NHL Trade Deadline: Grading the Dustin Penner Deal's Effects on Pacific Division
Building up to NHL trade deadline day, Pacific Division teams were expected to be amongst the most active in the league.
Let's just say they disappointed fans across the league with the lack of action.
Some of the big names that had been widespread in rumors, like Brad Richards, Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds, all stayed put.
Los Angeles, which had cap space and tons of prospects, was expected to make a couple of big moves but opted for just one that wasn't as big as many thought it would be.
Still, the Kings acquiring Dustin Penner from the Edmonton Oilers was by far the biggest deal in the Pacific Division.
Let's take a closer look at it.
Kings Get: Dustin Penner
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Dustin Penner is a 6'4", 245-lb. behemoth of a winger. He's a physical power forward but he has a tendency to float sometimes.
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What Penner Brings to the Kings
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Penner brings physicality and a strong net front presence, but perhaps most importantly, he brings playoff experience.
Penner won a Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007, and that experience will be invaluable for this young, relatively inexperienced Kings team.
Penner's net front skills will be beneficial on the second power play unit, as Ryan Smyth plays that role on the top unit.
Penner's scoring ability will also be valuable to the Kings, who currently sit ninth in the Western Conference in goals scored.
Oilers Get: Colten Teubert
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Colten Teubert was LA's first-round pick, 13th overall, in 2008. He's 6'4", 195 lbs. and just 20 years old.
He's a physical, defensive defenseman who is projected to play on the second pairing when he makes the step to the NHL.
Teubert's high-level projection could be something along the lines of Hal Gill.
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Oilers Get: First-Round Pick in 2011 and Conditional Third-Round Pick in 2012
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The Oilers will get LA's first-round pick in this summer's NHL entry draft, which will likely be somewhere between 15th and 25th overall depending on the Kings' playoff performance.
In what's perceived as a fairly weak draft class, the Oilers' scouting staff will have to do some work to find a star late in the first round.
The conditional third-round pick in 2012 becomes a second-round pick if the Kings win the Stanley Cup this season.
Who Wins the Trade?
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In the long run this deal should be good for both teams.
The Kings get a solid top-six forward who can help them push for a Cup right away. Penner will fit well on either of the top two lines, and his playoff experience will be valuable.
The Oilers continue the rebuilding process with a good, young prospect and a first-round pick.
Most importantly, moving Penner makes space to give the Oilers' talented youngsters more premium ice time, like on the power play.
It also makes it even more likely that Edmonton will secure its second consecutive first overall pick.
Impact on the Pacific Division
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Right now, the Pacific Division is the most competitive in the NHL.
San Jose leads the way with 78 points, followed by Phoenix (76), Los Angeles (74), Dallas (72) and Anaheim (71).
Four of the five currently hold playoff spots, and Anaheim is only one point behind eighth place.
LA and San Jose are two of the hottest teams in the league. LA is 11-1-3 in its last 15 games, and San Jose is 15-2-1 in its last 18 games.
They should battle down to the wire to secure the division, but unless San Jose falls off, it should take the division, and the Kings will likely be fourth or fifth in the conference.
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