NHL Trading Deadline: Winners and Losers

It was probably the most uneventful trading deadline in recent NHL history. No A-listers were moved and people in Columbus are rejoicing that they'll have Rick Nash on their team for another two months at least.

That being said, some teams made some solid additions that will help their team in the long run. Others stood pat when they should've done something.

Here are the trade deadline's biggest winners and losers.

Note: These are for trades that happened on Deadline Day.

Winners:

Boston Bruins: In two separate trades, the Bruins acquired Greg Zanon from the Minnesota Wild and Brian Rolston and Mike Mottau from the New York Islanders.

These are clearly depth moves for the Bruins, who aren't as hot as they once were. Adding experience is never a bad thing, and it's something that many teams didn't even do in this year's deadline.

Although none of those guys are big-name players, the Bruins became deeper and for that they are winners.

Buffalo Sabres: One can easily say that Sabres GM Darcy Regier ripped off both the Vancouver Canucks and the Nashville Predators. 

The Sabres received Cody Hodgson, who has 16 goals and 17 assists this season and is a Calder Trophy candidate, for Zack Kassian. Kassian has a mere seven points and wasn't providing offense for Buffalo.

Hodgson is a young rookie who can actually help the Sabres make the playoffs. They're only six points out. If not this year, he's going to be a centerpiece for the Sabre offense for the future.

In another move, the Sabres gave up their biggest trading piece in Paul Gaustad for a first-round pick. 

So it seems like the Sabres not only prepared for the future, but also gave themselves a tool to at least make a small push for the playoffs this year. 

Columbus Blue Jackets: Good for GM Scott Howson. He probably didn't like the offers he was getting for Rick Nash and stood his ground. He'll have better opportunities to trade Nash on draft day.

He's not a free agent this summer, so a trade then could still be valuable for Columbus.

Also, a big win for Jackets fans, who get to see their favorite player for two more months.

Nashville Predators: The Predators may have been a little ripped off for Paul Gaustad, but the move was clearly a statement that they have all the chips on the table.

Gaustad may be having a subpar season with just seven goals and ten assists, but perhaps a change of scenery to a playoff contender is what he needs. That said, Gaustad provides intangibles that don't show up on the stat sheet.

Finally, the addition of Andrei Kostitsyn reunites the Kostitsyn Brothers in Music City. Andrei has 12 goals and 12 assists this season and there's no doubt he's pumped up to play with his brother again. 

The Predators might have given up too much in both of these moves, but if they make a run for the Stanley Cup, which they can after bolstering their defense with an earlier move by adding Hal Gill, then no one will be talking about that first-round draft pick they gave up to Buffalo.

Chicago Blackhawks: The Blackhawks are semi-winners. It would've been nice to see them acquire a goaltender, but they did get a nice shutdown defenseman in Johnny Oduya. It was a hefty price—two 2013 early round draft picks—but the team desperately needs some defense.

Oduya is a top-four defenseman and he bolsters the team's powerplay, too.

Neutral: 

Vancouver Canucks: The Canucks gave up a Calder Trophy candidate in Cody Hodgson, but they did bolster their physicality with Sami Pahlsson and Kassian. There is no doubt that both players will be rejuvenated by playing for a contending team.

Pahlsson has Stanley Cup experience with the Anaheim Ducks from 2007, and Kassian is a gritty forward who will pad the third and fourth lines for Vancouver.

That said, the cost may have been just a little too high. 

Losers:

Toronto Maple Leafs: The team is collapsing quickly and are on the verge of not making the playoffs. Part of the reason is because of their atrocious defense and goaltending. They addressed neither department.

Washington Capitals: What in the world happened to this franchise? They have one of the greatest players on the planet and made a huge move in goal during the offseason to address their issues in net with Tomas Vokoun.

That hasn't really panned out. The team still doesn't have any depth players, defense, and goaltending struggles. This could've been a great opportunity to mortgage Mike Knuble and Alex Semin to become more of a defensive-minded team.

Now, they're probably going to be another early playoff exit. 

Winnipeg Jets: Wait, isn't the team in eight place, just a point away from jumping to third place? So why are they sellers? 

It's understandable that Johnny Oduya is an unrestricted free agent this summer, but was it necessary to move him for a few draft picks? Oduya could've been extremely helpful for a Jets playoff run. 

The team doesn't lose at home often and has a solid chance in making the tournament. Trading Oduya just told the rest of the NHL that they're giving up on the season. Not a wise move for Winnipeg.

San Jose Sharks:  The Sharks acquired T.J. Galiardi and Daniel Winnik from the Colorado Avalanche. That's not going to help them get past the Los Angeles Kings or the Phoenix Coyotes. The Kings acquired Jeff Carter and the Coyotes are on a roll right now. 

The Sharks acquire two depth forwards, who are nice, but they needed to address their defensive concerns. Antti Niemi has struggled immensely recently. The Sharks are just 3-6-1 in their last nine and Niemi has been pulled twice in that span. 

Some goaltending help would've been beneficial, but they didn't get any.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Could've used the opportunity to acquire a goalie like Evgeni Nabokov or Josh Harding. Their main concern is in goal. Dwayne Roloson isn't the guy he was last season. Instead, they acquired three defensemen in Brian Lee, Keith Aulie, and Mike Commodore. 

Defensive depth never hurts, but the Bolts have enough firepower to make a late run and get in the playoffs. Why not acquire a goalie so they don't keep giving away games because of their biggest weakness?

All reported trades via NHL Trade Tracker.

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