Sorts of Sports

NHL Trade Winners

After sitting and letting the deadline and previous month of trade activity pass here are my Top 5 Winners

Boston Bruins-

I love the addition of Tomas Kaberle to this blue line.  They really needed a puck moving defenseman and he is as good as they come.  With Kaberle being a UFA at season’s end, he doesn’t have much cost against the cap and there is no sacrificing to have to fit him in next year.  The underrated addition of Rich Peverly is the type of move you will really recognize come playoff time, especially with the absence of Marc Savard.  Peverly is a quality replacement for Savard, and the Bruins are in a great shape to battle the Flyers for a chance to get to the Cup finals.

Washington Capitals-

Jason Arnott’s 7 points in his last 25 games with New Jersey wasn’t all that impressive, but the Capitals needed a big second line center and I guess that’s what they got in Arnott.  The reason I have them as a winner is the addition of Dennis Wideman.  Wideman gives them another big shot option on the power play, making their second unit all the more dangerous.  Also, he is a solid defensemen and a mobile puck moving one at that to assist Mike Green.  He can help teach the game to John Carlson as well.  Not sure if Marco Sturm can play a significant role as he hasn’t showed much this season with the LA Kings, but a cheap waiver pickup with skill is something any team can take a chance on.

Tampa Bay Lightning-

The addition of Eric Brewer a week or so before the deadline is one of the smartest moves made this deadline year.  Brewer is a strong defenseman with some offensive upside.  He gives the Lightning a top four shut down man, and early signs show he will be go against the top forwards from the opposition each night.  Having a big shutdown defensive player is important in winning a cup and the Lightning upgraded themselves significantly at that spot.

Dallas Stars-

They made a big splash sending away James Neal and Matt Niskanen to bring back Alex Goligoski.  It helps on the power play and adding a puck moving defenseman to the blue line corps is always a solid move, especially someone who can beat the goalie from the blue line like Goligoski can.  They also added Jamie Langenbrunner back in January which adds depth to the top 9 forwards.  However, the biggest move was not trading Brad Richards, their leading scorer.  He is out with a concussion, but teams wanted him and his UFA pending status.  Not trading him means they still might make the playoffs this year, along with giving them a chance to keep him after this season, a percentage that would have dropped to zero, should they have moved him.  For that General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk gets in my top 5 win column.

Los Angeles Kings-

The addition of Dustin Penner gives the Kings a perennial 30-goal scorer to put on the wing for Anze Kopitar.  This is something they have not had for him and should make Kopitar even more than a point per game player.  This is a big move for the Kings who have been trying for a while to get a player of Penner’s caliber or better to play alongside Kopitar.  Does this move alone make them a cup contender?  Probably not, however I would say this is a step in the right direction for GM Dean Lombardi in making this a cup winning team next season.

Runners Up: Buffalo with their acquisition of Brad Boyes, cheap cost with a 40 goal past, if he revisits that form they could be in for a big upgrade offensively.  Also, the Phoenix Coyotes gave up NHL Pieces, but addition of Rusty Klesla is an underrated move, bolstering a blue line that is already pretty solid in front of a quality net-minder in Ilya Bryzgalov.

Tweet me @SteveFaulks28 and tell me how your team did at the deadline.