Trade Deadline recap

Just as last year, GMs didn’t wait till the trade deadline to start moving players around, other than for March 8^th we’ve seen trades every single day this month before the TDL.  Most of the action came from Tampa and Brooklyn but major moves were done by the Wild.  At the end of a season way below the expectations in Minnesota, GM McKenzie decided it was time to get younger.   Shea Weber, Patrick Marleau, Mike Cammalleri, Jason Pominville and jussi Jokinen have been sent way for Doug Hamilton, Jonathan Drouin, Dan Hamhuis, Lee Stemniak, john Mitchell, 2 first rounders, a second and a 3^rd round picks.  Latest rumors are saying GM McKenzie is making a strong push to get back the Wild’s 1^st pick in 2016, we’ll keep an eye on this after the playoffs.

When the dust settled, the Islanders were left with a really decent roster and it shows in the standings as they now have a 3 point lead over the Flyers at the top of the Metropolitan Division.  The Lightning  hasn’t been so lucky, trading veterans for youth, players for 2017 picks than trading back to acquire veteran players, not too sure what GM St. Pierre had in mind but it seems the players didn’t really enjoy the fact that the team didn’t seem to know what direction to take, Tampa is 2-7-1 in their last 10 with 6 straight losses in regulation… this might be the first year the Lightning misses the playoffs.   

The Montreal Canadiens gambled a lot when they traded Carolina 1st round pick next summer along with Brian Elliott to the Panthers for Craig Smith, Steve Mason, top prospect Mikko Rantanen and the LA Kings 1^st pick in 2016.  If the draft would be held today, the Panthers would draft 3^rd overall (not considering the draft lottery), the Canes are only 2 points ahead of the Winnipeg Jets and the last position in the league.  The Habs completed a transaction that could really pay off on a long run, Cam Fowler was sent to the Lightning for Ryan Murphy, prospect Tony Richard and 2 second round picks in 2017.   Same in Nashville, promising rookie, Andre Burakowsky was traded to the Panthers against Adam Henrique, Prospects Ian McCoshen and Yakov Trenin.

Despite having by far the worst year of his career, the Detroit Red Wings thought Shea Weber could help them during the playoffs, Weber (currently injured) could be the missing part of Detroit’s miserable PowerPlay… expect Cammalleri to get a lot of ice time on the PP as well.  The Sharks got help too, they acquired an experienced goaltender in Cam Ward and more depth on the RW wing with Ben Smith and Jason Pominville.