Always-controversial cigar-chomping General Manager Glen Sather is clearly making a bold pitch to win a Stanley Cup in the near future – this season, hopefully! – but the decision to give up Duclair, who has impressed in limited NHL action this season, might hurt in the long run.
Yandle is a solid guy to grab, and will probably slot nicely onto New York’s second-best defensive paring. In a loaded Eastern Conference, the fact that many analysts are calling the Rangers’ defensive group the best there is in hockey says that Sather’s done a good job. He’s given his team a great chance to win Lord Stanley, and a GM can’t do much more than that.
Detroit: One of the model franchises in American sport, the Red Wings seem to never fail to upgrade their talent around the deadline period, and 2015 is no different. They got Erik Cole from Dallas and defenceman Marek Zidlicky from New Jersey, crucially, without having to give up a player currently on their roster. It’s shrewd moves at the deadline that have propelled the Wings to so much success in the playoffs.
Florida: The Panthers needed a veteran presence offensively as they make a pretty serious run at a playoff spot – a nice turnaround for a franchise that’s been down in the dumps in recent years – and they got it in legendary Czech Jaromir Jagr, who left New Jersey, where he was apparently disgruntled with the trajectory of the franchise, and might be exactly the sort of guy the rising Panthers need in their locker room down the stretch.
Toronto: It’s no secret that the Leafs are trying to fire-sale their assets wherever possible because they’re going through a rebuilding period. Cody Franson and Mike Santorelli have already departed, and the Leafs managed to get out from under the ridiculous contract given to David Clarkson a few years ago. You know, the one that pays Clarkson $36.5 million over seven years. He’s off to Columbus, and the Blue Jackets are paying the entirety of his contract. The thing is, the price the Leafs are charging for these guys means they have draft picks and salary cap space to use in the future. Maybe things won’t be so bleak for so long in Toronto.
Chicago: Veteran defender Kimmo Timonen represents an underrated trade, for mine, and Antoine Vermette, although the price was very steep, may be exactly the spark that the injury-hit Blackhawks need – remember, Patrick Kane is out injured, and there’s no guarantee how well he’ll be able to perform in the playoffs – to go deep. You can make an argument that they gave up some impressive talent, but they also bolstered a line-up that looks set for a Cup-or-bust run.
New York Islanders: Snatched Buffalo back-up Michal Neuvirth from Buffalo, which is an upgrade compared to their previous back-up, Chad Johnson. Of course, the Isles will be hoping that nothing happens to Jaroslav Halak, who has been amongst the best players on the team all season, but Neuvirth is a nice insurance trade. When Islanders fans are saying a deal is good, you know it’s real good! Neuvirth is a winner here, too, because he escapes Buffalo.
Arizona: In the same boat as Toronto, and managed to deal Keith Yandle to the Rangers for Anthony Duclair, John Moore and a first round 2016 draft pick. They also moved Antoine Vermette to Chicago for a promising young defenceman, Klas Dahlbeck, which worked out well for the Coyotes, who will have a nice crop of up-and-coming talent around which they can build a franchise.
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