2011 NHL Draft: Rating the Draft Day Trades

While Philadelphia stole all the pre-draft headlines with their roster overhaul deals, quite a few names swapped teams during the draft itself.

Whether deemed hockey trades, salary dumps or roster purges there was significant action.

Whatever the reason, here's a look at winners and losers of the 2011 swap fest.

San Jose Sharks: Minnesota Wild

Minnesota acquired right wing Devin Setoguchi, forward Charlie Coyle and the 28th pick in the 2011 Draft from the San Jose Sharks for defenseman Brent Burns and a second-round pick in the 2012 Draft.

This is a great return for both teams.

San Jose gets their puck mover from the blueline, and Minnesota gets a gunner and talent for the future.

Minnesota has to be given the edge on this deal due to the fact that they landed a scorer and essentially two first-round selections from San Jose.

In addition to Coyle, the 28th overall selection by San Jose in 2010, the Wild used the Sharks selection this year on play making center Zach Phillips.

The Wild are the early winners here.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Colorado Avalanche

Toronto acquired defenseman John-Michael Liles from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a second-round draft pick in 2012.

Despite his obvious offensive production, Liles was benched a number of times by Colorado's coaching staff for his frustrating defensive lapses.

Additionally, Liles has had recurring injury problems the past few seasons.

Combining all these factors with his $4.2 million cap hit, the trade deadline acquisition of Erik Johnson and Liles became an expendable commodity.

The Avs wanted to dump him and took what they could get.

Toronto gets a win here.

Whatever his issues in Colorado, he serves a different purpose with the Leafs.

Toronto needs to put the puck in the net more often, and Liles will certainly help there.

The team is only on the hook for one season, so it's little risk for the Leafs, with potential for a high reward.

Washington Capitals: Chicago Blackhawks

Washington acquired forward Troy Brouwer from the Chicago Blackhawks for the 26th choice in the 2011 Draft.

Brouwer gives the Capitals some grit up front.

Yet, with Chicago, you could only classify Brouwer's performance as a bit of a disappointment.

He is somewhere between a second and third line guy. He is capable and versitile, but inconsistent—as witnessed by his disappearing act in this years' playoffs.  Zero points and only ten shots on goal in seven games against Vancouver.

The Hawks win this one because Phillip Danault represents a much higher potential than the one Brouwer failed to live up to in Chicago.

Florida Panthers: Chicago Blackhawks

Florida acquires defenseman Brian Campbell from Chicago in exchange for forward Rostislav Olesz.

In a straight up swap of awful contracts, the Panthers win because they receive the better player.

Dale Tallon trades for the guy he originally signed to the big money deal that has been an albatross contract for Chicago ever since.

Only this time, Campbell's money is actually helping the team—the Panthers are nearly desperate to find ways to get up to the new cap minimum!

The deal still places Florida about $42 million under the cap max, so look for them to start handing out new contracts as if it were Christmas Day.

Olesz has three years left with a $3.125m cap hit.  He has been injury prone and a complete bust with the Panthers.

Give Florida a double win.

Calgary Flames: Buffalo Sabres

Calgary acquired defenseman Chris Butler and forward Paul Byron from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defenseman Robyn Regehr, forward Ales Kotalik and a second-round pick in the 2012 Draft.

The Flames clear cap space and add some real scoring potential in Byron.

Regehr, though the centerpiece of this deal today, was rumored to be in play for some time now due to his inflated cap cost.

His loss is offset somewhat by the addition of banger Chris Butler.

Long term, Calgary holds a distinct edge if Byron turns out to be the player that dazzled in the QMJHL. Plus they unloaded Kotalik.

Let's be honest, "AK Sumtin', sumtin'" was all but useless in a Flames sweater.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Ottawa Senators

Columbus acquired a third-round pick in the 2011 Draft from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for forward Nikita Filatov.

It's obvious now that the Jackets had lost all hope for Filatov.

The sixth overall selection of the 2008 NHL Draft, Filatov has been a major disappointment to Columbus.

However, in his defense, Filatov's development probably has been mishandled by the Columbus coaches and staff.

He will get a fresh start and likely receive much needed nurturing support from Ottawa's Sergei Gonchar, as well as the other highly skilled Senators' veterans.

A third-rounder is not much to pay for a player with Filatov's potential.

Win Ottawa.

St. Louis Blues: New York Rangers

St. Louis acquired forward Evgeny Grachev from the New York Rangers for a third-round pick in the 2011 Draft.

Much like the Filatov deal, Grachev had very high expectations in the Rangers organization.

Unlike Filatov, I believe that the Rangers did nothing to hinder Grachev's development. He just hasn't been up to the task yet.

The Blues need scoring help and Grachev has the skills to provide it.  St. Louis may have a better offensive system that more closely matches Grachev's capabilities.

Sometimes all it takes is the cliched change of scenery to jump-start a players career.

Little risk, big gain potential for the Blues.