As team after team looked for that one missing piece of their puzzle, hockey fanatics from across Canada were treated to a whopping 17 trades on trade deadline day last week.
Before I get all steamed up and try to summarize the lack of activity on the day, let’s remember that in the days and weeks leading up to the actual deadline, a number of significant trades took place.
Former first overall pick Erik Johnson of the St. Louis Blues was sent packing to the Colorado Avalanche for Chris Stewart. There were other players involved in that deal, but those two were the meat and potatoes of the trade.
Then Tomas Kaberle of the Toronto Maple Leafs made his way to the Boston Bruins for a package of draft picks and a top prospect.
If these major deals had taken place on the actual day of the trade deadline, then people would be saying how awesome it was to see some major players moved on the same day.
But that didn’t happen.
As it was, 17 deals were made and of that 17, one was of major impact. The Edmonton Oilers sent Dustin Penner, who is owed $4 million next year, to the LA Kings for another package of picks and a prospect. Good thing Peter Pocklington isn’t involved with the Oilers anymore, lest Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle be wearing Kings jerseys.
Can I also just point out that Mike Sillinger didn’t get traded again? Of course, he is retired which may be a reason he wasn’t dealt last week, but really, he’s been traded more times than baseball cards. But I digress.
Last year, the league set a record for the number of trades that took place on trade deadline day. However, this year, it was the lowest total since before MC Hammer was notifying people that they “can’t touch this.”
That’s not to say that teams didn’t improve though, as there were a few notable moves that could easily propel a good team into becoming a great team.
It’s strange to consider the Vancouver Canucks in that realm of a “good team” considering they are the league leader in points. But they did acquire a couple of depth players in Chris Higgins and Maxim Lapierre to solidify the team’s fourth line. I know, fourth liners getting some publicity. Now you’ve read everything.
The Boston Bruins made their moves a couple of days before the deadline acquiring Kaberle, Rich Peverley and Chris Kelly in separate deals. They were a good team before, but after the deals were made, the team fired off six straight wins, all of which were on the road. Move over Mel Gibson, there’s some new road warriors on the loose in Beantown.
Finally, the Washington Capitals looked to put its team into the top contender category when they acquired playoff veteran Jason Arnott from the New Jersey Devils and defenceman Dennis Wideman from the Florida Panthers. The Capitals have struggled mightily in the playoffs the past couple of years, and getting some help at the deadline will help push them into the second round at least.
Was this trade deadline day all it was cracked up to be? No. But maybe it’s the little trade for a depth player that can help a team hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup.