OUTSIDER SPORTS NHL TRADE DEADLINE REVIEW
Photo credit to Ross D. Franklin (AP Photo)
The NHL trade deadline has officially passed and we now have a really good idea of what rosters will look like for the stretch run. With that being said, we wanted to see what teams took advantage and made improvements.
Winners of the Trade Deadline
New Jersey Devils: This team has one of the best, young rosters in the league and the best prospect pool to go with it. The Devils not only got their guy in Timo Meier, but they didn’t have to dive too deep into that prospect pool and they also sent a 4th round pick to Vancouver for Curtis Lazar. They added a big piece in Meier and important depth for the bottom-6. This team has very few question marks heading into the final stretch of games, and heading into Friday, they were one of only two teams in the NHL to reach 40 wins this season, along with the Boston Bruins.
Toronto Maple Leafs: The Leafs made too many good moves to not be on here as well. Adding
the likes of Ryan O’Reilly and Noel Acciari alone were enough to push the needle for Toronto,
but adding a plethora of defenseman really helps get this team over the top. Talent hasn’t been
the reason why this team hasn’t been able to escape the first round in years and it certainly
wouldn’t be this year either. All that’s left for the Maple Leafs is to expel the demons this
franchise has collected over the last couple decades.
New York Rangers: Vladimir Tarasenko has already shown how lethal his shot is, and Patrick
Kane and co. are just getting started. The “Kid Line” is continuing to develop and with these
new additions they can truly play as a 3rd line and take advantage against the bottom 6 of
other teams. This team looks a lot different than it did to start 2023, and they’re ready to make
another run.
Boston Bruins: The best team in the NHL this season also made moves to get better at the
deadline, adding veteran defenseman and Stanley Cup Champion Dmitry Orlov as well as
forward Garnet Hathaway from the Washington Capitals, as well as Tyler Bertuzzi from the
Detriot Red Wings. The Bruins already had one of the deepest lineups in which has resulted in
them making history, collecting 101 points in just 61 games. They add a bit of everything with
these moves in defense, toughness and some scoring touch from a 2nd or 3rd line forward.
Ottawa Senators: The latest streak for the Senators was enough for management to pull the
trigger and trade for Jakob Chychrun. They also brought in Julien Gauthier from the Rangers for
Tyler Motte and Patrick Brown from the Philadelphia Flyers. Obviously Chychrun is the big
move here, and the way the Senators are playing is making their slow start to the season look
like a blip and the reality appears to be that they are a playoff team.
All team logos credit to sportslogos.net
Favorite Moves
Benjamin Mandell: As a Devils fan it has to be Meier. Not giving up Mercer and bringing in Meier was my ideal situation and that is exactly what Tom Fitzgerald pulled off.
Tom Leone: The Bruins trading for Bertuzzi is such a good move for the Bruins. He brings more than toughness, but that kind of edge is huge come playoff time and when you’re in the Bruins position, there aren’t too many more holes to fill.
Mikey D: I said on the podcast I wanted Max Domi in New Jersey, but that was wishful thinking. For a Stars team that seems to be poised to make the playoffs under Peter DeBoer, who has reached the Stanley Cup final twice (first season in New Jersey and first season in San Jose). In his first year with Dallas, they add Domi and can certainly make a push for the Central division if Colorado continues its up-and-down season.
Under-the-Radar moves
Benjamin Mandell: It may not be a move that helps a team win this season, but Vancouver trading for Filip Hronek. This could be an interesting move for the Canucks depending on their direction. If this team plans to retool and make a run for next year, a top-4 right-handed defenseman is very rare and hard to find. Hronek can be a big piece for the future if Vancouver tries to win again sooner than later.
Tom Leone: McCabe going to Toronto is huge. The Leafs don’t need more offense and fixing up the back end is the right move. McCabe helps sure things up back there in front of an unproven playoff goalie in Ilya Samsonov and more recent liability Matt Murray.
Mikey D: The Senators trading for Chychrun is the biggest under-the-radar move because not many people saw the Senators as a big buyer at the deadline. They took a big swing, and they got the biggest name available that wasn’t Timo Meier. The Senators look like they can make a run to the playoffs.