Even in a year without a Crosby, Ovechkin, or a Hall/Seguin debate the NHL draft (speaking of which I like the Oilers Nugent-Hopkins pick, even though he might not fill an immediate need, the Oilers need assets even if they are a few years away) was able to steal some headlines thanks to a couple of GM's that made some major changes to their contending teams by moving stars. NHL GM's are the most aggressive in the business as evidenced by the record amount of deadline deals every year and the hardest cap in pro sports. The tradition of ground breaking NHL trades is nothing new as this is the league that traded the Great One in his prime and though none of this year's trades come close to that deal NHL GM's seem like they could just as easily be in your fantasy league as opposed to running a professional sports team.
Philadelphia trades Jeff Carter to Columbus for Jake Voracek and 8th overall pick (C, Sean Couturier) and a 3rd round pick.
Philadelphia then trades Mike Richards to Los Angeles for #1 overall prospect Brayden Scheen, Wayne Simmonds and a 2nd round pick.
Philadelphia then signs Ilya Bryzagalov to a 9 year 51 million dollar contract.
In one day the Flyers changed the entire dynamic of their team from a deep and balanced offensive team to one that is going to rely on a veteran defensive core and a top notch goaltender. After years of trying to get by with guys off the scrap heap in net the Flyers signed the top free agent goaltender and in the process traded their captain and co-leading scorers while getting considerably younger up front. After years of trading away their top draft choices the Flyers brought in the #1 prospect in hockey in Scheen and went from not drafting until late in the 3rd round to selecting 8th overall and again in the 2nd round. Moving the team to Chester County and changing their colors to blue were perhaps the only moves that could have been more significant for this team. Richards and Carter had their moments with the press and the fans, but they were bigger factors in the team's division winning regular season then they were at fault for the team's postseason shortcomings (one season removed from a Stanley Cup finals appearance) and while James Van Riemsdyk and Claude Giroux were productive secondary scorers they will face more pressure on and off the ice next season to carry the load offensively. I think the Flyers will take a hit in the regular season and they will be relying on two elder statesmen on long term contracts in Pronger and Bryzaglov to carry the load in the postseason, and that is where the Flyers experiment and GM Paul Holmgren's moves will be judged. If you are Flyers fan you hope the new look will make a Thomas/Chara like run, if you aren't or you are a Carter/Richards fan you are hoping that the Bruins were the exception to the post lockout rule of average Stanley Cup winning goaltending.
The breakdown for Columbus is the easiest of the 3 teams involved in these moves, they have been looking for a viable center to pair with Rick Nash since he was drafted first overall in 2002 and a decade later they finally have one. Carter is in the second year of a 10 year deal and will pair with Nash on one of the most explosive lines in hockey. Giving up Restricted Free Agent Jacob Voracek and the 8th overall pick is as good as could be expected for Columbus. This move isn't going to bump them into contention in the West, but it is a good start and with league wide realignment coming next season Columbus could be a major winner with a likely move to the East.
LA gave up the #1 overall prospect in Brayden Scheen and gritty Wayne Simmonds, but in return they get one of the best two way centers in the game to combine with Anze Kopitar and add some much needed offense to Kings attack. The Kings own one of the deepest farm systems in the game and have been waiting to make a major move for the last couple of seasons and this is the best move they could have hoped for. Richards' game has never been questioned and will fit into the Kings core group of Kopitar, Brown, Penner, Doughty, and Johnson seamlessly and moves the Kings from Western conference playoff team to Stanley Cup contender. At 26, Richards is 3 years into a cap friendly 12 year contract and even the biggest Brayden Scheen supporters would admit a Mike Richards career would be more than optimistic.
San Jose trades Devin Setoguchi, last year's #1 pick (C Charlie Coyle) and the 28th overall pick (C Zack Phillips) to Minnesota for Brent Burns and a 2012 2nd round pick.
This trade got lost in the Philly overhaul, but anytime a 24 year old with a 30 goal season under his belt and a potential franchise defenseman are moved it is significant. San Jose was desperate to add a difference maker on the back end after their Western conference finals loss to Vancouver and Minnesota used that desperation to land three young offensively talented forwards. Burns' offensive (17 G, 29A) production is rare amongst defensemen and he has displayed an all around game that shows flashes off a poor man's Shea Weber. He has been a minus player the last two seasons which can't be ignored, but could be explained by playing in Minnesota. Burns is also an Unrestricted Free Agent after this season, so either good play will land him big money and a future in San Jose or the Sharks will have gone for the fences and struck out.
No team in the NHL needs offense more than Minnesota and they used their best trade chip to land three young forwards. Setoguchi is only 24 years old and in three seasons in the NHL has scored above 20 goals twice and 30 once. He is signed long term and will be a building block for the Wild, in Coyle and Phillips the Wild also obtained offensive upside and like young pitching in the majors you can never have too many young forwards developing in the NHL. Overall replacing Burns' production on the back end will be easier than developing 3 NHL ready forwards.
Chicago trades Brian Campbell to Florida for Rostislav Olesz
I guess if Gilbert Arenas and Vernon Wells' contracts can be moved I shouldn't be surprised that Brian Campbell's can as well. Campbell is in the third year of an 8 year contract that pays him 7.142 million/year (3rd highest on Chicago roster) and this contract was the main reason the Hawks had to have a fire sale after winning the Cup last season. In Olesz the Hawks get back a young winger with 3 years and 9.325 million left on his contract. This is a major coup for Chicago to unload Campbell without having to send him to the minors and taking back such a generous contract. By also trading Troy Brouwer to Washington for the Caps' first round pick (26th overall) the Hawks were able to shed more salary and take back a young inexpensive player. GM Stan Bowman is living up to the family name by remaking the Hawks on the fly after being in salary cap jail and no salary dump in the NHL is more impressive than Campbell to Florida.
This move for Florida makes as much sense as the city of Miami buying snow plows and salt. We have discussed Campbell's NHL worst contract and his play on the ice hasn't been much better. He wasn't playing top 4 minutes in Chicago and has never been known for his work in his own end. The Panthers seemed in the midst of a much needed total youth overhaul after trading Bryan McCabe and making little effort to sign UFA Tomas Vokoun, adding a 32 year old overpaid power play specialist is about as smart as Bettman putting an expansion team in Miami. This move clearly shows the difference between these two NHL organizations. Maybe in a couple of years when the Panthers move to Toronto this move will be just a bad dream.
Calgary trades Robin Regher and Ales Kotalik to Buffalo for Chris Butler and Paul Byran
Calgary needed to dump salary to get under the cap and with a new owner in Buffalo the Sabres were able to take advantage and add one of the NHL's most underrated defenseman. Bigger names have overshadowed Regher (Phaneuf and Bouwmeester) during his time in Calgary, but his play on the ice made him Calgary's best. Calgary was able to re-sign Alex Tanguay (5 yrs/17.5 million) after unloading Regher and getting under the cap, but anytime you are forced to give up one of your best for cap space you are the clear loser in the deal.
Buffalo's biggest weakness last year was their lack of depth on the back end and slotting Regher into the top pairing with Tyler Myers will allow everyone to drop down a spot to where they are comfortable. The Sabres were a period away from upsetting the Flyers in the first round last season, but were unable to hold the lead, that shouldn't be a problem with Regher logging major minutes next season. With Ryan Miller in net and a young core of forwards the ability to take on Regher is an underrated move that could pay big dividends next spring.
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