NHL Trade Deadline: The 4 Deals That Most Affect the Philadelphia Flyers

All the mayhem is finally done.

Now that the trade deadline has passed, team rosters are final until the end of the season. The big team that saw the most movement before 3pm on Monday was the Florida Panthers. They gave away a lot of players that other teams might hold onto (Mike Frolik, Bryan McCabe and Bryan Allen).

While the Philadelphia Flyers didn't deal the most, they still had their fair share in making moves throughout the NHL. Their biggest one being the acquisition of Kris Versteeg from Toronto on Feb. 14.

Of course, acquiring a player who has 26 points in two postseasons with the Chicago Blackhawks is a great pickup, but it's how the other teams dealt players that can really affect the first place Flyers.

Trades involving teams in the same conference and division as the Flyers, which, like the Panthers, there were a lot of. 

It seems improbable that another team's trade deadline moves could affect another team, in this case the Flyers, and drop them out of the number one slot in the Eastern Conference. 

But hey, crazier stuff has happened.

Pittsburgh Penguins Bringing Back Alex Kovalev

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TORONTO, CANADA - FEBRUARY 26: Alexei Kovalev #72 of the Pittsburgh Penguins shoots during warmup before game action against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre February 26, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Abelimages/Getty Images)

A player who is on the decline—he's 38—Kovalev can be the biggest threat to the Flyers in the postseason. That is, of course, providing the two Pennsylvania clubs meet in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Already with a Stanley Cup under his belt, Kovalev has been a major asset to whatever team he's on during the playoffs. With the New York Rangers in 1994, he posted 21 points in 23 games to lead the team to the Stanley Cup.

In his postseason career, he's averaged 0.84 points a game. That doesn't seem impressive, but over the course of 116 postseason games Kovalev put up 98 points. Providing the Pens don't fall off the deep end (with the absence of Sidney Crosby) and miss the playoffs, Kovalev will get a chance to add to his totals.

How does this affect the Flyers? It could mean that they won't beat the Pens in the remaining two games they have against each other, and if they see each other in the playoffs, he'll be a big threat to them. 

They shouldn't get so comfortable not having to worry about Crosby or Malkin, Kovalev is back in town.

New York Rangers Nab Bryan McCabe

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UNIONDALE, NY - FEBRUARY 21: Bryan McCabe #24 of the Florida Panthers skates during an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on February 21, 2011 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

Bryan McCabe is an aging defenseman, but brings experience and leadership to a New York Rangers defense that is still very young.

His arrival may not have the impact that can stop other teams in their tracks or bring the Rangers to the top of their division, but his leadership can make the ultimate imprint in his new home.

The Flyers have won all four games against the Rangers this season, scoring 15 goals in the process. With two games left between the clubs, McCabe could help the Rangers slow down the Flyers attack.

His presence could avoid the potential sweep that the Rangers are facing, as well as increasing their chances in a possible playoff series between the two teams. 

Kris Versteeg

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TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 25: Kris Versteeg #32 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Tampa Bay Lightning at St. Pete Times Forum on January 25, 2011 in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Leafs 2-0. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

The obvious one, Kris Versteeg came to the Flyers two weeks ago from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

After seven games he has only scored two points.

My question was, and still is, is Versteeg really worth the first and third round picks that the Toronto got in return? 

While in Canada, Versteeg was one of their top scorers, but with the Flyers he'll just be another forward. Mike Richards, Danny Briere, Jeff Carter, Scott Hartnell, Claude Giroux and Ville Leino—just to name a few—all are more talented than Versteeg and overshadow him greatly.

After seven games in Philly, Versteeg has already accumulated a +2 plus/minus making him a -11 on the year. Is he going to prove to be worth the sacrifice of picks on the Flyers part, or will he flake out and bring nothing to the table for the rest of the season and postseason?

Washington Capitals Bring in Jason Arnott and Dennis Wideman

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UNIONDALE, NY - FEBRUARY 21: Dennis Wideman #6 of the Florida Panthers skates during an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on February 21, 2011 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

Just like the Rangers McCabe pick up, the acquiring of these two players won't make the biggest noise for the Washington Capitals. But again it's the leadership role—in this case Jason Arnott—that can help out the Capitals the most.

As a Devils fan, I watched Arnott in New Jersey night after night, and to make a conclusion on why he didn't perform well: he wasn't happy. When the team went on their downward spiral, Arnott didn't want to deal with it.

Coming back to the Devils, after having so much success playing for them in the 90's, and doing so horribly while getting stuck on a line with two young players in Mattias Tedenby and Vladimir Zharkov.

With 19 games left for the Caps, I can't see Arnott getting more than ten points. It'll be interesting to see how he meshes with new teammate Alex Ovechkin. Both are polar opposites when it comes to taking control of their team and trying to be the role model—Ovechkin being loud and "cheerleader like" and Arnott being humble and seldom.

Dennis Wideman isn't a teams first pick as far as defenseman go, but when paired with some of the defenders that Washington has, he may make a significant impact. Last season with the Bruins wasn't his best, when he forced some key turnovers that led to scoring chances for the opposition. 

So the B's let him go and off to Florida he went where he improved, but on a Panthers team that is among the bottom of the Eastern Conference, his +/- is bound to drop. 

It did.

These two bring experience to the Capitals with Arnott having the Stanley Cup experience. Will that be enough for the Capitals to make the push to the finals? 

The Flyers need to watch out.

Follow Joe Higgins on Twitter @joehiggins5