While SXU students were at home on Spring Break, the NHL played on. In fact, the NHL underwent a crucial milestone in this regular-season.
March 5 was the annual Trade Deadline. This day marks the last point in the regular-season where all teams can complete trades.
After this point, no team can trade players or claim players off of waivers. It is a very hectic point in time for hockey clubs as they scramble to move players in hopes of either rebuilding for next season and/or gaining extra skill for a playoff push.
This year’s Trade Deadline was very exciting as teams made HUGE trades that included big-time players.
Below is a list of what I thought were the biggest moves…
2014 Trade Deadline
The following information represents what each team ACQUIRED in the listed trades.
New York Rangers: RW Martin St. Louis
Tampa Bay Lightning: RW Ryan Callahan, conditional pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, and a 1st Round Draft Pick in 2015.
This was one of the biggest trades that took place prior to the Trade Deadline. Each team swapped their captain in the hopes of bringing new talent to their lineups. I think that Tampa Bay won in this trade.
Tampa acquired a young Ryan Callahan and two draft picks including a 1st Round. To me, they need Callahan’s physical presence and offensive skill, not to mention the relief in cap space that Marty St. Louis was taking up.
New York did not lose completely as St. Louis is a highly skilled forward in the NHL despite his age (38 years old).
Detroit Red Wings: C David Legwand
Nashville Predators: RW Patrick Eaves, C Calle Jarnkrok and a conditional 2014 NHL Draft Pick.
I am not sure about who is the winner or loser in this trade. I think it could be a fair trade for both teams actually. Legwand was a long time Nashville Predator and contributed a lot to their program, but the Preds need a change up.
They are having a bad season and could use the skilled Patrick Eaves in their lineup. If not for this year, next year I think he will start to click with the Preds.
I do not know too much about Jarnkrok, but adding another center and a draft pick seems like a good deal for Nashville.
Detroit will surely enjoy the veteran presence of David Legwand. He will bring skill along with some grit to their lineup as they hope to clinch a playoff berth.
Montreal Canadiens: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional 2014 Draft Pick
New York Islanders: RW Sebastian Collberg and a conditional 2014 Draft Pick
We all knew that Vanek would be joining a new team yet again for the second time this year when he said that he would not resign with the Islanders.
Well, Montreal had their sights set on Vanek this season. Montreal is definitely the winner here in this trade, but ONLY if they can keep Vanek interested in their team as he will be a free agent after this season.
Vanek is a highly skilled forward and can contribute a lot for Montreal as they too are struggling to clinch a playoff berth. The Islanders did not lose much in this trade, as they are not going to make the playoffs and they would only have had Vanek for another couple weeks or so.
Edmonton Oilers: 5th Round Daft Pick in 2014 and a 3rd Round Draft Pick in 2015
Ottawa Senators: RW Ales Hemsky
This trade could go either way. Hemsky was a great player for the Oilers but never really amounted to his potential as a 1st Round Draft Pick in 2001. He only has 10 goals this season and one of them was scored while playing with Ottawa. Edmonton gains future picks while Ottawa adds a skilled 30-year-old forward to their lineup. Who knows, maybe Hemsky will fit in well with the Sens!
Columbus Blue Jackets: RW Matt Frattin, a 2nd Round Draft Pick in 2014 (Toronto) or a 2015 Entry Draft Pick (previously acquired) and a conditional Draft Pick
Los Angeles Kings: RW Marian Gaborik
This was a big time trade! Again though, I think this trade can go either way for both teams. Marian Gaborik has always been a highly skilled player in the NHL. As a 3rd Overall pick in 2000, Gaborik has had several 30+ goal seasons over his career with the Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers, and Columbus Blue Jackets.
However, at 32 years old, Gaborik has sustained some serious injuries recently, which has affected his play. The LA Kings have disregarded that fact and have chosen to give him a shot. He will bring tremendous skill and speed to the Kings while Matt Frattin will bring great skill to Columbus.
Buffalo Sabres: G Michal Neuvirth and D Rostislav Klesla
Washington Capitals: G Jaroslav Halak and a 3rd Round Draft Pick in 2015
The Buffalo Sabres have made quite a few moves this season in hopes of turning their struggling franchise around. However, with this trade I believe, in fact I know, the Sabres got jipped!
The trade looks great on paper considering they added a decent goaltender in Neuvirth and a veteran skilled defenseman in Klesla. B
ut here’s the kicker: Rusty Klesla said he would not play for the Sabres. Klesla said that he will continue his professional hockey career in Russia’s KHL.
So it is apparent that the Sabres lost in this trade considering they gave up a better goaltender (Halak) in the hopes of getting a decent goaltender like Neuvirth and a good defenseman like Klesla. Poor Buffalo, nothing seems to go their way lately.
Buffalo Sabres: C Torey Mitchell, 2nd Round Draft Pick in 2014 (Winnipeg-previously acquired) and a 2nd Round Draft Pick in 2016
Minnesota Wild: LW Matt Moulson, C Cody McCormick
This was another big move made by the Sabres. It seems like the Sabres cannot hold onto the skilled players they have acquired lately, but I guess that is how they like to do business! Matt Moulson was great for Buffalo in the time that he played there this season.
After being traded from the Islanders, Moulson scored 11 goals and 18 assists in 44 games for the Sabres. However, the Sabres traded the 30-year-old with respects to their future as they acquired two 2nd Round Draft Picks.
Frank Markasovic
Sports Editor