From Kovalchuk to Corvo, a Full Rundown of the Major NHL Trades

The NHL trade deadline has come and gone. More players and picks were dealt this season than any other. There were some big moves and some small moves.

There were some winners (Devils, Maple Leafs) and some losers (Flames). However, the sheer amount of moves is what made this trade season awesome.

This article lists the NHL trades. If I left a deal off, leave me a comment. This article is in chronological order...I think.

Toronto Maple Leafs acquire Dion Phaneuf, Jean-Sebastian Giguere

Probably the second biggest trade of the season, the Maple Leafs acquired to excellent players, EA Sports' 'NHL 09'coverboy Dion Phaneuf was acquired from the Calgary Flames, and J-S Giguere from the Ducks.

The Ducks acquired Vesa Toskala (more on him later in the article) and Jason Blake from the Leafs, and the Flames sent Keith Aulie and Fredrik Sjostrom along with Phaneuf and received Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman, Ian White and Jamal Mayers.

New York Rangers acquire Olli Jokinen, Brandon Purst from Flames

The Flames made another big move by trading Olli Jokinen and Brandon Purst to the New York Rangers for Ales Kotalik and Christopher Higgins.

It's hard to pick a winner of this trade. I'd say the Rangers, because I'm a big Olli Jokinen fan, and because I don't like the Flames trading Dion Phaneuf and Olli Jokinen. I think those were two ad moves by Calgary.

Atlanta Thrashers trade Ilya Kovalchuk to the New Jersey Devils

The biggest name moved during the season, Kovalchuk was the center of multiple trade rumors involving multiple teams (including the Bruins, Canucks and Rangers) but the Devils were the lucky team that got Kovie.

New Jersey also acquired Anssi Salmela, and Atlanta got Johnny Oduya, Niclas Bergfors, Patrice Cormier and a first round draft pick.

If the Devils can lock up Kovie for multiple years into the future, then this trade is a definite win for New Jersey.

Check out some of his best goals:

Flyers acquire Ville Leino to the Red Wings for Ole-Kristan Tollefsen

A relatively minor deal. Neither Lenio nor Tollefsen will be huge game changers. Not really much to discuss here.

Sharks acquire Niclas Wallin, 5th round daft pick from Carolina

Another minor trade. Wallin could help San Jose down the line, but won't be a massive game-changer.

Carolina received a draft pick that San Jose acquired from the Sabres.

Canadiens acquire Dominick Moore from the Panthers for a draft pick

Yet another minor deal. Moore will pretty much be a backup with Montreal, won't be a game changer, and will likely see little ice time.

Penguins acquire Steve Wagner from Blues for Nate Guerin

Relatively minor deals became a fad as the deadline winded down, and here's another one. A trade of third-pair defensemen. Again, not really much to discuss.

Hurricanes trade Matt Cullen to Senators for Alexandre Picard

Finally, a deal with players I've actually heard of! Cullen had some sentimental value, as he played a major roll in Carolina's 2006 run to the Stanley Cup.

But, the 'Canes do replace the recently traded Niclas Wallin with Alexandre Picard. He is from Gatineau, Quebec (just across the river from Ottawa). Picard is young, and a good defender. Because of his age, a win for Carolina.

Penguins acquire Jordan Leopold from Panthers for a draft pick

Leopold is having a dismal season, sporting a minus-7 rating with a lot of ice time. However, he should bulk-up Pittsburgh's defense.

Leopold's career may be heading downhill now, and the second round pick that the Panthers got could turn into anything. Because of that, win for Florida.

Toronto Maple Leafs trade Alexei Ponikarovsky to the Penguins for Skoula

Another trade from Toronto, another trade for Pittsburgh. Ponikarovsky should add some forward depth for the Pens, while Martin Skoula and Luca Caputi should add some more depth for Toronto.

I've always liked Ponikarovsky, so a win for Pittsburgh.

Blackhawks trade Fallon to the Blues for Toivonen and Richmond

In this all-goalie multi player deal, three backup goalies switch pads. You may have heard of Toivonen, who was a starter with the Bruins before Tim Thomas began starting for Boston. But he may be the only one you've ever heard of.

Fallon is apparently worth two backup goalies. But still, nothing really spectacular here. Both teams add some net depth.

Boston Bruins Acquire Dennis Seidenberg, prospect, from Florida Panthers

Seidenberg, the veteran blueliner, was sent to Boston in exchange for Byron Bitz and Craig Weller. Seidenberg was an Olympian for Team Germany, and Seidenberg joins Team Germany teammate Marco Sturm in Boston. The West German native had 23 points in the Olympics. In the NHL, Seidenberg has 107 points.

The prospect is Matt Barkowski, who currently attends Ohio State.

Seideneberg is a defender who should be entering his prime right now. Bitz and Weller have both showed promise in Boston, but the Bruins win the trade, as they upgrade their defense with Seidenberg.

Blackhawks acquire Nick Boynton from Ducks for future considerations

Jeez, how bad are you when you get traded for 'future considerations.' Oh, how the might have fallen. I remember Boynton when he was a good player with the Bruins.

For a winner, I guess the Hawks because they actually get a player in this deal.

Coyotes acquire Derek Morris from Bruins for 2011 draft pick

Morris returns to the desert, where he played for a few seasons. Morris was never much of a factor for the Bruins on the ice, and he was quickly replaced on Boston's roster by the Olympian Seidenberg.

A pretty generic deal. I'll say win for Phoenix, for reacquiring one of their former alternate captains.

Hurricanes trade Aaron Ward to the Ducks for Justin Pogge

Way to screw a guy. In the offseason, the Bruins traded Ward to the Hurricanes simply because he wanted to go home to North Carolina. But now, the team from the state that he calls home trades him across the nation to a Los Angeles suburb.

Pogge was also just acquired by the Ducks, from the Maple Leafs.

I've always liked Aaron Ward, so I guess the Ducks win this trade.

Blues trade Yan Stastny to the Canucks for Pierre-Cedric LaBrie

Another relatively minor deal. Nothing spectacular here. LaBrie has been up-and-down between the NHL and minor league hockey, and shouldn't help the Blues that much. Stastny has had a decent career for a few teams.

With that being said, the Canucks win the deal, for acquiring Stastny.

Coyotes acquire Mathieu Schneider from the Canucks for Sean Zimmerman

Schneider is a gritty defense man that's like the Energizer Bunny - he just keeps going and going and going.

I don't know too much about Zimmerman, but I think the Coyotes win this deal by getting Schneider, based on Schneider's merit alone.

Hurricanes trade Scott Walker to the Capitals for a draft pick

Scott Walker (better known as 'That Guy Who Broke Aaron Ward's Face, Then Scored The Winning Goal In The Playoffs' in Boston) was dealt by the 'Canes, in a busy trade deadline for the former Whalers.

Because I'm a Bruins fan I'll never like Scott Walker. Win for the 'Canes by getting rid of him.

Lightning trade Jeff Halpern to the Kings for Teddy Purcell

Halpern goes across the nation from Tampa to Los Angeles. He is getting up there in age, at 33, but he is still a relatively positive influence on the locker room.

I know close to nothing about Purcell. I'll choose the Kings for the win on this deal, based on Halpern's merit and his potential locker room additions.

Capitals acquire Joe Corvo from Hurricanes for Pothier, Oskala

The busy trade deadline continues for the Huricanes, as now they've traded forward Joe Corvo to the Washington Capitals.

I've always liked Joe Corvo and Brian Pothier, but Corvo should definitely help the playoff bound Capitals down the line. I'll say, win for Washington.

Coyotes acquire Lee Stempniak from Leafs for Matt Jones, two draft picks

Stempniak has had a pretty decent career, and should help the Coyotes down the line. Stempniak was 4th on the Maple Leafs in goals, and third in assists.

Jones hasn't played this season due to injury. He had six points in San Antonio in the AHL. Jones has 11 career NHL points.

If I have to make a choice, I'd choose Phoneix for acquiring Stempniak. The Coyotes are trying as hard as possible to make the playoffs this year. Stempniak will definitely help Phoenix in them in that pursuit.

Kings acquire Fredrik Modin from Blue Jackets for future considerations

Modin has always been a leader on and off the ice, despite his performance steadily decreasing as his career went on. I wonder if the 'future considerations' will help replace the Blue Jackets' alternate captain.

The Kings win this trade, because they get an actual player in the deal.

Capitals acquire Eric Belanger from Minnesota Wild for a draft pick

Again, Belager is one of my favorite players in the league. He reminds me of the old days of hockey. He should definitely help the Capitals down the line. Belanger and Corvo could be the two deciding trades of the deadline.

The Capitals win. Getting a grinder like Belanger always accounts for a win.

Sabres acquire Raffi Torres from Blue Jackets for Nathan Paetsch

Torres has had a very good season in 2009-2010, and should definitely help the Sabres down the stretch, and into the future

Paetsch is a scrappy defender, and will likely be placed on the second or third pairing.

This is close, but I'll choose Buffalo for acquiring a scorer like Torres.

Flames acquire Vesa Toskala from Ducks for Curtis McElhinney

The second time Toskala has been traded this season (he was in the trade that brough Jean-Sebastian Giguere to Toronto). Toskala isn't anything spectacular in goal, and should backup Miikka Kiprusoff for the Flames.

McElhinney is pretty much going to backup Jonas Hiller in Anaheim.

I'm going to call this deal a draw.

Thrashers acquire Clarke MacArthur from Sabres for two draft picks

MacArthur is a gritty forward. He helps almost any team that he's on. Plus, the Sabres have two Thrashers draft picks now. Which means that they'll be at the top of every round...right?

However, the Thrashers have had a lot of success (by their means) this season, currently second in the southeast division, and 8th in the conference. If the season ended today, Atlanta would be in the playoffs.

Still, I'd rather have two Atlanta draft picks than MacArthur. Buffalo still wins the trade.

Ducks acquire Joey McDonald from the Maple Leafs for a draft pick

Anaheim went through goalies like Kleenexes on deadline day, dealing Vesa Toskala and Justin Pogge, and acquiring McDonald, along with skater Aaron Ward. McDonald has always seemed to jump from backup to starting goalie. McDonald hasn't been good this year for the Leafs, going 1-3-0 in six games for Toronto.

McDonald has had marginal success for the Red Wings, Bruins, Islanders and Leafs in his career. He should be a backup to Jonas Hiller on Anaheim, but probably won't do much else. I guess this deal is a draw.

Capitals acquire Milan Jurcina from the Blue Jackets for a draft pick

The Capitals recently traded Jurcina to the Blue Jackets...then they decided that they wanted him back. Jurcina is a gritty defenseman, who doesn't score often. He'll likely be in the second or third defensive pairing for Washington.

I'll say the Caps win this deal, because they get an actual player in the deal.

Avalanche get Yelle, Reed from 'Canes for LaLonde-McNicoll, draft pick

In another trade for the busy 'Canes, they deal 35-year-old Stephane Yelle to the Colorado Avalanche, a team that he played for until 2005. He is approaching 980 games, and most of those were with the Avalanche. In his rookie year, Yelle one a Stanley Cup with Colorado, then another one a few years later with Ray Bourque.

Harrison Reed and Cedric LaLonde-McNicoll each have no NHL experience.

Regardless of the other members of this trade, the Avs win for reacquiring a gritty forward like Yelle.

Flames acquire Steve Staios from Oilers for Aaron Johnson, draft pick

The two Albertan rivals, the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers, made a trade.

Staios and Johnson aren't spectacular players, even though Staios has had a very distinguished 14-year career in the NHL. Johnson's only 26, yet his career seems to have only modest expectations.

The Flames win this deal on Staios' merit alone.

Avalanche acquire Mueller, Porter from the Coyotes for Woliski

In one of the biggest individual trades of the day, the Avalanche acquired two young guns (Porter, Mueller) for one proven 20-goal scorer (Woliski). How will this deal play out?

I like the acquisition of Mueller by the Avs, and acquiring two young players for Woliski is a pretty risky move, but I think it'll work out for the Avalanche. Win for Colorado.

Oilers acquire Ryan Whitney, draft pick from Ducks for Lubomir Visnovsky

An American Olympian, Whitney has had a pretty decent career with the Ducks. He is considered one of the better offensive-defensman in the league. Visnovsky, 33, has had a nice career spanning a few teams.

Visnovsky definitely has more merit than Whitney, but Whitney is an Olympian and is younger, and has the potential to be better than Visnovsky. The Oilers win this trade.

Canucks acquire Andrew Alberts from Carolina for a draft pick

Andrew Alberts is a grinder. In his very first game as a Vancouver Canuck, he gets into a fight. The gritty defenseman has helped every team he's played for, and tries to deliver punishment to anyone who takes the puck into his zone.

However, he's steadily declined as each season goes on, and has become significantly worse as each season goes by.

So I don't think Alberts is worth a third-round draft pick. Win for Carolina.