NHL Playoffs: Dustin Penner, Michael Frolik, Top 10 Impact Deadline Additons
Dustin Penner has had a bigger impact in nine games in LA than he did in 62 games with Edmonton this season.
Michael Frolik is a rising second-line grinder who works hard, skates harder and can put the puck in the net.
Sergei Samsonov and Cory Stillman are older vets who are putting up numbers just like the young kids while Tomas Kaberle is arguably one of the top three over-30-year-old defenseman in the league.
What do these players from different teams, nationalities and positions have in common? They were all part of trades in the weeks leading up to a trade deadline that lacked the big-name, splashy trades we were lead to expect. However, they all have had massive impact on their teams’ success, and many were thrust into the heart of close playoff races.
For some, this isn’t their first move, for others it may be their last. Others still may be only a rental for a team who is looking to make a push for the Cup, but no matter what role they fulfill, these 10 players have been successful pickups for their new teams.
With the end of the regular season drawing near and the trade deadline long enough gone that the moves that were made can be scrutinized and debated, we at Bleacher Report thought it was high time that someone determine who got the best end of the deals in mid-to-late February 2011.
Here then are the top 10 Impact Deadline Additions, starting with a young defenseman who has come back to the states since playing the better part of two years in his native Ontario, Canada.
10. Chris Campoli – Chicago Blackhawks (D)
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The effect of a defenseman on a new team can be tough to measure in such a short time. It isn’t as simple as looking at the points or plus-minus he has put up in his games with that team, though those do factor in. Defense in hockey is one of those “whole is greater than the sum of its parts” positions.
In this case, Campoli has stepped up as a third-pair defender for the maligned Chicago Blackhawks’ back end. The first overall offense in the league—by goals per game—has had trouble keeping the puck out of their own net all season, though they have been doing better since Calder Trophy candidate Corey Crawford has stepped up in net since the beginning of the calendar year.
However, with multiple injuries across the board to his defensemen, and the lack of useful production from reserve journeymen, Stan Bowman was on a mission to find a strong defenseman at a good price in what essentially became a two-day blitz.
What he found was a young gem in Chris Campoli in a trade with Ottawa for forward Ryan Potulny and a conditional draft pick.
Since coming to Chicago, Campoli has been strong on the back end with four points—including one goal—in only 10 games played for the 'Hawks. He is also a plus-three in that span and has averaged over 21 minutes of ice time each night, an amount the Blackhawks need from their depth guys even though Campbell has returned to the lineup.
The other advantage is that at only $1.4 million, Campoli isn’t an expensive rental and is also a restricted free agent at the end of the season. That means the Blackhawks have a better chance of retaining him if they so choose, which would give them another NHL-caliber depth man who has room and time to develop into a play architect on the back end.
What bodes well for the 'Hawks as they look to finish the season strong is that this isn’t the best move they made around the deadline.
9. Jason Arnott – Washington Capitals (C)
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Another team that was a big winner at the deadline this season is the Washington Capitals.
Along with a defenseman yet to come on this list, the Caps traded a second-round pick in 2012 and checking-line center David Steckel to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for veteran center Jason Arnott.
Arnott has since been injured and has not yet returned to the lineup which is why he only cracks No. 9 on this list, but since joining Washington he has notched two goals, five points and is a plus-five in only seven games for the guys in D.C.
The 16-year veteran does not look too likely for the Capitals’ next game at Ottawa on Friday, but he should be prepared for the playoffs and be a big help centering the middle lines as Washington looks to finally make a legitimate run for the Stanley Cup in 2011.
8. Tomas Kaberle – Boston Bruins (D)
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Not even the highest-ranked defenseman on this list, Tomas Kaberle weighs in at number eight of impact players who were moved at the deadline.
After 11 seasons and over 850 games in Toronto—his entire professional career—Kaberle was dealt to the Northeast Division-leading Boston Bruins looking to strengthen their already fourth-best goals against earning back end. Much of that has been Tim Thomas’ ability to stand on his head all year, but nonetheless the Bruins are one of the best defensive teams in the league with the addition of Kaberle.
The veteran defender was dealt on the tail end of a Toronto Maple Leafs fire sale in exchange for this year’s first-round pick, a conditional second-round pick in 2012 and young forward Joe Colborne.
In the short term, Boston certainly got the better end of this deal with Kaberle being a plus-five with five assists since joining the team 13 games ago. Those numbers don’t quite jump off the page, but Kaberle’s defensive play continues to as it always has.
He also is averaging nearly 22 minutes of ice time per game which allows the Bruins the ability to spread out the play of their other big-name defensemen like Zdeno Chara in preparation for the playoffs.
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7. Cory Stillman – Carolina Hurricanes (LW)
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At 37 years old, Cory Stillman earns bonus points on this list for how fantastically he has played. Since returning to his former team, the Carolina Hurricanes, he has eight points and three goals over 12 games while being a plus-two in that span.
The 15-year veteran is playing like he has something to prove, like he wants to win it all, and—most importantly—like a man 10 years younger. He is still quick, extremely smart in the game and knows where to be at all times on the ice. This was an extremely smart trade for the Canes when considering that all they gave up was a fifth-round pick and Ryan Carter.
He’s not likely to garner a $3.5 million contract again, but he sure is making a case for himself signing one more multi-year deal—if they don’t win the Cup this year—for him to retire on top of the world.
6. Dennis Wideman – Washington Capitals (D)
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Owned by 100 percent of ESPN.com’s fantasy leagues, 28-year-old Dennis Wideman was a massive defensive addition for Washington. Not only is he plus-six in only 11 games with the Capitals this season, but he also has a goal and six assists in that span.
To add to those gaudy numbers, he is also eating just shy of 25 minutes on the ice and has 19 hits and a massive 24 blocked shots. At more than two per game, he averages the most blocked shots on the team all season, picking up the injured Mike Green’s torch.
The other bonus of Wideman is that he is reasonably priced and has another year on his contract, so the Caps can deal him after the season ends to a team looking for a one-year rental or can hang on to him to add invaluable production to their back end.
All-in-all, Wideman may only be number six on this list, but he was a fantastic addition who only cost a third round pick and a prospect forward.
5. Michael Frolik – Chicago Blackhawks (C)
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Michael Frolik breaks the top half of this list on the Chicago Blackhawks for one reason: the future. The kid is one of the most mentally talented 23-year-old centers in the NHL in a very long time and is simply a pleasure to watch for any true hockey fan.
He only has six points and four assists in 19 games, but is only a minus-four in that time playing a good chunk of his time on lower lines who have a tendency to allow more goals. Also, the 'Hawks have been allowing more goals in that span than they have essentially all season.
Frolik's value, however, is that it shows that Stan Bowman and the Blackhawks are still dedicated to staying young and talented in Chicago. Frolik has notched 123 points in his 232 career games over the better part of three seasons. Of those, 71 are assists, showing that he has a penchant for being a selfless player which on this team is probably his most glaring weakness.
As a center, Chicago has little need currently for a selfless-center, when Toews and Bolland are centering their “scoring” lines. Frolik’s style of play will never be frowned upon, but he needs to be more confident in his ability to shoot the puck and not hesitate when he has chances. He tends to double-clutch when a possible pass is available on the play, no matter how tiny the lane, and by then his chance is gone.
However, given another year in the system and some strong Coach Q talking, Frolik will be a great addition to Chicago’s revamped team for years to come.
4. Joffrey Lupul – Toronto Maple Leafs (RW)
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When you consider that the Maple Leafs were the big seller at this year’s deadline, the fact that they added such a big helper on offense is a bit shocking. The 27-year-old has been one of the sparks that has re-ignited the Maple Leafs’ playoff hopes, scoring five goals and 11 points in 21 games with Toronto.
Lupul has bounced from team to team in his career, most recently coming to the Leafs from Anaheim along with Jake Gardiner and a fourth-round conditional pick in exchange for defenseman Francois Beauchemin.
The Leafs are not likely to go deep if they make the postseason, but they currently sit a mere three points out of eighth place in the Eastern Conference and could make the jump if Lupul can keep producing how he has.
3. Sergei Samsonov – Florida Panthers (LW)
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You have to feel bad for Sergei. At 32 years old he was playing for a contending team in Carolina, only to be shipped off to the ever-maligned Florida Panthers in exchange for veteran defenseman Bryan Allen.
The deal was simple: the Canes needed defense and the Panthers wanted a cheaper payroll and some offensive production. What they didn’t expect was that they would get more of the latter than the former.
Over 12 games with Florida, Samsonov has put up nine points and is a plus-one. What is really impressive though is that he had a streak in there of three straight, two-point games, showing he can still get it done in big ways. To be fair on both sides, he has only notched points in five games, but he also plays for the fourth-worst offense in the NHL.
His contract is up after this year, so he will be able to attack free agency and move to a team who hopefully has a chance for him to win a Stanley Cup. For now, he has helped the Panthers and their fans not feel quite so bad about how the year has panned out.
2. Brad Boyes – Buffalo Sabres (C)
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After the better part of four seasons in St. Louis, Brad Boyes headed eastward to Buffalo a day before the deadline for a mere second-round pick in 2011. Draft pick well spent.
Since joining the Sabres, Boyes has put up five goals and three assists and is only a minus-one in that time. He is a strong, scoring-minded center with 150 goals in his career and plays a smart and well calculated game.
The Sabres had lost nine of their previous 15 games before adding Boyes and were plummeting down the Eastern Conference standings. However, he notched a goal on his only shot of his first game for Buffalo and has been a big part of their 7-3-2 turnaround since he joined them. In games he has scored a goal, they are 4-1 and he is either plus or even in every win and in every game he has put the puck in the net.
Boyes has another $4 million-year left on his contract, so he isn’t the cheapest forward picked up at the deadline, but he has produced well for Buffalo. He could be either a great addition for their future or a good bargaining chip to get young talent or draft picks in the offseason. He is a big help now as they hang onto that eighth and final playoff spot in the East and hope to ride their recent turnaround deep into the playoffs.
1. Dustin Penner – Los Angeles Kings (LW)
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After letting veteran winger Marco Sturm go to Washington via waivers two days before, the LA Kings made the splash they were hoping to when they netted Dustin Penner from the Edmonton Oilers.
He came with a steep price tag—a first-round pick in 2011, a conditional third rounder in 2012 and defensive prospect Colten Teubert—but they surely don’t have buyer’s remorse in the City of Angels.
Penner has only put up six points in 11 games with Los Angeles, but he is plus-three in that time and has proved he can play in the system at LA with four assists.
Penner, however, was a Michael Frolik-type deal in that he is not a talent rental for a late-season push, but rather an investment in the recent rebirth of the Kings that has made the Pacific Division the most exciting division all season long.
The proof is in the pudding—or rather, wins—with Penner, not in points, as the Kings are 7-2-2 since adding him to their lineup, including a stretch of four wins—including one each against Dallas and Detroit—where he finished each game with one point and a plus-one.
The 28-year-old Penner has only one more year left on his contract but expect an extension in this offseason or soon after, as Los Angeles will be serious about keeping this offensive angel around to give more support to Anze Kopitar and Ryan Smyth.
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