The Anaheim Ducks came in under the wire with the trade of the day as they acquired top defenseman James Wisniewski and a third round 2015 draft pick for forwards William Karlsson and Rene Bourque along with a 2015 second round draft pick. Defensive depth has been a major problem for Anaheim and a key reason for their playoff failures in the past two seasons despite stellar regular season records.
The Ducks further added to their blue line by acquiring Michael Sgarbossa from the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Mat Clark, and added defenseman Korbinian Holzer from the Toronto Maple Leafs for defenseman Eric Brewer and a fifth round pick. The Ducks rank 13th for shots against, 20th for goals against, and 15th for penalty killing and these moves were an aggressive effort at improvement.
Wisniewski had seven goals and 44 assists last year in what was a career year but has seen his numbers decline based in large part to Columbus being decimated with injuries. The nine-year NHL veteran hurt his foot blocking a shot Sunday night but is expected in the Ducks lineup this week. He should become the Ducks number one defenseman and a team leader.
Anaheim will be the team to watch in the Western Conference as they attempt to mesh in time for the playoffs. They gain considerable credibility with their moves on Deadline Day.
Bruins Fall Short
The Boston Bruins added forwards Zack Phillips, Maxime Talbot, Brett Connolly and Paul Carey which is a comparative yawn to when the landed Jaromir Jagr two years ago. General manager Peter Chiarelli seems to be throwing a lot of spaghetti against the wall to see if any sticks. There is no indication that Boston’s offensive woes have been adequately fixed. Bruins nation will remain in an uproar. The Florida Panthers remain a bona fide threat to overtake the B’s for a playoff spot.
Tanks A Lot
NHL players and coach’s do not tank games. They have no incentive to lose their jobs to someone else. But management is quite another story. Buffalo general manager Tim Murray has officially tanked the season by sending off what few remaining serviceable players were left on his last place roster. Forwards Torrey Mitchell, Chris Stewart, and Brian Flynn along with goaltender Michal Neuvirth were all sent packing as the Sabres continue their efforts to get the best lotto odds for projected to draft pick Connor McDavid.
The Phoenix Coyotes also cleaned house after Sunday’s blockbusters that sent Antione Vermette to the Chicago Blackhawks and Keith Yandle to the Rangers. Defenseman Zbynek Michalek was sent to the St. Louis Blues. The Coyotes have stockpiled a ton of top draft choices and will be in rough shape for the next few years.
Habs add Needed Defenseman
The Montreal Canadiens rank best in the NHL for goals against but 22nd for shots allowed. With that in mind they picked up defenseman Jeff Petry from the Edmonton Oilers to bolster their thin blue line. A solid understated move.
Flyers Surrender to Bolts?
The Philadelphia Flyers have defensive problems and yet traded veteran rearguard Braydon Coburn to the Tampa Bay Lightning for defenseman Radko Gudas and first and third round draft picks for 2015. Flyers general manager is clearing salary and needs cap space while wanting to stockpile draft picks. Tampa Bay gets a much needed veteran presence on the blue line for their playoff push.
Nonis, Shanahan and Leafs Fail Miserably
After the insane mass hysteria of trading David Clarkson to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Nathan Horton, a man unlikely to ever play again, general manager Dave Nonis and his puppet master, team president Brendan Shanahan, failed to move anyone of significance on deadline day. It now looks as if players such as Phil Kessel, Dion Phaneuf, and Joffrey Lupul will have to wait until the summer draft to get moved if at all. By then, however, Nonis may be back at his true life’s calling, which is to serve as Brian Burke’s personal valet in Calgary. Nonis has been an abysmal failure in Toronto, with an amateur hour record, and spare me the “he’s a good hockey guy” crap. He lacks the strength and the gravitas to be taken seriously as a top NHL executive as proven in his disastrous tenure as GM after his boss Burke got the gas in 2013.
Isles Take Feelers
Forwards Mark Louis, Dustin Jeffrey and Tyler Kennedy arrive to the Islanders as potential projects while Neuvirth will be a solid backup goaltender to Jaroslav Halak as playoff insurance.
And the 2015 Trade Season Winners and Losers Are…..
The Rangers, Blackhawks and Ducks.
Also showing solid were the Lighting, Canadiens, Islanders, Panthers, and Kings. The Coyotes and Sabres did what they had to do and Columbus is also eying the future.
Boston disappointed and Toronto failed.
