With the NHL’s trade deadline looming, teams have already been making splash moves and there’s plenty more players to be moved. For all the splash moves, look no further than ESNY’s trade log.
A Twitter List by EliteSportsNY
March 1, 2017:
Mark Streit
The Philadelphia Flyers have sent Mark Streit to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Valtteri Filppula, a 2017 4th-round draft pick and a 2017 conditional 7th-round pick. The Tampa Bay Lightning then sent Streit right to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2018 4th-round pick.
This is a move that surprises, but from Yzerman’s end. Steve Yzerman is regarded as one of the craftiest General Managers in the NHL, and for a moment it looked like he made a bone-headed move.
But being the crafty guy he is, Yzerman went right to Pittsburgh and flipped Philadelphia’s skilled defenseman and went him directly to their rivals.
Streit to Pittsburgh makes perfect sense. The Pens D-core is crippled with guys like Trevor Daley, Oli Maatta, and Kris Letang injured the Pens could use a skillful veteran like Streit on the powerplay at a more than affordable cost.
Jarome Iginla
Jerome Iginla is free.
The Avalanche have traded the veteran forward to the LA Kings in exchange for a 4th round draft pick.
For Iginla, the relief must be elating. The veteran forward is 39 years old and likely staring his last NHL season in the face. Iginla will be a vocal veteran presence in the locker-room for the Kings and can help provide leadership to a team that has had it shaken since stripping Dustin Brown of his captaincy. Iginla will be reunited with Head Coach Daryl Sutter who coached Iginla and the 2004 Flames to the Stanley Cup Final.
Thomas Vanek
Vanek has been traded to the Florida Panthers for a third round draft pick* and Dylan McIlrath according to theScore.
According to Complete Hockey News, Ken Holland was asking for two 1st-round draft picks as early as yesterday. This is a move that shores up the Panthers offense in the thick of a playoff race. As the teams around them continue to build, this pressures the New York Islanders and Garth Snow to push for some sort of help.
*If the Panthers make the playoffs, Florida’s pick becomes Arizona’s 3rd rounder.
Steve Ott
Steve Ott was traded from the Wings to the Habs for Nikolay Goldobin and a 2017 4th round draft pick.
Ott will add some needed grit to a Habs team that doesn’t have a lot to offer in terms of aggressiveness. With the Habs looking at making a strong playoff run this season, the price was perfect for a tough 4th-line player.
Feb. 28, 2017:
David Desharnais
The Edmonton Oilers have acquired David Desharnais from the Canadiens for Brandon Davidson.
At the price of a bottom four left-handed defenseman, the Oilers add some needed experience into their young lineup to lead a youthful core come playoff time. Through 31 games, Desharnais has four goals and 10 points this year.
Johnny Oduya
The Chicago Blackhawks welcome back Johnny Oduya from the Dallas Stars in exchange for Mark McNeill and a 2018 4th round pick.
The Blackhawks have been looking for a replacement for Oduya since he parted with them at the conclusion of the 14-15 season. It seems they’ve found the answer to their issue, in, well, Johnny Oduya.
The Blackhawks welcome back their former defender by sending what is likely to be a career minor league player and a meaningless pick. With the Central division solidifying and Chicago finding themselves in the race once again for the division lead, this is a perfect place and perfect time type of deal for the Hawks who are looking at chasing their fourth cup in seven years.
Viktor Stalberg
The Ottawa Senators have acquired Viktor Stalberg from the Carolina Hurricanes for a 2017 3rd-Round draft pick.
Stalberg is a speedy forward who will bring size at a cheap price with only a $1.5 million cap hit. It’s the perfect deal for a team that’s eyeing the lead in the Atlantic Division and finally looking like they could be a sneaky team in the post-season.
Brendan Smith
The New York Rangers have traded for Brendan Smith for a 2017 3rd round pick and a 2018 4th round pick.
In light of an injury that will sideline Dan Girardi for an extended amount of time, the Rangers had to act. Smith will help alleviate some pressure on the younger defenders but the Rangers had to pay a steep price for a mediocre defender.
Feb. 27, 2017:
Ben Bishop
The Tampa Bay Lightning have traded Vezina-finalist Ben Bishop. The LA Kings will send Peter Budaj, Erik Cernak and 2017 seventh round pick for Bishop and a 2017 fifth-round draft pick.
To Kings: Ben Bishop, 2017 5th round draft pick
To Tampa Bay: Peter Budaj, Erick Cernak, 2017 seventh round draft pick
Hearing if deal gets done, Kings get Ben Bishop and pick and TB Lightning would receive Erik Cernak, Budaj and pick #TSN
— Aaron Ward (@NHL_AaronWard) February 26, 2017
The price-tag is seemingly low but it’s important to remember this is a rental for LA. Bishop will give LA a solid one-two punch going forward, and it will take stress off of Jonathan Quick knowing the Kings have a more-than-reliable 1A in net.
The only feasible reason LA would want to crowd their net is that Quick’s rehab is stalled or Dean Lombardi doesn’t think he will be ready in time for the post-season.
Brian Boyle
Unlike the move to bring Bishop to the Kings, this move makes perfect sense for Toronto. The Leafs are brimming with young talent, and have no true dedicated grit to ensuring they stay healthy.
Matt Martin was a fine enough addition, but having Brian Boyle centering him will bring a reliable penalty killer to the Leafs and another set of hands should an opposing player feel the need to take certain liberties with the Leafs young core.
The #TBLightning get a 2017 second-rounder and Byron Froese back from Toronto for Brian Boyle.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 27, 2017
This should certainly make Senators-Leafs and Habs-Leafs games much more interesting.
To Toronto: Brian Boyle
To Tampa Bay: Byron Froese, 2017 2nd round draft pick
Martin Hanzal
The Wild are in it to win it this season.
It's a 2017 first-round pick going from Minny to AZ for Hanzal, 2018 2nd and the conditional pick is 2019.
— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) February 27, 2017
As is evidenced by the price of admission for Martin Hanzal, the Wild are looking to make their run in 16-17. It seems that GM Chuck Fletcher is ready for his team to make a run and go farther than they did in 2003, the only year Minnesota went to the third round.
According to the Star Tribune:
“I just think this is a year where to me I think our players have played hard. They deserve management and ownership to step up and support them with how hard they’ve played. Who knows what happens down the stretch here. Anything could happen. It could be a great finish. It may not be. But there’s not going to be a called third strike here. We are taking a swing. Our players deserve that. Our fans deserve that. We will see where it goes.”
To pay Arizona a first-round draft pick for a player who has never scored 20 goals in a season is ludicrous, but Fletcher believes it will help his team make a long run this year. Best of luck with that.
To Minnesota: Martin Hanzal, Ryan White, 2017 fourth-round pick
To Arizona: Grayson Downing, 2017 first-round pick, 2018 second-round pick, 2019 conditional
Jordie Benn
In a surprisingly disappointing move, the Montreal Canadiens have acquired Jordie Benn from the Dallas Stars.
TRADE: Canadiens acquire Jordie Benn.
DETAILS -> https://t.co/JtXeNvzsDN #GoHabsGo
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) February 27, 2017
By surprisingly disappointing, I mean the Montreal Canadiens were expected to gun bigger for defensive help, but instead settled on Benn. Which isn’t necessarily a knock to Benn, he’d slot in well on the second or third pairing on a good team and can help alleviate some PK minutes for the aging Andrei Markov.
It was expected the Habs would gun for a bigger name defender. Not necessarily in the realm of Kevin Shattenkirk, but surely someone bigger than Benn.
Regardless, it’s a low-cost, decent return for Montreal who will likely just try to shore up before attempting a run this season.
To Canadiens: Jordie Benn
To Dallas: Greg Pateryn, 2017 fourth round pick
Ron Hainsey
Overall, this was a solid trade for both clubs. The Penguins got the insurance veteran defender that they needed. With guys like Kris Letang, Oli Maatta, and Trevor Daley on the IR, the Penguins needed some relief when they try to defend their Stanley Cup title this year.
Trade: #Pens acquire Ron Hainsey from the #Canes in return for a 2nd round pick and Danny Kristo.https://t.co/45yuuEzQlc
— NHL EXPERT PICKS (@NHLexpertpicks) February 23, 2017
For a 2nd round pick and Danny Kristo, the Penguins got some very reliable insurance heading into the dance in Ron Hainsey.
At 35-years-old, Hainsey has never tasted the playoffs before. At nearly 900 games played, it’s about time for Hainsey to see some post-season success.
