The NHL trade deadline
chaos is over! Finally, we can sleep at night, get stuff done at work and
rekindle the passion with our significant others. While the day’s worth of
trade deadline deals on March 4 can’t quite be characterized as a bust – a late
flurry brought the total up to 22 trades, down only three from the previous
year – yesterday was short on Earth-shattering deals. Let’s break down the most
significant NHL trade deadline deals. Whose Stanley Cup odds changed the most
at the sportsbook?
CALGARY
TRADES MATTHEW LOMBARDI, BRANDON PRUST AND A 2009 OR 2010 FIRST-ROUND PICK FOR
OLLI JOKINEN
Easily the biggest deal of the day. After getting
a boost by reacquiring Jordan Leopold, the Flames landed what many NHL trade
deadline analysts think is their first true number-one centre in at least a
decade. Some NHL betting fans think Jokinen is overrated, especially since he
has zero career playoff games. But wouldn’t you rather have a guy with no
playoff experience – who could turn out to be a revelation come April – than a
guy who has playoff experience but is a proven bust when the chips are down?
Calgary is easily the NHL trade deadline’s big winner. Online betting fans have to start
respecting the Flames at the sportsbook.
OTTAWA
TRADES ANTOINE VERMETTE TO COLUMBUS FOR PASCAL LECLAIRE AND A 2009 SECOND-ROUND
PICK
This may be the fairest of all the NHL trade deadline deals.
While Vermette isn’t a number-one centre, he’s a top-six caliber guy with great
speed and faceoff ability. Anyone would love to have him. The Sens likely
landed the best goalie in their franchise’s short history in Leclaire, who
should bounce back strong next season.
BOSTON
TRADES MATT LASHOFF AND MARTINS KARSUMS TO TAMPA BAY FOR MARK RECCHI
Sneaky little NHL trade deadline
acquisition for Boston here. Recchi is old but hasn’t lost his hockey sense, as
he somehow managed 45 points in 62 games for the anemic Lightning this season.
He’ll spell some of the Boston’s tiring youngsters and boost the power play.
PITTSBURGH
TRADES A 2009 CONDITIONAL PICK TO NY ISLANDERS FOR BILL GUERIN
Boy, have the Penguins ever increased their
Stanley Cup odds in the last two weeks. New coach, six wins in seven games, and
now Bill Guerin joins Chris Kunitz among the top-six forward group. Could
Pittsburgh be a nice upset sportsbook pick in the first round?
NEW YORK
TRADES A 2009 SECOND-ROUND PICK AND CONDITIONAL PICK TO TORONTO FOR NIK
ANTROPOV
While many NHL betting fans think Antropov will
flop in his new destination, I think New York was one of the best places he
could land. He could develop chemistry with fellow Russian Nikolai Zherdev and
his size will come in handy should the Rangers make the playoffs.
CAROLINA
TRADES JUSTIN WILLIAMS TO LOS ANGELES FOR PATRICK O’SULLIVAN AND A 2009
SECOND-ROUND PICK; CAROLINA TRADES PATRICK O’SULLIVAN AND A 2009 SECOND-ROUND
PICK TO EDMONTON FOR ERIK COLE AND A 2009 FIFTH-ROUND PICK
Everyone probably wins in this trade, one of the
wilder NHL trade deadline deals of the day. Williams is hurt now but he’s a
proven 30-goal man who will provide the Kings with speed and strength up front
next season. Erik Cole flopped in
Edmonton but should bounce back by returning to Carolina and reuniting with
Eric Staal. Patrick O’Sullivan is talented, but don’t the Oilers have a million
Patrick O’Sullivans already? He’s just speedy, smallish finesse forward. At
least they got a draft pick too.
ANAHEIM
TRADES SAMUEL PAHLSSON, LOGAN STEPHENSON AND A 2009 CONDITIONAL PICK TO CHICAGO
FOR JAMES WISNIEWSKI AND PETRI KONTIOLA
This trade won’t get same press as most NHL trade
deadline deals but could significantly increase Chicago’s 2009 Stanley
Cup odds. Sami Pahlsson is among the game’s best shutdown forwards and
routinely shadows superstars. He’ll be a secret weapon against Pavel Datsyuk,
Joe Thornton or whomever the Hawks face in the playoffs.