2014 Trade Deadline Eve

Well today was pretty active, with ten (10!) trades happening. There has been so much activity, that it will put the dead in TSN and Sportsnet deadline coverage (probably). So I don't have to completely clog up Saturday's post with trades, here is what has happen since the Olympics.

To St. Louis: Ryan Miller, Steve Ott
To Buffalo: Jaroslav Halak, Chris Stewart, William Carrier, 1st Round Pick (2015), Conditional 3rd Round Pick (2016)
Trade Analysis: It finally happened. After months of thinking that this would be a possibility, Ryan Miller is finally off to St. Louis. While this is most likely a marginal upgrade in goal for the Blues, it's hard not to fault them for trying to upgrade in any possible way. They are one of the few teams that doesn't have any major flaws. Ott is expected to fit into Hitchcock's system nicely. As for the Sabres, this signals that they are ready to rebuild. Halak and Stewart aren't expected to last past the deadline. Carrier (who is a PPG player in the QMJHL) is still years away from making the lineup.

To St. Louis: Eric Selleck
To Florida: Mark Mancari
Trade Analysis: This will be the trade that wins the Blues the Cup! Ok, not really. This is a minor league trade.

To Florida: Brandon Pirri
To Chicago: 3rd Round Pick (2014), 5th Round Pick (2016)
Trade Analysis: Someone please take Chicago off speed dial for Dale Tallon, the amount of trades he makes with the Blackhawks is getting a level of creepiness. Anyway Pirri is a guy who has the potential to help Florida, the 2 picks for him though seem like a bit much (considering what just happened today).

To Montreal: Mike Weaver
To Florida: 5th Round Pick (2015)
Trade Analysis: This kind of surprised me, since Bergevin usually ships out good defensemen. With Weaver, the Habs get a good defensive defenseman that can play tough minutes and (hopefully) take away ice time from Murray. As for Florida, that's it, no more deals unless it's big, alright?

To Washington: Dustin Penner
To Anaheim: 4th Round Pick (2014)
Trade Analysis: Bit of a puzzler. The Ducks are in the Vanek hunt and a team that needed to shred salary to get him (they work with an internal budget). At $2M though it is surprising that Penner would be shipped out. On the bright side the Capitals get a guy who can drive the play and should help with the physical edge of offense if he does play with Ovechkin and Backstrom.

To Edmonton: Viktor Fasth
To Anaheim: 5th Round Pick (2014), 3rd Round Pick (2015)
Trade Analysis: Fasth has cooled down since making his NHL debut last season. This season he has been injured for the majority of it. In five games he is 2-2-1 with a 2.95 GAA and 0.885 SV%. He should have a chance to proven himself in Edmonton, as he will be battling with newly-extended Ben Scrivens for the starting job. The Oilers look to have stable goaltending for next year, now about that defense...

To Minnesota: Ilya Bryzgalov
To Edmonton: 4th Round Pick (2014)
Trade Analysis: With the surplus in Edmonton's net, Bryzgalov would be leaving soon. Minnesota's Backstrom has had a bad season all around (injuries, bad play) and Harding is still battling with MS, so there was a need for help in goal. Bryzgalov has had a below average season, posting a 0.908 SV%, but that should improve with the Wild's defense playing in front of him.

To Anaheim: Stephane Robidas
To Dallas: Conditional 4th Round Pick
Trade Analysis: That pick the Ducks got for Penner didn't stay long. Despite age and being injured for months, Robidas is an effective defenseman that can handle top 4 (top 2?) minutes with no problem. The questionable part of the deal: How did Jim Nill not get more than a 4th for Robidas?

To Ottawa: Patrik Mullen
To Vancouver: Jeff Costello
Trade Analysis: Another minor league deal.

To Philadelphia: Andrew MacDonald
To New York I: Matt Mangene, 3rd Round Pick (2014), 2nd Round Pick (2015)
Trade Analysis: While I don't think MacDonald is as bad a defenseman as his advanced stats may indicate, he definitely can't be used like the top pair defender that the Isles have used him as. In Philly, he should see his usage get toned down a bit and start to produce in a positive light. As for the Flyers, it's no surprised that they overpaid.

To Florida: Roberto Luongo, Steve Anthony
To Vancouver: Jacob Markstrom, Shawn Matthias
Trade Analysis: Touché Florida, touché. Luongo is finally free from Vancouver and gets his wish of going back to Florida. The Panthers still got a bit to go to make the playoffs for next year, but having Luongo as the starter is a step in the right direction. As for Vancouver, they get a bit younger. Matthias (26) should play a third line role, while Markstrom (24) will back with fellow Swede Eddie Lack for a spot in the crease (side note: it seems like Vancouver has a Swedish fetish). Of course, both goalies are still relatively unknown, as both have yet to play 50 games at the NHL level. In this deal, Vancouver also eats 15% of Luongo's salary. The Canucks might be hoping Luongo stays for the length of his contract, or else they will be paying quite a bit. Now if you excuse me, I have to buy stock in tire pumps.

To Chicago: David Rundblad, Matthieu Brisebois
To Phoenix: 2nd Round Pick (2014)
Trade Analysis: I originally thought that Phoenix didn't get much in return for Rundblad until I looked at his HockeyDB page. Now that 2nd looks alright. Rundblad hasn't lived up to 1st round status, having only played 50 games in the NHL (almost half of that in his first season with the Senators in 2011-12). It's hard to imagine he will get much time on Chicago's blueline. On the bright side he'll have fellow Swedes Oduya and Hjalmarsson to mentor him. Brisebois is still a few years away from cracking an NHL lineup (if he does).

To Washington: Rostislav Klesla, Chris Brown, 4th Round Pick (2015)
To Phoenix: Martin Erat, John Mitchell
Trade Analysis: Good trade for the Capitals. They help their defense with Klesla while getting rid of Erat, his contract, and his one goal this season. Along with Erat, the Coyotes get minor leaguer John Mitchell. The Capitals also get prospect Chris Brown and a 4th round pick in 2015. This just in, Martin Erat has demanded a trade out of Phoenix.