Article Written By: Adam Wible
An almost record breaking trade deadline today for the NHL. Trades leaving some fans puzzled while others rejoice in new found hope. Here is a recap of the players switching cities today.
The New York Rangers dealt; Ryan Callahan, conditional second-round pick (2014), and a first round pick (2015) to Tampa Bay, in exchange for, Martin St. Louis.
New York broke open the market for big name players in this deal. Sending veteran Callahan to Tampa Bay, is a clear move of arms. New York is gearing up for a playoff run, and are hoping to get scoring out of St. Louis.
It rare for teams to trade captains, especially with each team is among the contenders in the Eastern Conference. Tampa Bay general manager Steve Yzerman confirmed St. Louis had requested a trade, and Callahan will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
Callahan has 11 goals and 25 points in 45 games this season.
St. Louis has 29 goals and 61 points in 62 games this season.
St. Louis arrived at MSG this afternoon, and appears to be ready to make his Ranger debut tonight.
The New York Islanders deal star winger Thomas Vanek and conditional fifth-round pick (2014), to the Montreal Canadians in exchange for; prospect Sebastian Collberg and a conditional second-round pick (2014).
Vanek had 17 goals and 27 assists for 44 points in 47 games with the Islanders.
Montreal is second in the Atlantic Division with 75 points, eight behind the first-place Bruins. Vanek will give them a push, and give Boston a run for the division crowd.
What an awful turn of events for GM Garth Snow and the Islanders front office. Twitter isn’t too happy as #SnowMustGo is trending in the US.
His seat just got real hot.
Minnesota Wild added scoring to their lineup trading for Matt Moulson and Cody McCormick from Buffalo, in exchanger for; Torrey Mitchell and second-round picks (2014,2016).
In the powerful Western Conference, Minnesota adds veteran goal scorer Matt Moulson and Cody McCromick.
Moulson, 30, has 17 goals and 28 points in 55 games this season between Buffalo and New York.
McCormick has just five points in 29 games this season.
Mitchell, 29, has 35 goals and 90 points, in his 383 game career.
Ottawa Senators acquired forward Alexander Hemsky from Edmonton, in exchange for; a third-round pick (2015) and a fifth-round pick (2014).
Hemsky, 30, has spent all 11 seasons in the NHL with the Oilers. He has nine goals and 26 points in 55 games for the Oilers.
“It is hard not to think about it when you are hearing all the rumors, but I have been in this situation for the last four years,” Hemsky told CBCSports.com after the game Tuesday. “I just tried to play my game and not think about it. It was fun.”
Buffalo continued their trading ways, dealing goalie Jaroslav Halak and third-round pick (2015) to Washington, in exchange for; goaltender Michal Neuvirth and defenseman Rostislav Klesla.
In 40 games this season, Halak is 24-9-4 with a 2.23 goals-against average and .917 save percentage. He can be an unrestricted free agent after the season.
A 2003 ninth-round pick of the Canadiens, Halak has 139 wins and 26 shutouts in 260 NHL games with the Canadiens and Blues.
Neuvirth, 25, is 4-6-2 with a 2.82 GAA and .914 save percentage in 13 games this season.
Klesla, 31, had one goal and three assists in 25 games with the Coyotes.
Canadians added to their goaltender core, dealing future considerations to Nashville, in exchange for; Devan Dubnyk.
Starter Carey Price aggravated a lower-body injury at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, and has not played a game since the NHL schedule resumed.
The Canadiens become Dubnyk’s third team of the season after he was traded by the Edmonton to the Predators on Jan. 15.
Los Angeles acquires defenseman Brayden McNabb, Jonathan Parker, and second-round picks (2014,2015), to Buffalo in Exchange for; prospects Hudson Fasching and Nicolas Deslauriers.
McNabb, has seven goals, 29 points, 45 penalty minutes and a plus-9 rating in 38 games for the Rochester Americans this season. He is a three-time all-star in the American Hockey League.
Parker, a 22-year-old right winger, has 10 goals and 23 points in 25 games for the Colorado Eagles in the ECHL this season.
Fasching, a freshman right wing at the University of Minnesota, could turn out to be a fit in Buffalo. He can play fast or a physically demanding role as a top-line playmaker or third-line grinder. He was an attractive option as an energy-type wing for the United States National Junior Team at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship.
He has 12 goals and 27 points in 31 games for the Gophers in 2013-14.
Buffalo’s other acquisition, Deslauriers, is a 23-year-old left-handed defenseman who is an exceptional skater. Chosen in the third round (No. 84) of the 2009 draft.
He has 18 goals, 39 points and 76 penalty minutes in 60 games this season.
New Jersey Devils obtained Tuomo Ruutu from Carolina in exchange for, Andrei Loktionov and a conditional third-round pick (2017).
Ruutu has five goals and 16 points in 57 games this season for the Hurricanes.
Ruutu had a goal and five points in six games to help Finland at the Sochi olympics.
Loktionov, 23, has four goals and 12 points in 48 games for the Devils this season. He is scheduled to be a restricted free agent at the end of the season.
Las Angeles adds scoring trading for Marian Gaborik from Columbus, in exchange for; Matt Frattin, a second-round pick, and a conditional third-round pick.
The Kings added much needed scoring and offense, in the high powered western conference.
Gaborik has six goals and 14 points, in 22 games this injury filled season.
Frattin, 26, has two goals in 40 games this season.
Columbus continued to traded adding Nick Schultz, from Edmonton, in exchange for a fifth-round pick (2014).
Schultz is 31 years old and has played 871 NHL games with the Wild and Oilers. He is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent after the season.
Schultz had no goals and four assists with a minus-11 rating in 60 games with the Oilers this season.
Penguins add veteran forward Marcel Groc from the Florida Panthers for third-round pick (2015) and fifth-round pick (2014)
Goc is tied for fourth on the Panthers this season with 11 goals and has 23 points in 62 games. A former first-round pick in the 2011 draft, by San Jose.
Colorado Avalanche add backup goaltender Reto Berra from Calgary, in exchange for, a second-round pick (2014)
Berra, 27, has appeared in 29 games for the Flames this year, posting a 9-17-2 record with a 2.95 goals-against average.
“With this acquisition we feel we have further solidified our goaltending situation, for the present and future,” said Avalanche Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Joe Sakic. “He has already shown he can be successful at the NHL level and we are excited about what he can bring to our team.”
The Dallas Stars kept the goalie trade trend going, dealing for Tim Thomas from Florida, in exchange for, goalie Dan Ellis.
Thomas signed a deal with the Panthers in the preseason after sitting out for a full season. He has a .909 save percentage behind a bad Panthers defense. Thomas will become a unrestricted free agent after this season.
Ellis will go to Florida and remain the backup.
Tim Thomas will not be on hand for Tim Thomas Bobblehead Night tonight.
The Ottawa Senators exchange prospect defensemen Andre Pettersson to the Anaheim Ducks for Alex Grant.
Petersson, 23, has scored 17 goals and 23 assists in 47 games with the American Hockey League’s Binghamton Senators this season. Fourth-round pick in 2008 by Ottawa.
Grant, 25, has scored seven goals and 20 assists in 52 games with the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals this season. He has also scored two goals in two games with the Ducks this season. Fourth-round pick in 2007 by Anaheim.
Penguins acquire Lee Stempniak from Calgary for third-round pick (2014).
Adding depth the Penguins aren’t making blockbuster trades, as they look to avoid a playoff upset.
They at least addressed that on Wednesday, and with Stempniak and Goc have given themselves what could be the makings of a real third line that doesn’t get crushed on a nightly basis.
In 52 games this season Stempniak has eight goals to go with 15 assists.
