The On Deck Circle

This article has been submitted by Deven ‘Which Wing Doesn’t Matter Just Keep Me On a Line With Blake” Hiscock.

For more on the trade deadline, check out our all-day coverage from yesterday.

Tampa Bay deals Brad Richards and Johan Holmqvist to Dallas for Mike Smith, Jussi Jokinen and Jeff Halpern
A decent move for the Stars, who land a legitimate scoring threat, first line forward and a power play specialist. Although he has been at the bottom of the plus/minus stats this season, Richards will be a decent addition to an already strong team. A change of scenery combined with the knowledge he no longer has to score every night to win should help him to fit in and contribute quickly.

The goaltenders in the deal both have different significance to both teams. To Dallas, Holmqvist is a solid backup behind a guy who is a legitimate number one, and he has some playoff experience should Turco go down.

In Tampa Bay, where there was a desperate need for a goaltender, enter Smith, who has number one potential and will get a shot in the Bay. But the major part of this deal for Tampa was the elimination of Richard’s $ 7.8 million salary to the cap for the next three years. This leaves them money to re-sign Dan Boyle and should open up their options in the free agent market this off-season. Also, Jokinen is a solid second/third line player at best but deadly in the shootout. Halpern can also chip in occasionally but don’t expect too much.

Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis to Pittsburgh for Angelo Esposito, Colby Armstrong and Erik Christiansen and a first round draft pick
A big move for the Pens in the sense that they mortgage a bit of their future for what appears to be a rental player. Hossa is going to be a big addition to an already potent offense, and when Crosby returns that powerplay will be lethal! The question now for the Pens GM is does he follow the Jay Feaster model of re-signing Hossa and Malkin to max contracts? Here is hoping, for the sake of the Pens, that they do not because it didn’t work in Tampa where they have had only a patchwork filler roster to accompany their stars. It is oddly similar, actually, in the fact that goaltending is the Achilles Heel of this Pens team, much like Tampa. But one thing is for sure, the Penguins will have a legitimate shot at winning the Eastern Conference. Hopefully for Pens fans, that doesn’t come at the expense of their future.

Giving up Armstrong, a major part of the Crosby line, is a clear sign the Pens believe this is their year to win it all. Christiansen is also a solid forward who will help contribute and Esposito is an intriguing prospect whose stock has dropped. So if we are supposed to crown a winner in the NHL trade deadline it’s the Pens right? Let time decide that, I guess.

San Jose acquires Brian Campbell for Steve Bernier and a first round pick
Once again a case of the Sabres being unable to negotiate a deal with one of their top players, only this time they get something for him. San Jose adds an offensive defenseman who knows how to play in his own zone and can log heavy minutes. Bernier is a solid young forward who was a first round pick (#16) in 2003 with top-2 line potential. So San Jose gets deeper on the blueline and once again Buffalo watches a premier player leave town.

Colorado picks up Adam Foote for a conditional first round pick in 2008 or 2009
First they sign Peter Forsberg and now deal for Adam Foote, so the Avalanche look primed to make another cup run…But only if it was 2002 again and not 2008. I am not totally sure what the Avs are trying to do, already on the outside looking in on the playoffs, it seemed surprising they would be willing to give up more draft picks for an aging defenseman. They probably could have signed him next season for less money and without losing a first round pick.

Overall Thoughts
In my opinion, the real winners today were the Washington Capitals, trading only one roster player and getting three in return in three separate deals. Only five points out of the division lead with two games in hand, the Caps have a legitimate shot at the playoffs. With the additions of Sergi Federov, Christobal Huet and Matt Cooke, Washington has bolstered a lineup that has surprised many this season. With Federov coming to play with fellow country man Alexander Ovechkin, the two could form an unlikely scoring duo. Also, they added a solid back up and potential number one goalie in Huet should Kolzig (an unrestricted FA at season’s end) bolt the Captial city. It warrants mentioning, too, that Matt Cooke is a Darcy Tucker/Sean Avery type player that can agitate the other teams’ stars and kill some penalties. With these additions and very little done by division leading Carolina, there could be a new winner of the Southeast this season.

The biggest surprise of the whole deadline was the trades that were not made, with Sundin’s no-trade clause sticking. This evidently has sealed the Leafs fate for the next year or two and now with them playing well, the hopes of a high draft pick are gone. In fact, winning this was the worst thing Toronto could do and with Sundin not being dealt, any hopes of a quick turnaround for this team are as likely as a Bucky Legrange turned double play.

Bob Gainey had stated he was (and the Canadians were) going to try and make a big splash come deadline day, but all he did was unload a goaltender while the rest of the league mixed and matched. With numerous rumors of the Habs being linked to Hossa, Richards and Tanguay with nothing coming out of it, Montreal fans must be using a few French four letter words.

The Calgary Flames must be wanting to deal Alex Tanguay in the off-season or are not planning on re-signing free agents Daymond Langkow and Kristian Huselius.

With the deadline now over and everyone’s eyes firmly set on the playoffs, the quest for the cup is sure to heat up!

This article has been submitted by Deven ‘Which Wing Doesn’t Matter Just Keep Me On a Line With Blake” Hiscock.