Biggest Regrets From the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline
It's been three weeks since the March 3 NHL trade deadline. Since then, the teams that made moves leading up to deadline day are getting an early read on how those deals have panned out for them.
Some teams, like the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers, made significant moves that appear to be paying off. Others, however, could be feeling some disappointment with their decisions.
The Pittsburgh Penguins continue to struggle despite acquiring three veteran forwards. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres could be wishing they'd made a more impactful move as they tumble further out of playoff contention.
Here's a look at what we believe are the five biggest regrets from the 2023 NHL trade deadline. You can express your views on this topic in the comments section below.
Arizona Coyotes Accept a Lesser Return for Jakob Chychrun
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The subject of trade rumors stretching back to last season, Jakob Chychrun was finally moved by the Arizona Coyotes, shipping him on March 1 to the Ottawa Senators. In return, the Coyotes received a conditional first-round pick in 2023 (top-five-protected), a conditional second-rounder in 2024 and a second-rounder in 2026.
Trading Chychrun meant little to the Coyotes' fortunes this season as they're poised to miss the upcoming 2023 playoffs. It's what they got from the Senators that drew media criticism after Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong held out for over a year in search of a better return.
Armstrong told NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger on Jan. 28 that he set his asking price to be what teams received for comparable players last season. Back on Dec. 6, ESPN's Emily Kaplan suggested he could be seeking what the Anaheim Ducks received for Hampus Lindholm last year. That return included a first-rounder, two second-rounders and two players.
On March 11, The Athletic's Michael Russo observed that there was a perception that Armstrong overplayed his hand. Three days later, the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch noted that many observers were shocked that the Senators didn't have to give up any of their top prospects to land Chychrun.
Garrioch noted that Armstrong disagreed, telling The Cam and Strick Podcast that critics overlooked Chychrun's injury history during the previous 18 months as well as the blueliner's struggles in 2021-22.
Armstrong couldn't let Chychun's situation drag on indefinitely when it was common knowledge that he was shopping the defenseman. Nevertheless, he accepted a return of draft picks when his club is already overstocked with them. He could end up regretting not pushing for prospects that could speed up his club's rebuild.
Buffalo Sabres Fail to Improve Their Goaltending and Defense
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For the first time in years, the Buffalo Sabres were still playing meaningful hockey in March as the trade deadline approached. They found themselves on deadline day with a record of 31 wins, 25 losses and four overtime losses for 66 points, sitting just four points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.
Led by Tage Thompson, Jeff Skinner, Alex Tuch, Rasmus Dahlin and Dylan Cozens, the Sabres by deadline day sat third among NHL clubs with 224 goals. However, that high-octane offense was struggling to offset their porous defense and goaltending, giving up the 10th-most goals with 215.
General manager Kevyn Adams did make six minor moves by the deadline. The most notable saw him acquire defenseman Riley Stillman from the Vancouver Canucks and gritty winger Jordan Greenway from the Minnesota Wild.
The Sabres had plenty of cap space ($17.1 million), draft picks and prospects to draw on for trade bait. Adams could've used some of those assets to pursue a goaltender or add a couple of experienced shutdown defensemen.
Those players didn't have to be playoff rentals. Adams had the cap space for next season to add players with term remaining on their contracts. Nevertheless, he put his faith in the players currently on his roster.
Adams might end up wishing that he made a bigger splash in the trade pool. Since the trade deadline, the Sabres have won just two of their 10 games, giving up 47 goals while scoring just 27. With 72 points, they've dropped eight points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth, poised to miss the playoffs for the 12th straight season.
Philadelphia Flyers Replace Their General Manager After the Trade Deadline
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The NHL trade deadline was a dud for the Philadelphia Flyers. With their playoff hopes fading they were sellers leading up to March 3 but failed to make any significant moves.
A week later, Chuck Fletcher was fired as general manager and replaced on an interim basis by Daniel Briere. Unlike Fletcher, Briere spoke of rebuilding the roster, though he wouldn't engage in a fire sale of players.
This was something that should've happened over two months before the deadline. It was apparent on New Year's Day that the Flyers were in danger of missing the playoffs. With a record of 13 wins, 17 losses and seven overtime losses (33 points), they were 11 points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.
Replacing Fletcher with Briere in early or mid-January would've given the latter several weeks to adjust to the role well ahead of the trade deadline. Having someone with a fresh perspective in the general manager's chair might've given them an opportunity to make different moves, laying the groundwork for deals weeks in advance of deadline day.
It can be argued that Briere was too inexperienced to handle that role then. However, he spent a year as a special adviser to Fletcher and two years before that in their player development department. He was also the team president of the ECHL's Maine Mariners and was reportedly under consideration last year by the Montreal Canadiens for their GM role.
Briere might not have pulled off a blockbuster move had he been hired before the trade deadline. Still, he might've achieved more than his predecessor given the opportunity. It would've given the Flyers a chance to get a head start on their rebuild.
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Pittsburgh Penguins Got Older But Not Better
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Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ron Hextall was feeling the heat from fans and pundits as the 2023 trade deadline approached. On March 3, The Athletic's Rob Rossi observed they'd won just eight of 25 games between Dec. 22 and Feb. 23, culminating in a 7-2 home loss to the Edmonton Oilers. During that game, Penguins fans chanted, "Fire Hextall!"
The Penguins rallied by winning four straight leading up to March 2. During that week, Hextall made three notable trades for veteran players, acquiring Mikael Granlund from the Nashville Predators, bringing back Nick Bonino in a three-way trade with the San Jose Sharks and Montreal Canadiens, and adding Dmitry Kulikov from the Anaheim Ducks.
Hextall could end up regretting those moves. In 11 games since March 4, the Penguins have won four games, lost six in regulation and one in overtime.
Granlund is signed through 2024-25 with an average annual value of $5 million. A versatile playmaker who can play center or wing, the 31-year-old has three 60-plus-point performances on his resume. He had 36 points in 58 games this season with the Predators. However, he's managed just two points in 11 contests for the Penguins.
Bonino, 34, was brought back to provide more depth to their checking lines but was sidelined after just three games with a lacerated kidney. The 32-year-old Kulikov was expected to bolster their blue line but lasted four games before suffering a lower-body injury. Both are out week to week and are slated to become unrestricted free agents this summer.
Pittsburgh shouldn't be faulted for the injuries, but Bonino and Kulikov did little to improve the Penguins before they got hurt. Along with Granlund, they've made the Penguins older but not any better as the team clings to the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.
Tampa Bay Lightning Overpay For Tanner Jeannot
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Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois has a well-earned reputation for acquiring players before the trade deadline that bolster his club's depth for the playoffs. In 2020 he traded for Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow, in 2021 he brought in David Savard, and last season he added Brandon Hagel and Nicholas Paul.
The results speak for themselves as the Lightning reached the Stanley Cup Final each year, winning back-to-back championships in 2020 and 2021. So, when BriseBois acquired Tanner Jeannot from the Nashville Predators on Feb. 26, the move looked like another key depth addition that could pay off with at least another trip to the Stanley Cup Final.
What raised eyebrows was the price BriseBois paid for Jeannot. He sent the Predators a 24-year-old defenseman in Cal Foote along with the Lightning's 2025 first-round pick (top-10-protected), their 2024 second-rounder as well as their third-, fourth- and fifth-round picks in 2023.
BriseBois has overpaid for a depth player before, shipping the San Jose Sharks a first-round pick and a prospect for Goodrow. That move paid off handsomely for the Lightning as Goodrow helped them win those back-to-back Cups.
Whether the Jeannot deal helps Tampa Bay win another Cup remains to be seen. A 24-goal scorer with the Predators last season, the 25-year-old winger has managed only three assists in 14 games and only nine shots on goal since joining the Lighting on Feb. 28. They've also won only five of those games.
Jeannot isn't solely to blame for the Lightning's struggles, as that's very much a team issue. Perhaps he will have more of an impact over the remainder of the regular season and in the playoffs. Giving up so many draft picks to get him, however, could have long-term consequences for a club with a depleted prospect pool.
Stats and references to the standings (as of March 23, 2023) via NHL.com and Hockey-Reference.com. Salary info via Cap Friendly and prospect info via The Athletic.
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