsson.
ANALYSIS: The Leafs and Ducks flip prospects, with Toronto getting a biggie-sized D-man in Fraser and Anaheim obtaining a work-in-progress in ECHLer Mitchell.
ANALYSIS: The Bruins rented a little more depth and experience with Zanon, a 31-year-old veteran and pending unrestricted free agent. Can never have enough.
ANALYSIS: If you didn't know the Predators were going for it before, you know it now. They spent a first-round pick in exchange for Gaustad, a pending unrestricted free agent, and a fourth-rounder. Gaustad gives them size down the middle and a defensive presence who can deal with top players in a long, grinding playoff series. Many contenders were interested in Gaustad, but no one else was willing to pay the Sabres' price. Good work by Buffalo GM Darcy Regier to leverage Gaustad for a high return.
ANALYSIS: Curious move by the Bruins, who could have claimed Rolston off waivers over the weekend for nothing. Makes you wonder if they missed out on another target. But they add veteran depth with Rolston, a 39-year-old forward with 70 games of playoff experience, and Mottau, a 33-year-old third-pair defenseman. These don't compare to the Chris Kelly and Rich Peverley deals the Bruins made last year that helped them win the Stanley Cup, but more depth is always good.
ANALYSIS: The Blackhawks badly needed help on defense. Oduya, a 30-year-old rental, can help on the second pair and second power-play unit. But when he struggles, he can be a turnover machine. Giving up a player for future assets is a little curious for the Jets, though, as they sit eighth in the East.
ANALYSIS: Lightning GM Steve Yzerman continues to stockpile defensemen, a big need in Tampa Bay. Lee has been a bottom pair guy, but he has contributed for the Senators and was the ninth overall pick in 2005. He's only 24. Yzerman comes from the Wings’ school that teaches young defensemen blossom much later in their careers, so maybe he sees long-term upside. Gilroy, a good skater, is a pending unrestricted free agent.
(Trade completed Feb. 27, 2012.)
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VANCOUVER
ACQUIRED Sami Pahlsson, F
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ACQUIRED Taylor Ellington, D 4th round pick (2012) 4th round pick (2013)
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COLUMBUS
ANALYSIS: If anything can rejuvenate Pahlsson, it should be going from 30th to first in the NHL standings. He won a Stanley Cup in Anaheim and has a chance to win another in Vancouver. Now, that was back in 2007, and Pahlsson is 34. He has scored only two goals this season and is minus-6. But at best, he gives the Canucks a third-line center who can check and win faceoffs. At worst, he's a rental on a team with plenty of depth already.
ANALYSIS: Interesting that two bubble teams would trade with each other – the Sharks are only three points ahead of the Avs, though with two games in hand. San Jose shakes up its bottom six and bolsters its penalty killing with Winnik, a pending unrestricted free agent, and Galiardi, a pending restricted free agent. Both can skate, though neither scores much. McGinn goes the other way – another restricted free agent and bottom-six forward. The Avs haven’t helped their playoff chances, but gain a little for the future.
ANALYSIS: Aulie, 22, came to Toronto in the Dion Phaneuf trade and even skated on the team’s top pairing with Phaneuf for a while. But he has been in the minors, and the Leafs have defensive depth. Ashton, 20, is a prospect who projects as a power forward in the NHL. He was a first-round pick (29th overall) in 2009. He's big at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, and skates well.
ANALYSIS: Good hockey trade. Two 29-year-old defensemen, both signed through 2013-14 – Gilbert with a $4 million cap hit, Schultz with a $3.5 million cap hit. Gilbert is a Minnesota native with a good point shot who can boost the Wild offensively; Schultz is a western Canadian kid who adds a steady presence on the blue line for the high-flying Oilers.
ANALYSIS: The Red Wings signed Commodore to a one-year, $1 million free-agent deal to add depth last summer, but he didn't add more than that in Detroit, appearing in only 17 games. He might get a chance to play for Tampa down the stretch, while top Wings prospect Brendan Smith will come up from the minors and step in for Detroit.
ANALYSIS: This is a risky, go-for-it move. There were issues with the Kostitsyn brothers in Montreal, and Andrei has been inconsistent with his effort and production. He has no goals in his past dozen games, only two in his past 28. But Sergei has played well for the Predators, and his brother has loads of talent, likes to hit and could provide the offensive punch the Preds need if motivated. The Predators' options were limited, and if this doesn't work, they can cut ties with Andrei quickly because he's only a rental. This is the second deal the Preds have made with the Habs, having already acquired Hall Gill. Imagine, the mighty Montreal Canadiens selling and the Nashville Predators buying for a Stanley Cup run.
ANALYSIS: Bishop was stuck behind Jaroslav Halak and ex-Senators goalie Brian Elliott on the Blues’ depth chart, but has been great in the minors and appears ready for the big-time. A second-rounder for a potential No. 1 goalie is a good gamble. St. Louis gets a high draft pick in exchange for a non-NHL player who was eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer.
ANALYSIS: Wolski’s skill set is tempting, but there’s a reason he has bounced to his fourth NHL team in less than three seasons. He usually leaves coaches wanting more, although perhaps a chance to get out of John Tortorella’s doghouse and a fresh start in Florida will spark a turnaround.
ANALYSIS: In Zidlicky, the Devils get a puck-moving, offense-minded defenseman who had fallen out of favor in Minnesota. The move could prove to be very beneficial for New Jersey. Meanwhile, the Wild received a package of players, prospects and picks that appears to be more than adequate compensation.
ANALYSIS: A nice pickup by the Panthers, and on the cheap, too. Smithson won’t light it up offensively, but he’s an underrated grinder who had a strong playoff for the Predators last spring.
ACQUIRED Jack Johnson, D 1st round pick (2012 or 2013)
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COLUMBUS
ANALYSIS: Los Angeles needed scoring and added a potential 40-goal man in Carter. It’s a big gamble for the Kings – a “huge risk,” in fact, according to GM Dean Lombardi – taking on Carter’s long-term, big-money contract and a player whose maturity has been called into question. There’s a big payoff, though, if Carter plays up to his abilities, and he’s landed in a perfect situation, joining a team that could contend and that will be relying on him for goals. For the Blue Jackets, getting Johnson and a first-rounder is a decent package in return. They’re instantly much better defensively, and better positioned for the future with the first-round pick – and by shedding Carter’s mammoth contract, too.
ANALYSIS: The Coyotes get better at both ends of the ice by adding the two-way prowess of Vermette, while Columbus adds picks and goaltending depth in McElhinney.
ANALYSIS: The puck-moving Quincey returns to Detroit – where his NHL career began – and the Lightning obtain another high pick for the 2012 NHL entry draft.
ACQUIRED Jon Kalinski, F 2nd round pick (2012 or 2013) 4th round pick (2013)
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TAMPA BAY
ANALYSIS: He’s no Chris Pronger, but the veteran Kubina arrives in Philadelphia as an experienced, Stanley Cup-winning defenseman who can man the point on the power play. Kalinski is a depth prospect for Tampa Bay, and the Lightning also added to their stockpile of draft picks.
(Trade completed Feb. 18, 2012.)
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NASHVILLE
ACQUIRED Hal Gill, D Conditional 5th round pick (2013)
ANALYSIS: Nashville bolsters its already deep and talented defense corps with an experienced playoff veteran who can kill penalties, but they paid a heavy price in parting with Geoffrion and a second-rounder.
ANALYSIS: Moore gives San Jose depth and experience at forward. He's a team-first type and a valuable checking-line player who can skate and score. For Tampa Bay, a second-round pick is a nice return for a rental of Moore's pedigree.
ANALYSIS: The Flyers needed help defensively, and Grossman is a stay-at-home stalwart who can contribute on special teams, too. For the retooling Stars, a couple of high draft picks bolsters the prospect cupboard.
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