Post by hockeyfreak (Hurricanes GM) on Aug 1, 2011 0:28:26 GMT -5
The Best (and Worst) of the Deadline
12 Trades re-shape the DHL playoff picture
While the DHL trade deadline appears to be relatively light this year in terms of sheer volume, there was no shortage of blockbuster moving.
With three major deals each, the New York Islanders and the Ottawa Senators stole the show this deadline. Making three deals of slightly less epic proportions were the Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild. Also making a flurry were the Carolina Hurricanes and the Calgary Flames.
Having such big name movement throughout the league inevitably comes the winners and losers, so without further ado, I present the ultimate, non-bias guide to the 2012 DHL Trade Deadline:
The Best:
#1 - NYI: With three major moves, the Islanders in one fell swoop changed the entire dynamic of their team for the future, and all for the better. Having dealt promising young stars as Nazem Kadri and Michael Grabner, to have them listed so highly would imply a massive return, and that is exactly what they got. Acquiring American born Erik Johnson from Anaheim was a particular move that I thought extremely highly of. Johnson should provide everything that the Islanders lacked and will undoubtedly create a dynamic duo alongside Travis Hamonic for years to come. In dealing Grabner, the Isles also picked up veteran Brenden Morrow as well as two potentially top 10 draft picks. For a rebuilding team the veteran direction coupled with two high 1st rounders was a brilliant move even if it came at a costly price.
#2 - OTT: The unquestionable best move of the deadline was Ottawa's acquisition (theft) of Evander Kane. Trading some quarters and spare parts for a franchise center was masterful. While GM Sensfan paid a steep price for Michael Grabner, the speedy Swede will look incredible amongst other standouts in Ottawa. The Sens paid dearly for Grabner, but in taking two steps backwards, they leapt a mile forwards by snatching Kane right at the deadline.
#3 - CGY: Some would call it insanity to pay a massive sum for a player who has publicly admitted to testing the market come this June, but I call it shrewd. The Flames are serious about contending, and Richards coule be the edge this April. The Flames took no real hit in acquiring Richards's services aside from the loss of Nicklas Kronwall. It a gamble, but I appreciate the risk he is taking.
#4 - CAR: Swapping Jamie Oleksiak for Rick Nash was a move most of GM Hockeyfreak's peers called robbery. While a promising young defender, Oleksiak is no significant loss in the Canes system. Nash provides game breaking offensive talent to an organization that already has the services of several equal talented forwards. The Hurricanes are serious about their playoff hopes, and it is clear that Nash is a player that they believe can be the deciding factor for them.
#5 - Well I really wanted to make a top five, but no other team's struck me as making moves significantly beneficial to their teams. On to the worst!
On the other hand, some GMs made some moves that took them multiple steps backwards. Some were bad, and some were downright ugly. The three worst of the deadline:
#3 - ANA: An avid and outspoken fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs, GM eamonn paid a massive price to land Nazem Kadri. Trading his franchise defender in Erik Johnson did not seem to be a move that was well thought out in my opinion. Kadri does not and likely will not provide game breaking talent, so even with Calvin De Haan in the return, I felt this was a move that set the Ducks backwards.
#2 - PIT: A team well in contention for the Cup dealing a gamebreaking forward for a bottom pairing rookie defender? There's bad, and then there's delusional. Jamie Oleksiak, while promising, shows absolutely no indication of being the future "franchise defender" that GM Kyaku has proclaimed him to be. A team with a sterling record in their past 14 games traded a major reason why in Rick Nash in the hopes of landing a guy who they can rely on defensively now and in the future. This was a trade that really had no justification.
#1 - WPG: The Jets dealt their future, their light at the end of the tunnel, their...well, franchise, for a streaky Russian winger, a third liner, a project of a 1st round pick and two late 1st round picks. Talk about cashing in a dollar for 6 dimes, a quarter and 3 nickels. For a team that finally was developing a face for the franchise, to trade it so suddenly and not receive much in the way of value is disappointing. I was hoping the Jets would use this deadline to nab a powerful winger to play alongside Kane, but in a shocking turn of events, I feel the Jets are running without an engine at this point.
That concludes the 2012 DHL Trade Deadline Guide. Nobody take offense, this is all in good fun.
Keep checking back for a 2012 DHL Playoff Preview within the month!
12 Trades re-shape the DHL playoff picture
While the DHL trade deadline appears to be relatively light this year in terms of sheer volume, there was no shortage of blockbuster moving.
With three major deals each, the New York Islanders and the Ottawa Senators stole the show this deadline. Making three deals of slightly less epic proportions were the Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild. Also making a flurry were the Carolina Hurricanes and the Calgary Flames.
Having such big name movement throughout the league inevitably comes the winners and losers, so without further ado, I present the ultimate, non-bias guide to the 2012 DHL Trade Deadline:
The Best:
#1 - NYI: With three major moves, the Islanders in one fell swoop changed the entire dynamic of their team for the future, and all for the better. Having dealt promising young stars as Nazem Kadri and Michael Grabner, to have them listed so highly would imply a massive return, and that is exactly what they got. Acquiring American born Erik Johnson from Anaheim was a particular move that I thought extremely highly of. Johnson should provide everything that the Islanders lacked and will undoubtedly create a dynamic duo alongside Travis Hamonic for years to come. In dealing Grabner, the Isles also picked up veteran Brenden Morrow as well as two potentially top 10 draft picks. For a rebuilding team the veteran direction coupled with two high 1st rounders was a brilliant move even if it came at a costly price.
#2 - OTT: The unquestionable best move of the deadline was Ottawa's acquisition (theft) of Evander Kane. Trading some quarters and spare parts for a franchise center was masterful. While GM Sensfan paid a steep price for Michael Grabner, the speedy Swede will look incredible amongst other standouts in Ottawa. The Sens paid dearly for Grabner, but in taking two steps backwards, they leapt a mile forwards by snatching Kane right at the deadline.
#3 - CGY: Some would call it insanity to pay a massive sum for a player who has publicly admitted to testing the market come this June, but I call it shrewd. The Flames are serious about contending, and Richards coule be the edge this April. The Flames took no real hit in acquiring Richards's services aside from the loss of Nicklas Kronwall. It a gamble, but I appreciate the risk he is taking.
#4 - CAR: Swapping Jamie Oleksiak for Rick Nash was a move most of GM Hockeyfreak's peers called robbery. While a promising young defender, Oleksiak is no significant loss in the Canes system. Nash provides game breaking offensive talent to an organization that already has the services of several equal talented forwards. The Hurricanes are serious about their playoff hopes, and it is clear that Nash is a player that they believe can be the deciding factor for them.
#5 - Well I really wanted to make a top five, but no other team's struck me as making moves significantly beneficial to their teams. On to the worst!
On the other hand, some GMs made some moves that took them multiple steps backwards. Some were bad, and some were downright ugly. The three worst of the deadline:
#3 - ANA: An avid and outspoken fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs, GM eamonn paid a massive price to land Nazem Kadri. Trading his franchise defender in Erik Johnson did not seem to be a move that was well thought out in my opinion. Kadri does not and likely will not provide game breaking talent, so even with Calvin De Haan in the return, I felt this was a move that set the Ducks backwards.
#2 - PIT: A team well in contention for the Cup dealing a gamebreaking forward for a bottom pairing rookie defender? There's bad, and then there's delusional. Jamie Oleksiak, while promising, shows absolutely no indication of being the future "franchise defender" that GM Kyaku has proclaimed him to be. A team with a sterling record in their past 14 games traded a major reason why in Rick Nash in the hopes of landing a guy who they can rely on defensively now and in the future. This was a trade that really had no justification.
#1 - WPG: The Jets dealt their future, their light at the end of the tunnel, their...well, franchise, for a streaky Russian winger, a third liner, a project of a 1st round pick and two late 1st round picks. Talk about cashing in a dollar for 6 dimes, a quarter and 3 nickels. For a team that finally was developing a face for the franchise, to trade it so suddenly and not receive much in the way of value is disappointing. I was hoping the Jets would use this deadline to nab a powerful winger to play alongside Kane, but in a shocking turn of events, I feel the Jets are running without an engine at this point.
That concludes the 2012 DHL Trade Deadline Guide. Nobody take offense, this is all in good fun.
Keep checking back for a 2012 DHL Playoff Preview within the month!