NHL Trade Deadline: The Day After (Part 1)—Teams 1-15

Let's not kid ourselves, picking the deadline day's winners and losers seems easy on the surface, but dig a little deeper. 

If you do, you might find that even the smallest of deals could affect teams in the biggest of ways. 

In saying that though, many prognosticators will still give it a shot, and why not.  After all, it is easy to say, as of today, who got the best deals and such, but we wont know who the real winners are until early June when.

To steal a line from the famous Stompin' Tom song "The Stanley cup is all filled up for the champs who win the drink".

So, on the heels of the trade deadline, I figured I may as well throw my stick onto the pile (who doesn't like a good game of shinny?) and deliver some fearless forecasting, team by team.

Anaheim

Additions: Marc Andre Bergeron (D), J.S. Aubin (G), Jay Leach (D)

Subtractions: Brandon Bochenski (F), Brandon Segal (F)

Brian Burke and the Ducks added some solid depth today at the deadline, while not having to give up too much. 

A lot of people knew Burke wouldn't add too much since he really didn't have to.

Does anyone else remember when Brandon Bochenski won a roster spot out of camp for the Senators and was on a line with Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley?

Oh how the mighty have fallen. By my count, this is the fourth time hes been traded.

Atlanta

Additions: Colby Armstrong (F), Erik Christensen (F), Angelo Esposito (F), Joe Motzko (F), First-Round Pick

Subtractions: Marian Hossa (F), Pascal Dupuis (F), Alexandre Giroux (F)

Many people, myself included, think the Thrashers got some real solid players in return, especially for a rental player.

One has to wonder about Angelo Esposito, once touted as a first-overall pick. His stock fell dramatically, and culminated in him being excluded from the Canadian World Junior squad for a third consecutive year.

He will get his chance in Atlanta, and it could be make or break for his career.

Boston

Additions: N/A

Subtractions: N/A

Buffalo

Additions: Steve Bernier (F), First-Round Pick

Subtractions: Brian Campbell (D)

After last years disaster during free agency where Buffalo lost both their captains, there was really no doubt GM Darcy Regier would be dealing Campbell if they couldn't come to an agreement.

They could not, and the native of Strathroy, Ontario (my home town) was shipped to San Jose, leaving the only team he's ever known.

In Campbell the Sharks get the powerplay point-man they sorely needed. 

In my opinion this really helps to push them near the top of the Western Conference, if only they could get Patrick Marleau going. 

Buffalo should be commended as well, grabbing a great young forward in Steve Bernier, and a first-round pick which should help them stock a prospect cupboard that has quickly become bare.

Calgary

Additions: N/A

Subtractions: N/A

Carolina

Additions: Tuomo Ruutu (F)

Subtractions: Andrew Ladd (F)

Carolina gets the second-line centre they have sorely needed since the injury to Rod Brind'Amour.

Ruutu comes with some baggage, a guy who was hyped by a lot of people around the league and in Chicago, however injuries limited his production.

Carolina has to hope he stays healthy, because when he is, he is a real solid player. 

Chicago receives a former 9th overall pick in Andrew Ladd. A graduate of Brent Sutter's Red Deer Rebels, Ladd brings speed, grit, and the passion level, willing to do anything to get the win, even if it includes sacrificing his own body.

Chicago

Additions: Andrew Ladd (F), Sixth-Round Pick

Subtractions: Tuomo Ruutu (F), Martin Lapointe (F)

For the analysis of Ladd, see above.

As for Lapointe, the Hawks lose a real locker room guy.

The kids in Chicago are good.  Scary good (and they only get better with Andrew Ladd, who should be a great fit in the Windy City.)

But they lose a real heart and soul vocal guy in Lapointe. If this team was to make the playoffs, Lapointe would have no doubt been counted on as a leader on the ice and off, with his two Stanley Cup rings in tow.

Colorado

Additions: Peter Forsberg (F), Adam Foote (D), Ruslan Salei (D)

Subtractions: Karlis Skrastins (D), First-Round Pick

Like my good friend Bryan Thiel, who did a real good article to wrap up the deadline day that was, if I had to pick which D-man I would want on my team, it would be Skrastins. 

In saying that though, Salei is a hard hitting guy who plays with an edge, and will fit in nice with their team, I just don't think it's an upgrade.

Re-acquiring Foote and Forsberg, the Avalanche are trying to link to their past, which really is where they have to look to find the last time they had a good amount of playoff success. 

They're still on the outside looking in, but Foote is playing tonight, Stastny is back, Sakic is back, or not far behind, and Forsberg is probably one week or so away.

This team seems playoff bound.

Columbus

Additions: Theo Ruth (D), First-Round Pick, Conditional Fourth-Round Pick

Subtractions: Sergei Fedorov (F), Adam Foote (D)

You have to feel for the fans of Columbus. 

This is a team that hasn't seen NHL playoff action yet (the only team that hasn't been to the Spring dance) and just 24 hours ago, they thought they were buyers in the Brad Richards sweepstakes. 

That didn't work out, and suddenly the Jackets were in sell mode. 

Fans will be pretty disappointed in the short term, but they did take some aging pieces who were likely to leave and turn them into assets that could help them in the future.

Dallas

Additions: Brad Richards (F), Johan Holmqvist (G)

Subtractions: Mike Smith (G), Jeff Halpern (F), Jussi Jokinen (F)

By adding Richards and Holmqvist the Stars are better today than they were two days ago, and that is the point of the day. 

I'm not sure which GM had the bigger hand in completing the deal, but give them credit for grabbing one of the biggest fish in the pond, and at a pretty good price too. 

The already good Stars got a whole lot better, and the one thing many people thought they were missing (scoring) is now in the fold.  Watch out.

Detroit

Additions: Brad Stuart (D)

Subtractions: Second-Round pick, Fourth-Round Pick (2009)

For a team that was free falling leading up to the deadline, Detroit sure wasn't as active as I thought they were going to be.

I'm not saying Ken Holland wasn't trying, I give him much more credit than that. I assumed Detroit would have been in the Brian Campbell sweepstakes, and for all we know he may have been.

Or, considering the price he paid last year for Todd Bertuzzi, maybe he wasn't involved much at all yesterday.

Either way, the recent slump, coupled with the additions made by the Western Conference teams, should make some Wings fans a little nervous. 

Stuart is, however, a decent defenseman who should help them with their depleted blue line, and moving forward to the playoffs.

Edmonton

Additions: N/A

Subtractions: N/A

Florida

Additions: Wade Belak (F/D), Chad Kilger (F), Karlis Skrastins (D)

Subtractions: Ruslan Salei (D), Third-Round Pick, Fifth-Round Pick

Florida did get a whole lot tougher, no one can argue that. All three players acquired by GM Jacques Martin are bruisers who really like to throw the body around.

Of the three, Skrastins could arguably be the most valuable, as he is an NHL iron man and shot blocking extraordinaire.

Florida added some decent pieces, at a good price tag, but they didn't do enough to lift them into the playoffs, in my opinion.

L.A. Kings

Additions: Second-Round Pick, Fourth-Round Pick (2009), Seventh-Round Pick

Subtractions: Brad Stuart (D), J.S. Aubin (G)

While the Kings did grab some picks that should help them continue their rebuild, especially the Detroit second rounder, which by the "snake" lottery format would be the first pick of the second round, 31st overall.

In saying that though, Kings fans have to be somewhat disappointed GM Dean Lombardi wasn't more active. 

The market might now have been red hot, but I find it hard to believe he couldn't make deals involving draft picks for guys like Handzus, Nagy, and possibly Kyle Calder.

Minnesota

Additions: Chris Simon (F)

Subtractions: Sixth-Round Pick

I'm borderline shocked on this one. 

I don't know where Simon really fits in with the Wild, and considering the good year they are having, and the tight knit group they have, I'm not sure I would have messed with that chemistry. 

In saying that though, if anyone can straighten out Simon, it would be Riseborough and coach Jacques Lemaire.

Lets hope for their sake it works, after all, this could be Simon's last chance in the NHL.

Part two of the article can be found here.