NHL Trade Deadline: The Day After (Part 2)—Teams 16-30

Montreal

Additions: Second-Round Pick

Subtractions: Cristobal Huet (G)

Another head scratcher. 

I'm not saying that Carey Price isn't a good goalie.  As far as having no experience in the postseason, that is true, but if anyone can handle it, it's the calm, cool, Carey Price. 

Do we really need to go over the stats of how well rookie goaltenders have performed in the playoffs in the past for Montreal? 

Still, it is puzzling, and risky. 

You have a fantastic regular season, and instead of adding key pieces for a playoff run, you trade away your only goalie with playoff experience. Many felt that Montreal was a player or two away from being a real legit Cup contender, and yesterday just didn't get it done.

Nashville

Additions: Jan Hlavac (F), Brandon Bochenski (F)

Subtractions: Seventh-Round Pick

It's a low risk situation that could pay off for the Predators, but who's kidding, the Preds didn't help themselves at all yesterday. 

For a team clinging to the 8th and final playoff spot, are Bochenski and Hlavac really going to help them keep that lead?

That's doubtful.

And like I said in the Anaheim section, what has become of Brandon Bochenski?

Once a highly touted prospect for the Ottawa Senators who made the team out of the lockout, Bochenski is now joining his fourth team in his young career.

New Jersey

Additions: Bryce Salvador (D)

Subtractions:Cam Janssen (F)

A depth move at best. 

Bryce Salvador is a solid option at the four, five, or six spot for the Devils, and should fit in well with Colin White as a real tough, hard hitting shutdown pair for Jersey.

One of the top teams in the East, Jersey should worry a little that Pittsburgh added some real good pieces, and was one of the day's winners; however, no one else in the East made too much noise, so the Devils should not be affected much.

New York Islanders

Additions: Rob Davison (D), Sixth-Round Pick

Subtractions: Chris Simon (F), Marc Andre Bergeron (D), Seventh-Round Pick

Not much noise made out of the Island on deadline day this year. No Ryan Smyth's for Garth Snow to step up and make the big splash. 

Instead they get seldom used Rob Davison from San Jose, and a sixth-round pick, which they received for getting rid of their troubles, er, I mean Chris Simon. 

Davison is a physical D-man who should fit in nicely with the Isles blue liners, but I don't see him as an upgrade over M.A.B. at all.

New York Rangers

Additions: Christian Backman (D), Frederick Sjostrom (F), Josh Gratton (F), David Leneveu (G)

Subtractions: Fourth-Round Pick, Al Montoya (G), Marcel Hossa (F)

The Rangers made some significant moves today. 

I don't think it makes anyone feel a whole lot better about their Stanley Cup chances, but Backman is a pretty decent defenseman who loves to be physical and can make a good first pass. 

As for Sjostrom, Gratton, and Leneveu, the jury is still out, but for what they paid, it was a pretty fair deal that should help them with playoff depth, as well as their farm team.

Ottawa

Additions: Martin Lapointe (F)

Subtractions: Sixth-Round Pick

The Sens, like the Wings are in a bit of a tailspin, and the fact that they weren't more active is somewhat surprising. 

They were apparently in the Hossa sweepstakes, but were unwilling to meet the high price demands of Thrashers GM Don Waddell. 

Still, Ottawa added a strong, veteran presence, who has valuable Stanley Cup experience, and brings a physical, gritty game to the team.

Lapointe loves to lead by example on the ice, and let us not forget about the deal swung earlier this month that landed Ottawa Cory Stillman and Mike Commodore from Carolina. 

By my count that is five Stanley Cup rings added by the Sens for their playoff push. 

However, the biggest story come playoff time is usually a fantastic goalie, and I don`t think Ottawa has one, which could be their downfall.

Philadelphia

Additions: Vinny Prospal (F)

Subtractions: Alexandre Picard (D), Conditional Draft Pick (2009)

By adding Prospal, the Flyers have added a speedy guy who, as we seen in Tampa, when matched with the right linemates can produce some good numbers. 

After all, this was the guy who Lightning star Vinny Lecavalier said last season that he really loved to play with, and would have been very disappointed if the Lightning didn't bring him back.

Prospal practiced on a line with Daniel Briere and R.J. Umberger in Flyers practice. 

If it doesn't work out, Prospal is a UFA at seasons end, so this was truly a low-risk move. 

Despite their recent slump, I think this helps the Flyers keep pace in the wide open Eastern Conference.

Phoenix

Additions: Marcel Hossa (F), Al Montoya (G)

Subtractions: Frederik Sjostrom (F), Josh Gratton (F), David Leneveu (G)

If Phoenix is looking to sell some seats they should just tell their fans they traded for Hossa!

Of course, no need to tell them it's the super snipers brother Marcel, who himself isn't a bad shot. 

In Hossa they get a decent forward who has speed to burn, and an offensive upside (though not nearly as high as his brothers, that's for sure).

Also they get Al Montoya.

Remember how touted Montoya was, coming off the U.S. first World Junior gold in 2004?

The Rangers drafted the Michigan Wolverine goaltender with the 5th-overall pick, however, it just didn't work out. 

Montoya was upended at training camp by Henrik Lundqvist and has since been toiling in the minor leagues for New York before this trade. 

The Coyotes seem set between the pipes with Ilya Bryzgalov, but Montoya should help their farm system out, and give Mikael Tellqvist a real run for his money come September.

Pittsburgh

Additions: Marian Hossa (F), Pascal Dupuis (F), Hal Gill (D)

Subtractions: Colby Armstrong (F), Erik Christensen (F), Angelo Esposito (F), First-Round Pick, Second-Round Pick, Fifth-Round Pick (2009)

No one got more, and gave up as much on draft day as the Pittsburgh Penguins. Now time will tell if it was a good move or not. 

Adding Marian Hossa makes them completely stacked up front in terms of snipers and talented forwards. Hossa joins Malkin, Crosby, and Staal as the Pens young guns. 

Imagine where this team will be when they get Gary Roberts and Crosby back on the ice.

Pascal Dupuis is a decent defensive forward who will help them with their penalty kill, which is already ranked a solid fourth in the NHL.

Hal Gill also brings a real physical presence to the blue line (physicality seemed to be the order of the day, a la Anaheim Ducks cup run from a year ago perhaps).

Gill is a big guy who loves to lean on the star players in the league and make them uncomfortable. 

He's slow, that's for sure.  But he makes up for it with his smart positioning. 

Pittsburgh paid a price for these three, but in a conference that is completely up for grabs, they made the biggest splash on February 26th. 

Let's hope the waves are big enough to continue into June.

San Jose

Additions: Brian Campbell (D), Brian Boucher (G), Seventh-Round Pick (from NYI), Seventh-Round Pick (from Buf)

Subtractions: Rob Davison (D), Steve Bernier (F), First-Round Pick

Doug Wilson should be pleased as punch today. 

Seen as a great team who couldn't win the big one, or the NHL's version of the San Diego Chargers, the Sharks GM made perhaps the boldest of moves, acquiring the powerplay quarterback they sorely needed in Brian Campbell. 

At a pretty decent price as well, the Sharks brought in the Canadian D-man who is in the best years of his career. 

This move alone rockets them up the charts at the top of the conference, or at least very near to the top.

Losing Bernier is tough, but a guy like Joe Pavelski has just as much to offer as Steve Bernier does.

Adding Boucher makes the Sharks feel at ease about their goaltending situation. 

By adding the veteran, who was most recently playing for the Flyers AHL Affiliate Phantoms, they get a solid backup option, who provides them depth, as well as playoff experience.

St. Louis

Additions: Cam Janssen (F), Fourth-Round Pick

Subtractions: Bryce Salvador (D), Christian Backman (D)

Well, I sure hope St. Louis has some young guys who can play D, because they traded two of their better options at the back end in Backman and Salvador. 

The return was not real good, but it is what most would have expected. 

Adding a fourth rounder for Backman was a pretty safe deal for both teams involved. 

But they clearly lost the Salvador for Janssen swap, at least in my opinion. 

Salvador was a real go to guy to fill the four, five, or six spot on your blue line.

Instead they grabbed an enforcer, who couldn't earn a spot on New Jersey, whether that was because of his shoulder injury, or his lack of skill, that's up for debate. 

Still, I have always been a believer that if someone wants to really play for your team, you bring them in. And Larry Pleau and John Davidson did just that. Janssen is a St. Louis boy, and man, did he sound excited when he was interviewed on TSN.

Tampa Bay

Additions: Mike Smith (G), Jussi Jokinen (F), Jeff Halpern (F), Fourth-Round Pick, Seventh-Round Pick (from NSH), Seventh-Round Pick (from ANA), Brandon Segal, Conditional Draft Pick (2009)

Subtractions: Brad Richards (F), Johan Holmqvist (G), Jan Hlavac (F), Jay Leach (D), Vinny Prospal (F)

Wow, I didn't realize how busy Tampa was until I typed all that out.

Anyway, the biggest deal by far was the Brad Richards trade to Dallas. And I for one, am a little confused.

Sure, they get out of Richards big contract, but do they not end up in the same spot by signing Boyle for six years at a price tag of $40 Million? 

I'm not saying Boyle isn't a solid defenseman, but does this really alleviate anything, or are they back where they started? 

Either way, they got a solid return for Richards.

Did they finally get that goalie of the future (and the now) they sorely needed in Mike Smith? 

Also, imagine the shootout lineup they'll have with Jussi Jokinen on the team, who should help them on the powerplay as well.

And if you believe in familiarity, long time Capital Jeff Halpern returns to the Southeast division.

All in all, I think it was a positive productive day for Tampa, who added three good roster players, three or four draft picks and a prospect.

Toronto

Additions: Second-Round Pick, Third-Round Pick, Fifth-Round Pick, Fifth-Round Pick (2009)

Subtractions: Chad Kilger (F), Wade Belak (F), Hal Gill (D)

Cliff Fletcher tried the best he could, but as it's been stated many times before, his hands were truly tied on this one.

With none of the No-Trade Clause Five willing to move, Fletcher had to start dealing middle of the roster role players instead.

It wasn't the drastic day many Leafs fans envisioned, but steps (albeit baby steps) were taken towards the rebuild process.

There's a lot of people who think Belak would have problems finding a job on another team, so adding a fifthth rounder for him was a positive. 

Panthers fan, and players, will quickly warm to the funny tough man. He was likely to be cut loose after this season anyway. 

A third rounder for Kilger seems about right. Florida will quickly learn to love Kilger, always a hard worker who isn't afraid to get his nose dirty and throw his body around. 

As for Gill, I think a second rounder is ABOVE market value, so Fletcher deserves some applause there (even if it's fishy because his son, who is assistant GM in Pittsburgh may have almost given him the pick).

So to get a second and a fifth for the big guy is a pretty good deal. 

Based on today's standings and the "snake" lottery system the NHL uses, that pick is good for 36th overall this June.

Vancouver

Additions: Matt Pettinger (F)

Subtractions: Matt Cooke (F)

A couple of gritty Matt's swap places.

In Pettinger the 'Nucks get a hard working forward who rarely takes a night off.

In terms of Pettinger versus Cooke, I think it's more or less a fair trade off. 

Cooke has a little more pest factor to him, but GM Dave Nonis had grown tired of the contract talks between the two, which stalled long ago.

Washington

Additions: Matt Cooke (F), Sergei Fedorov (F), Cristobal Huet (G)

Subtractions: Matt Pettinger (F), Theo Ruth (D), Second-Round Pick

Washington made a real push to overtake Carolina and Atlanta in the southeast division, acquiring a strong goaltender, giving them a good one-two punch (despite the fact Ollie the Goalie's numbers have not been good this year). 

They also grabbed pest Matt Cooke, who loves to get under opponents skin and can chip in offensively in a secondary scoring role as well. 

In grabbing Sergei Fedorov, they bring in another Russian forward, who should get along well with Ovechkin, Kozlov, and Semin. 

The Fedorov and Cooke deal may be slightly short sighted. After all Cooke is a UFA at seasons end, and one has to wonder how much Fedorov has in the tank. 

But the Huet deal may have been the steal of the day. 

The Capitals have two real good goalie prospects in Semen Varlomov(another Russian if you are wondering) and Michael Neuvirth. 

Trading for Huet should allow them to have a successor when Kolzig decides to step aside, and allow these talented kids a little more time to grow into their own skin in the NHL ranks.

Part One of the article, featuring teams 1-15 can be found here

**Note, teams are not ranked 1-15, and 16-30 based on any ranking system, it is based on the alphabet, and the fact that it divides nicely.