This was a pretty good trade deadline, as it produced not only quantity but quality as well. Here is what took place on Wednesday.
To New York R: Martin St. Louis
To Tampa Bay: Ryan Callahan, 1st Round Pick (2015), Conditional 2nd Round Pick (2014)
Trade Analysis: And we start off with a bang! St. Louis gets his wish and moves to New York. While St. Louis did handle his trade demand in a less-than-professional manner, I doubt that being left off the Olympic roster was the only reason why (he did eventually get on it). In New York, St. Louis gets to be reunited with Brad Richards, as the two hope to recreate the chemistry they had in 2004. As for Tampa Bay, while they lose St. Louis' playmaking ability, they do get a good top-6 winger in Callahan. They also get a first round pick in 2015 and a conditional 2nd (which turns into a 1st if the Rangers make the Eastern Conference Final) in 2014.
To Ottawa: Ales Hemsky
To Edmonton: 5th Round Pick (2014), 3rd Round Pick (2013)
Trade Analysis: Ottawa didn't look far for their winger for Spezza (they are currently on a Western Canada road trip). Hemsky still has skill, but has seen a decline in production the past few years. A change in scenery could be what Hemsky needs. As for Edmonton they get what could be considered ok value for a player like Hemsky.
To Buffalo: Hudson Fasching, Nicolas Deslauriers
To Los Angeles: Brayden McNabb, Jonathan Parker, 2nd Round Pick (2014), 2nd Round Pick (2015)
Trade Analysis: Sabres are continuing their rebuild but this one seems questionable to me. Fasching sounds like he could be a top-6 forward while Deslauriers is developing in the AHL. But what the Sabres gave up seems like a bit much (at this point). The Kings get a depth defenseman McNabb, a guy who probably will be a career minor leaguer in Parker, and two 2nd round picks. This trade is basically swapping prospects/picks, so it will take a few years to see how this pans out.
To Montreal: Devan Dubnyk
To Nashville: Future Considerations
Trade Analysis: Our first (and only) Future Considerations! What a fall for Dubnyk, from starter in Edmonton to stop-gap in Nashville to third stringer for the Habs (he will report to Hamilton for the time being).
To Los Angeles: Marian Gaborik
To Columbus: Matt Frattin, 2nd Round Pick (2014 or 2015), Conditional 3rd Round Pick
Trade Analysis: For a team that is fighting for a playoff spot, I am surprised Columbus would move a guy like Gaborik (granted, he only played 22 games and registered 14 points). Los Angeles has been looking for a scoring presence recently, and when healthy - a rarity - Gaborik can do that. For 'Lumbus, they get a good checking-line winger in Frattin plus a couple of picks.
To Pittsburgh: Marcel Goc
To Florida: 5th Round Pick (2014), 3rd Round Pick (2015)
Trade Analysis: The Penguins improve their bottom six with this trade. The picks seem like a bit much for a player like Goc, but that shouldn't matter much to Pittsburgh. Goc should also help out Pittsburgh's penalty kill.
To New Jersey: Tuomo Ruutu
To Carolina: Andrei Loktionov, Conditional 3rd Round Pick (2017)
Trade Analysis: Carolina is moving salary with this trade (and eating some of it too). Ruutu becomes another veteran on an already old team. Loktionov gets a fresh start with the Hurricanes, who seem to be attracted to Russians as of late (Semin and Khudobin's extensions).
To Dallas: Tim Thomas
To Florida: Dan Ellis
Trade Analysis: Oh man, how perfect is this? Tim Thomas in Texas. The only downfall is now everyone is deprived of the Luongo-Thomas odd couple show.
To Columbus: Nick Schultz
To Edmonton: 5th Round Pick (2014)
Trade Analysis: While this is more of a move to fill a defensive need, Schultz doesn't improve Columbus' defense much (if any). The 5th round pick seems like Edmonton was just trying to move him.
To Boston: Andrej Meszaros
To Philadelphia: 3rd Round Pick (2014)
Trade Analysis: Safe to assume that Meszaros will be filling the void that Seidenberg left when he was injured. Philly recently acquired another defenseman (Andrew MacDonald) so they did have room to move one out. The 3rd rounder seems about right.
To New York R: Raphael Diaz
To Vancouver: 5th Round Pick (2015)
Trade Analysis: Diaz is back in the Eastern Conference, as the Rangers snatch up the puck-moving defenseman. They got him at a bit of a discount too, as Diaz probably should have been worth a bit more.
To Colorado: Reto Berra
To Calgary: 2nd Round Pick (2014)
Trade Analysis: Something that hasn't happened much this year: A win for Calgary. Berra is 39 out of 41 qualified goalies in SV% this year (Kevin Poulin and Devan Dubnyk are the only two worst). So why Colorado would pay that high a price for him is beyond me (especially since they have two capable goalies in Varlamov and Giguere).
To Detroit: David Legwand
To Nashville: Patrick Eaves, Calle Jarnkrok, 3rd Round Pick (2014)
Trade Analysis: I'm kind of sad this trade happened. I was hoping Legwand be a lifetime Predator (especially since he was their first ever draft pick). Legwand brings a two-way presence that helps the Red Wings at center while Datsyuk and Zetterberg recover from injuries. The Predators get a depth player (Eaves), one of the Red Wings multitude of prospects (Jarnkrok), and a 3rd round pick that could turn into a 2nd if Detroit makes the playoffs.
To Montreal: Thomas Vanek, Conditional 5th Round Pick (2014)
To New York I: Sebastien Collberg, Conditional 2nd Round Pick (2014)
Trade Analysis: The trade that scared every Habs fan for a couple minutes (I was one of them). Vanek here was an absolute steal, and should fit nicely on Plekanec's wing. Islanders GM Snow needed to get something back for Vanek (it was basically guaranteed he would be a UFA) and ended up selling low. Collberg has been good at a U20 level (see the past World Junior tournament) but hasn't done much in the SHL (granted, he was injured early and failed to regain his spot in the lineup). Collberg could end up being a good piece for the Islanders down the road, but for now this trade is a definite win for Montreal. The picks are added to the trade if the Habs make the playoffs.
To Minnesota: Matt Moulson, Cody McCormick
To Buffalo: Torrey Mitchell, 2nd Round Pick (2014), 2nd Round Pick (2016)
Trade Analysis: To break this trade down to two parts: The Wild get a productive winger in Moulson for two second round picks. The Wild and Sabres traded depth parts in McCormick and Mitchell.
To Washington: Jaroslav Halak, 3rd Round Pick (2015)
To Buffalo: Michal Neuvirth, Rostislav Klesla
Trade Analysis: As they say "If you can't beat him, trade for him 4 years later". Halak goes to a Washington team hoping to do something other than be knocked out of the first round in the playoffs. Buffalo get a questionable goalie in Neuvirth, and defensive depth in Klesla (whose stay in Washington was barely 24 hours).
To Anaheim: Andre Petersson
To Ottawa: Alex Grant
Trade Analysis: Minor league deal. The Sens AHL team has been dealing with injuries on defense, so this is just reinforcement.
To Pittsburgh: Lee Stempniak
To Calgary: 3rd Round Pick (2014)
Trade Analysis: Another depth move for Pittsburgh. Calgary gets a 3rd rounder to help with the rebuild. With Goc and Stempniak this deadline, the Penguins have made a big improvement to their bottom six forward unit. On a side note: how hilarious would it be if Stempniak ends up turning into Kunitz 2.0?
To Tampa Bay: Jonathan Marchessault, Dalton Smith
To Columbus: Dana Tyrell, Matt Taormina
Trade Analysis: Lightning get a bit younger with this minor league deal.
To Los Angeles: James Livingston
To San Jose: Conditional 7th Round Pick (2016)
Trade Analysis: Pretty minor deal, but this does bring up something that errks me. Why the condition on the 7th round pick? If it's a trade like this there should be no condition on the late round pick. A trade that involves a player that has playoff/resigning implications (e.g. St. Louis, Vanek) then go ahead and tag a condition on a late pick. A minor deal like this? Just give up the pick straight up or don't make the trade at all.
