Eastern Conference: Round 1!

Here we go!  The playoffs have finally arrived, and it took literally until the very last day of the regular season to find out the different matchups we’re going to get to see here.  It has been an incredible season with so many highs and lows for both teams and individual players.  And now it all comes down to this, the race to Lord Stanley’s Cup.  Now let’s take a closer look at our matchups for round one in the Eastern Conference.

Atlantic Division:

2) Boston Bruins vs 3) Toronto Maple Leafs:

Well now if this isn’t a story, we’ve seen a few times in recent years. I’d certainly say so, but maybe this time, we’ll have a different ending…or maybe not.  Toronto had come into this season as one of the sexy picks to win the Stanley Cup.  After all, they have some of the best young talent in all of hockey.  And they landed the biggest fish in the free agent market over the summer in John Tavares.  He certainly has not disappointed so far, setting all new career highs in just about every statistical category.  But so far, this regular season it hasn’t seemed to be enough against the big bad Bruins.

Boston will have won 3 of the 4 meetings the teams had during the regular season coming into this series.  And while the regular season counts for very little when it comes to the playoffs, you must wonder how deep in minds of the young Leafs the Bruins really are.  They took them out easily in the playoffs last season and that has carried over in the head to head matchups this season as well.  And for all the fire power the Leafs have up front, Boston still has the superior power play, which will make a difference in this series.  And while their PK’s are basically even through the regular season, I think the nod must go to Boston here when you compare the defenseman for each team.  Chara may be 41 years old, but he is still Chara.

Final Answer:  I have no choice but to take Boston here.  Aside from being the far more experienced team, they’ve shown nothing but dominance over the Leafs in recent years.  Not to mention they have a physicality that Toronto sorely lacks. I must take Boston in 6.

Atlantic Division:

1) Tampa Bay Lightning vs WC2) Columbus Blue Jackets:

In our premier Eastern Conference matchup, we have the 2^nd most dominant team in the history of the league in the Tampa Bay Lightning.  They are taking on a team who sold it all and bought the farm for their chance at glory this year, the Columbus Blue Jackets.  This is truly a David vs Goliath fight if there ever was one.

Tampa Bay has shown all year that they’re the best team in the league, hands down.  They won 62 games this year, 12 more than the next best team.  They have the leading scorer in the league in Kucherov with 128 pts, 12 more than the next best in McDavid.  They have three different 40- goal scorers in Kuch, Stamkos, and Point.  They’ve not only outscored their opponents but they’re not allowing a lot either.  They’re tied for 5^th in the league in least goals against as well.  When it comes to special teams, they’re the best there too.  The have the best PP in the league with a 28.2% of success.  And the PK is an even 85%, tied with Arizona for tops in the league.

When you look at all that Tampa has accomplished, how can the Blue Jackets even stand a chance?  Columbus is a team that has never won a single round in the playoffs.  They had the Washington Capitals on the ropes last year and then collapsed in what seemed to be their best chance in franchise history.  But now with the team they have assembled and the battles that they have had to go through just to make it into the playoffs…they have a punchers chance. 

They come into this series playing their best hockey of the year winning 7 of the last 8 games.  In those games they have also had 3 shut outs, leading one to believe that Bobrovsky has finally found his game.  Bob is the ultimate X-factor for this series as well.  He is the only active 2-time Vezina Trophy winner. Since March he has gone 10-5 with a .933 SV% and a 1.86 GAA.  Looking at how the forwards compare against the Lightnings, you don’t think they stand much of a chance.  But they have very solid players up and down their line-up.  

The key for them is that they play a team game and they’ll need to follow the lead of their coach in John Tortorella. They’re skilled and have great depth as well.  They must be physical at every chance and eliminate time and space from Tampa.  If they can do that…they’ll have a chance.

That said…I got Tampa…in Five. 

Metropolitan Division:

2) New York Islanders vs 3) Pittsburgh Penguins:

Boy oh boy, this will be a fun series here.  To start the season who would have thought that the Islanders would have even sniffed the playoffs, let alone lead their division most of the year.  But here we are, they didn’t hold on to the top spot but they’re sitting here with home ice through the 1^st round against the battle tested Penguins.  And if anyone knows how a team should play against Pittsburgh, its Barry Trotz.

The key to this series for the Islanders is to keep playing their team game.  Barry Trotz came over from Washington immediately after winning the Stanley Cup last year and turned the worst defensive team in the league into arguably the best one.  They allowed a league low 191 goals against.  When it comes to special teams though, they’re just … not that good.  They have the 29^th ranked PP and they PK is 17^th, playing a team like the Penguins, they must be better.

The Pens are a team who has had their struggles this year but still find a way to get it done.  Early on they had struggles in net from Matt Murray and they just couldn’t win many games. But since the trade deadline they have been on a roll.  They have a 12-4-4 record since then and they’re PP has been clicking with a 24.5% success rate. But the PK on the other hand has only been at 77.5 in that time. Once again though, Crosby has topped 100pts in a season and Jake Guentzel has even hit the 40-goal mark. 

This really is a “styles make fights” type of series and it should be about as even of a series as we can get.  Can the defensive prowess of the Islanders shut down the battle tested warriors that are led by Crosby and Malkin? Time will tell.  For me, I love a good upset, but I’m going Pittsburgh, in 6.

Metropolitan Division:

1) Washington Capitals vs WC1) Carolina Hurricanes:

And now for our last matchup in the East and it is another David vs Goliath scenario…though not as bad as Columbus’s odds.  We have the up-start Carolina Hurricanes (didn’t I tell you they’d be a better team this year!) facing off against the reigning, defending, Stanley Cup Champions of the Wooooooooorld, The Washington Capitals!

The Hurricanes have been a fun team to watch all season long.  They play a fast, high flying style of hockey which is backed up by a top-5 D-core as well.  The questions that they have always had have been in net.  But it seems they may have found an answer in the combo of Mrazek and McElhinney.  It seems that Mrazek should get the start as well, its not like he hasn’t earned it either. He’s played 40 games this season, and 10 since March.  In those last 10 he has gone 8-2 with a .942 SV% and a 1.8 GAA.  He also has a history of playing well against Ovi and his Capitals.

As a team the Canes don’t score a lot though, but they trend into the right direction.  They outshoot everyone and they’ve done that all year and they typically don’t allow many shots either, being ranked 1^st and 3^rd in those two categories respectively.  And they’re tied with Tampa for 5^th in GA this season as well. On special teams they rank 20^th on the PP and 8^th on the PK.  They will need to take advantage of their PP chances in this series.

As for the Caps, we know what they’re all about.  They have a power house of a team and have for nearly a decade.  Led by their captain, The Great 8, they will have their eyes set on a Championship repeat.  In net they have Holtby, who after a shaky start has found his game again, especially since the trade deadline.  Since then he has gone 11-3-1 with a .921 SV% and a 2.2 GAA. Combine that with the 12^th ranked PP and the 24^th ranked PK…and now you have an intriguing series.

Though I have been riding high on the Bunch of Jerks bandwagon and love seeing Mrazek play well, I don’t think they’ll have enough to get through the Caps this time.  Though it won’t be easy at all, I have to put my money on Washington.  They just have been there over and over, and this is the first time in a decade that Carolina has made the playoffs.  This will be a great learning experience for this young team. The future is bright, but Washington in 6.

And with that we have a nice break down of all the first round of the Eastern Conference series.  And once again, my picks.  Boston in 6, Tampa in 5, Pittsburgh in 6, and Washington in 6.  No crazy upsets this round, things should go as expected, though it won’t be easy for anyone.  Am I right here or am I completely out of my mind with some of these? There is only one way to find out and that’s by watching how all the games play out.  But we’ll all know soon enough.  We’ll reconvene with all these teams in round two, until then keep an eye out for the other half of my break down where I examine the Western Conference.

Most Improved Teams of the Off-Season – A Recap.

With the trade deadline has passed us and the playoffs just around the corner I thought it would be a good idea to revisit my predictions of which teams I thought would be the most improved, or not.  I picked four teams originally, two from each conference, along with two honorable mentions.  If you’d like a refresher on those picks you can check it out right here.  Otherwise let’s dive into it, in the same order we went last time.

Toronto Maple Leafs: 

This was basically a no brainer pick as their only real move was bringing in John Tavares, and he has led the way.  Tavares leads the team in goals and is 2^nd in points.  Combining his play with the play of Auston Matthews (2^nd in goals) early on, the team started the season completely on fire.  And as a result, they currently sit in 3^rd place in the Atlantic Division.  And after a very long contract dispute, they finally signed William Nylander to a contract extension and immediately inserted him into the lineup, though it has taken him some time to get up to speed with the rest of the team.

John Tavares Celebrates Scoring a goal

The Leafs will likely finish this season in 3^rd place, just as they did last year, but they’ll be in the playoffs.  Their 1^st round matchup will likely be the Boston Bruins once again who seem to be their kryptonite when push comes to shove.  Many people think, and I am included in this line of thinking, that the Leafs are not strong enough mentally and physically to battle deep into the playoffs.  But with their high-flying offense, the have a punchers chance to say the least.

Buffalo Sabres:

Buffalo is another team from the Atlantic Division, but unlike Toronto, they shocked a lot of people early in the season.  By the end of October, they had a 6-4-2 record.  In November they went 11-3-1, with 10 wins in a row as well, improving their overall record to 17-7-3.  That was good enough to put them right in line for a spot in the playoffs.  But in December the wheels feel off as they only won 4 out of 13 games.  And with that their dreams of the playoffs were shattered.  

Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart Celebrate a goal against the Red Wings

But that is not to say it has not been a successful season for them.  Captain Jack Eichel has finally stepped up to the plate and is emerging as the team’s true leader on and off the ice.  And they integrated a lot of new faces into the line up successfully and have built a great foundation going into next season.   1^st overall pick Rasmus Dahlin has proved to be a true NHL talent and is currently 5^th in team scoring.  Other key additions like Sheary and Skinner have pulled their own weight.  I personally had high hopes for Tage Thompson coming into this season, but it is important to remember that he is still a young and developing player who is in his 1^st full season.  Once he finds he game he will be a dominant force up front for Buffalo.

Though Buffalo will miss the playoffs once again this season, I consider them a win in my predictions. The surprised early on and gave the real contenders a major scare, and even after they fell out of the playoffs, they still have been battling and been a hard team to play against.  As if the Eastern Conference wasn’t tight enough, look for the Sabres to build on the successes of this season sooner rather than later.

Arizona Coyotes:

Talk about teams who have had a hard year!  Arizona, a team people expect players to go to and just disappear, has been an upset special pick all season long!  Though it hasn’t come easy at all.  A key factor I talked about that was crucial for Arizona success this season was their goaltender, Antti Raanta (as if a goalie isn’t crucial for every team).  Their true starter in net, has been out of action since American Thanksgiving basically.  Not only that but they have lost over 400 man-games to injured players this season as well, 2^nd to the Ducks.  But some how this team has fought through it and is currently sitting just 3 points back of a wild card spot in the Western Conference.  And they have two games in hand compared to two of the teams sitting above them in the standings.

Clayton Keller and Alex Galchenyuk Celebrate a goal

So how have they managed to overcome all these obstacles and be pushing for a playoff spot?  By buying in and playing as a team for starters.  They don’t have much in the way of fire power when it comes to offense, their leading scorer (Clayton Keller, formerly of the USA NTDP) only has 42 total points.  So, when I say they bought in, I’m talking in the manner of playing a defense first style of play.  They have one of the lowest GA/G in the league at 2.8 and they have the 2^nd best PK in the league, a killer 85%.  Combine that with some timely goaltending and you have a team that is working for the upset every night.  I don’t know about you, but I sure am rooting for the Yotes to make it into the playoffs this season.

St. Louis Blues:

The Blues are a team that have been considered contenders in recent years and haven’t missed the playoffs in some time.  But they made enough changes to their roster this past year that I had to include them as an improved team.  On paper they looked very different yet still good.  But that is not how the season started for them.

They started the season with just 3 wins in their 1^st 10 games, far from a promising start.  Which they promptly followed up with four wins in their next 10 games.  Then over the next 20 games, they hung in there by having a .500 winning %.  Luckily for them the Western Conference is filled with teams that don’t want to play in the playoffs. That has helped them stay in the chase for the playoffs.

Jordan Binnington with a save on Nick Bonino

Then in the next set of 20 games, a switch was flipped, and a new gear was found.  They went on to win 15 games, 11 of those all in a row!  That winning streak propelled them to where they sit at this moment, 3^rd in the Central Division Standings.  The emergence of goaltender Jordan Binnington directly correlates with the Blues going on their impressive winning streak as well.  And since he has taken over as the team’s starter, he has gone 16-3-1 with a .933 SV% and a 1.7 GAA.

Very impressive numbers and far superior to Jake Allen’s.  With a goaltender playing at this level the whole team can relax and play their game to its highest level.  And with Ryan O’Reilly stepping in and becoming the team’s number one center, we could be looking at a major 1^st round upset.  If nothing changes in the next month, the Blues will be in the playoffs against the division rival Predators.  Battling how they have had to and will continue to do until the regular season ends gives the Blues all the ingredients necessary for a 1^st round upset.

Honorable Mentions – Calgary Flames:

I originally included two honorable mentions in my original post that I didn’t talk about much.  Looking at Calgary, they are a team who missed the playoffs last season after making it two years ago.  That was a memorable year as well as they were swept in the 1^st round by the Anaheim Ducks.  But that doesn’t look like it will be the outcome this year. 

They’re a very completely team who an incredible defense core and highly talented forwards.  They have been sitting at the table with all the big dogs in the West all season long and have been leading the Pacific Division for most of the year. They’ve been led by their youth up front and their captain on defense. 

David Rittich hoists Matthew Tkachuk in celebration

Though their goaltending has been questionable throughout the year, they have been getting it done and making it work.  And they have been on a bit of a slump lately as they have lost four straight games.  But that could be a good thing, making them go through a bit of a reality check before the playoffs begin.

Honorable Mentions – Carolina Hurricanes:

They Canes are a team that has been in the middle of the Metropolitan Division battle all season long!  A division that is normally ruled by the Capitals and Penguins has seen a bit of a shake up this year. Though the Capitals sit in 1^st place at this time, the New York Islanders were at the top for what seemed to be about two months.  And currently the Hurricanes are sitting pretty in the 3^rd spot in the division, with 81 points. 

Sitting pretty is probably an overstatement though as they point totals range from 85 (the 1^st place Capitals) to 79, which gives you a two-way tie for the final wild card spot in the east.  Both Wild Card spots are held by Metro Division rivals as well.  These point gaps mean there is little room for error these last 14 games. 

The Hurricanes celebrate after a big win

But good things are happening in Carolina.  They have a nice goaltending tandem in Petr Mrazek (YEAH BOY!) and Curtis McElhinney.  Though their numbers aren’t the best, they’re completely respectable and as a team they have a +14 Goal Differential.  Sebastian Aho has been playing like a man possessed and leads the team with 77 points.  They’re getting plenty of offense from the defense as well and will likely finish the season with three defensemen having over 30 points.

They have a rough schedule coming up to close out the year and a few very important head to head matchups.  They control their own destiny.  But I’m pulling for them.  They’re having fun and it shows.  Attendance is even up!  I’d hope that they can lock up a playoff spot in their final home game against the Devils, because I want to see what that post game Storm Surge celly will be like!

Honorable Mentions – San Jose Sharks:

I suppose I should mention them, though not much needs to be said.  I included them because they had a major offseason acquisition in Erik Karlsson.  But it was not a smooth transition at all.  It took him about two months to find his game, but once he did, he has been as dynamic as ever.  He is currently on the IR though, but the team is so good they’re just rolling without him.

Captain Joe Pavelski acknowledges the fans after a goal

They made a trade deadline move as well by adding Gustav Nyquist to the lineup, though it doesn’t seem to be paying dividends just yet, but it’s only been five games.  He has one goal and is a minus two.  But like I said, this team is just steam rolling almost everything in their way and they have only lost one game since he joined the roster.  They currently are sitting in 1^st place in the Pacific Division and will be battling with Calgary to the end to hold on to that top spot.

And that wraps it up, seven teams predicted to be improved compared to the previous season, seven teams that are clearly better than they were before.  I don’t think it can be debated that I got these ones right, though some were easier to see than others, Toronto being one.  But it has been a fun and fascinating season with plenty of highs and lows.  These last few weeks are going to be make or break as well for some of these teams as they make their final push towards the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Trade Deadline Recap

Finally, the day has come where we get to breakdown and analyze all the trades that took place on the NHL trade deadline day.  As usual it was a slow morning, but around 1 o'clock with less than 2 hours to go things really started to pick up and bodies started to move.  And after the 3 PM deadline the trades kept rolling in as they get announced in sent into the NHL offices at the last minute.   Now obviously I can't talk about every single trade especially in this manner so I've grouped up couple of the major ones and will kind of go from least important to most important as we break these down. 

Let's start with the Boston Bruins shall we.  Boston is one of those teams in the Atlantic that just won't die and I don't understand it completely.  They have always had some solid pieces but they’re aging and most of their youth seems to be average at best (clearly this does not apply to Pastrnak or McAvoy).  But they’re still battling for a top spot in their division, so they went and made a nice depth move here.  Johansson is a player that can play in any forward role and usually is a mid-40’s point producer through the regular season, so he can be dependable as a depth scorer. He has proven capable at scoring in the playoffs as well putting up 30pts in his career. 

Currently it looks like he will be playing on the second line as a winger, but he has the capability of playing at center.  Johansson’s diversity is likely a big reason the Bruins went out and picked him up.  Their no. 2 center, David Krejci, has a long history of being injured. Adding Marcus is a great insurance move here just incase something happens.  All in all, they did not pay much to bring him in either, a 2^nd seems to be the going rate for a lot of players and the 4^th rounder is basically a throw in.

Moving on from Boston we head all the way out west to San Jose.  The Sharks made a nice little addition by bringing in Gustav Nyquist. The Goose was a hard one to move for Detroit as he had a full No-Trade Clause in his contract, so he basically got to pick and choose where he went if anywhere at all.  I am of the belief that a post-game chat between some fellow Swedes the evening before the deadline is what led to Nyquist going to San Jose.

So, what does he bring to the Sharks?  They’re a team that has been rolling all season long.  They’re 2^nd in GF/G and their Powerplay is at 25.3%, good for 4^th in the league.  Adding Nyquist here can only help these numbers get better, he is also having a career best season as well when it comes to scoring.  He is playing on the 3^rd line which is being centered by future hall of famer, Jumbo Joe Thornton, and on the other wing is Kevin LaBanc who is a grittier player down low and a bit more of a shoot 1^st type.

Personally, he is not the player I would have targeted if I was the Sharks, but that’s not to say he won’t produce there.  They’re getting a player who has speed, skill, and can pass with the best of them.  But they’re missing that true grit that is needed for a deep playoff run which I feel Nyquist lacks.  But playing on the 3^rd line he should be able to take advantage of some mismatches.  They didn’t pay an outlandish price either, like I said, a 2^nd rounder seems to be the going rate this year.

Back in the great American Midwest, the Columbus Blue Jackets were not done making moves.  After going all in and selling most of the farm they came back towards the end of the day and brought in Adam McQuaid to solidify their defense. He fits right into this team based on his size, but more importantly he will bring playoff experience to a younger core of players.

McQuaid is a hard nosed and mean defenseman known for his play in front of the net.  His best years are likely behind him as he is 32 years old now, but that doesn’t mean he can’t play either.  He missed a lot of time to injury this season which may be a blessing in disguise as he will have played less games heading into the playoffs therefore making him a bit more well rested.  He should also be more ready and able to dish out punishment to the opposing forwards in front of the net.

From the Blue Jackets we take a short trip to the South West and visit the contending Nashville Predators, who made two key moves at the deadline.  First, they picked-up Mikael Granlund from the Wild in one of the rare, straight up, true hockey trades.  Then they looked to the East and brought in Wayne Simmonds from the Flyers right near the buzzer as the deadline was fast approaching. 

Granlund is a high-end skill player who can do just about everything.  He is an elite passer with a great shot, did I mention he has some great puck control and can deke with some of the best.  He plays in all situations as well, killing penalties and most important for the Preds, he produces on the PP.  As a team Nashville has the 2^nd worst PP in the entire league with a 12.5% success rate.  If Granlund can help them improve that over the short term and into the playoffs, then this trade will be viewed as a win for Nashville.

Speaking of helping the powerplay, who better to get than Wayne Simmonds.  Simmonds has solidified his career by being one of the best net front players in the entire league.  In 8 years with the Flyers, Simmonds scored 203 goals, 91 of those goals were on the PP!!!  If adding Simmonds to your powerplay can’t fix it, then nothing will.  And if they don’t get this one aspect of their game figured out, they will be out of the playoffs before they realize what happened.

Now we can’t talk trades without talking about the biggest “prize” of the day and that would be Mark Stone heading out to Vegas just minutes before the 3 pm deadline hit. With all the talk about Ottawa demanding multiple picks and players for Stone, it seems Vegas got him at a nice percent off, like old produce from a grocery store.  But that is not to say that Stone is getting old and rotten at all, just the Senators trying to salvage anything they can.

By adding Stone, the Golden Knights become a deeper and deeper team offensively.  And though they’re underperforming this season compared to how last season went, they’re still racking up wins and the whole team is scoring by committee.  But once again this is considered one of the elite teams in the league, with a horrendous PP.  The have the 22^nd ranked PP in the league this year, and Stone, who is a proven scorer, should help them climb the rankings and have a much more respectable PP heading into the playoffs.

While the price that Vegas paid wasn’t as high as what was originally expected, they did give up one elite (and I mean ELITE) prospect in Erik Brannstrom.  Brannstrom is one of the best up and coming Swedish defenseman in all of hockey. He will step right into the NHL next season in a 2^nd pairing role for the Sens with Chabot likely on the 1^st pairing.  There is no better place to start for Ottawa’s rebuild than on defense, lets just hope they don’t squander what could be an amazing career. 

And lastly the team that seemed to do the most work on Deadline Day, the Winnipeg Jets.  They made a plethora of moves compared to most other teams.  One major trade, and a few smaller ones which will likely pay the biggest dividends in the long haul. 

Starting on the back end the Jets went out and added some depth.  They have had a few players banged up here and there, but they also lost Josh Morrisey for about a month now leading into the playoffs making these depth moves even more important.  The addition of Nathan Beaulieu is the most important player added here. He is a smooth skater who can make a good 1^st pass. He is also still young and developing his game.  Things just didn’t work in Buffalo for him, perhaps the Jets will give him a fresh start and chance to play some meaningful minutes, but he’ll have to perform well if he wants to stay in the lineup.

At forward the Jets brought in a depth center in Matt Hendricks.  Hendricks isn’t a guy who is going to score and put up points for any team.  But what he will do is win you important face offs late in games in the defensive zone.  He will clear the puck out across your blue line.  He will battle hard in the corners against the opposition’s best players.  And he’ll block shots for you without hesitation.  He is one of the glue guys on a team that bonds them and motivates everyone to work that much harder by doing the little things that add up to victory. 

And the big splash of the day that was made early by the Jets was the addition of the giant forward Kevin Hayes.  Hayes was likely the most expensive player acquired all day costing a 1^st round pick and a young NHL player in Brendan Lemieux.  

Hayes has slid right into the No.2 center role for the Jets giving them some much needed depth at the position.  He also makes them even bigger than they already were as he is their 6^th player who is over 6’5” in height.  Not to mention he can skate like a guy who is only 5’10” and he drives the net like a true power forward should.  He can play on the power play as well as the penalty kill, which the Jets really need some help with.  He will be a key addition and should fit in nicely with how the Jets play and make a large impact in this year’s playoffs. 

Now like I said in the open I can’t talk about every player and every trade in this manner, my hands would fall off and your eyes would rot out, and nobody wants that.  But these are the biggest names moved and most competitive teams, who all just got that much better.  If you notice, most teams that made moves to improve right now were the ones out west.  It is no surprise as the Western standings are so tight that every team is looking for any and every edge they can find.  How these moves pan out will be seen in the next two months as teams shuffle for their spots in the playoffs and look to play for a chance to win the ultimate prize, The Stanley Cup.

The Trades Have Arrived!

Finally, the trades have started to roll on in as we’re just approaching the last hours till the cut off.  Some of the biggest dominos have already fallen with many more still to go!  The Blue Jackets seem to be all in this year, with have a roster of upcoming UFA’s.  Dallas is making a push in incredibly weak (and confusing) Western Conference playoff race.  And my lovely Detroit Red Wings got a phenomenal return for a depth defenseman as he was sent to help the Capitals make the attempt at the repeat.  So, let start with Columbus as they have made the biggest splash so far.

Columbus Blue Jackets:

Columbus landed two of the biggest fish in the pond this year…and they didn’t really have to give up much of anything!  First, they went out to Ottawa (literally, they had a game there) and before the game started acquired Matt Duchene.  He played in the game that night, all he had to do was switch locker rooms.  This is the second time he has been in that scenario as well since that is how the trade that sent him to Ottawa from Colorado went down too.  Then just 24-hours later they snatched up Duchene’s former teammate from Ottawa, Ryan Dzingel. 

What’s great about the players they acquired is that they didn’t really give up much of anything to get them.  In total they lost one player who has been in and out of the line up all year in Anthony Duclair.  Two prospects, one a former 3^rd round pick (Abramov), the other a former 6^th rounder (Davidsson), I can’t really say much personally about the prospects.  I know Abramov is in his first season in the AHL and performing admirably thus far and Davidsson is still playing in Sweden.  The Jackets also gave up, potentially, four draft picks.  Ottawa gets two 2^nd rounders, in separate years, and at least one 1^st rounder, they will get a second one if Duchene resigns with the Blue Jackets.

So, all in all, I would imagine Columbus is done make moves for now unless they make a move for a defenseman.  They grabbed up two of the top players available on all the trade bait lists, who are both having career years.  They have been a hard team to play against for the last few years but have not been able to get over the hump but now they’re going for it 100%.  Last year they had the eventual Stanley Cup Champions on the ropes in the 1^st round but faltered.  With these moves there should be no excuse or reason for failure in the playoffs.  The Blue Jackets are going for it.

Dallas Stars:

The Dallas star are one of those teams who when you see them on paper look like they should be damn near unstoppable.  But when you see them on the ice, they just never play a complete game.  They have two of the best forwards in the league with Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin.  They also have some very good defensemen with Miro Heiskanen (though he is only a 19-year-old rookie) and John Klingberg, and don’t forget about big Ben Bishop in goal.  But they just can’t get it together.  Now they have gone out and added some depth by picking up Ben Lovejoy, who is a former Stanley Cup Champion with the Penguins.  And they have also added Mats Zuccarello from the Rangers.

Ben Lovejoy is your typical stay at home defensemen in todays day and age.  He is a big guy who can play the hard minutes in his own zone.  He plays physical and takes care of the front of the net well, plus he can make that ever crucial first pass out of the defense zone that will lead to many offensive chances for a dynamic team like Dallas.

The addition of Zuccarello is a good one.  Though he is an undersized player he plays the game like he is 6’5” 250lbs giant.  He goes to the hard areas and usually wins those battles, something the Stars seem to be having trouble with.  He is also an excellent skater and very creative with the puck making scoring chances out of seemingly harmless plays.  He’ll be a good all-around addition to the team, likely playing on the 2^nd line and getting some time on the PP that is currently 16^th in the league.  At this point he has fit in very well.  As I write this, he already has 2 Pts in his 1^st game with Dallas, a goal and an assist.

Most importantly though, they didn’t give up much.  A few picks that shouldn’t compromise the future of the team at all. Dallas currently sits 4^th in the Central Division and in the 1^st Wild Card spot in the west.  These moves should help secure them a spot in the playoffs, though they are still in a tight race.  It will come down to the wire, but I feel safe in saying that they’ll lock it up at this point.

Washington Capitals / Detroit Red Wings:

Washington has added two pieces so far, so we’ll start with Carl Hagelin, who they picked up first.  Hagelin has been somewhat known as a Capital killer.  He has played for two division rivals in the New York Rangers and then the Pittsburgh Penguins.  For both teams he was a big piece in knocking the Caps out of the playoffs.  But now he is finally on their side.  He plays a fast, grinding style game and has been known to score clutch goals from time to time, though he isn’t counted on to score regularly.   But as I have said many times before, it is the depth players like him that tend to make a difference the most when it comes time for a deep playoff run.

The biggest piece that Washington added is Nick Jensen, but maybe I’m a little biased here.  Washington is getting a solid, but undersized, defenseman in Jensen.  He is 28 years old, competes like his life is on the line every shift and is has some offensive prowess to boot.   Personally, I loved the guy being here and would have been excited if we could have resigned him this summer.  But Washington isn’t playing any games and it shows as they signed him to a 4-year extension worth $10 Million almost immediately. He will solidify their defense for quite some time.  He is a strong penalty killer and great puck mover.   He’ll be missed here in Detroit and I have no doubt loved in Washington.

The other piece to the Jensen trade though is a young player named Madison Bowey.  Bowey is a 23-year-old, right hand shot defenseman, and formerly a 2^nd round pick of the Capitals.  Now I loved Jensen, but the fact that we got Bowey and a 2^nd round pick for him is an absolute steal on our part.  I’ve seen talk from people thinking that Bowey will be a 3^rd pairing defenseman at best and it just makes me shake my head.  Bowey is 6’2” and 200lbs, a smooth skater and has an offensive mind for the game though he just hasn’t been able to show it at the NHL level, yet.  Not to mention he is the former Captain of his WHL Junior team.  He brings a lot of good attributes and top end potential. 

Being the young player that he is, he should be able to grow here with our young core and end up having a very successful career in the long run.  Its so important to remember that not all players become studs at 20-years old.  Many people seem to forget this and label a guy a bust at 23.  Just think back about what people were saying about Athanasiou last season and how they’re talking about him now.  Being a defenseman means even more development and time may be needed before a player becomes who a team or fan base expects.  Patience is a virtue with these players, and I love this addition to the Wings.  Given the right support and put in proper positions to succeed I expect we’ll have walked away from this trade with the far superior player. 

And with that we wrap up some of the major trades that have taken place before the deadline itself.  There are so many more players yet to be moved its going to be a hell of a day tomorrow I can hardly contain myself.  

The Goalie Conundrum - Part 3 - Trade Deadline Edition

So after about a week or so of mostly dead air and just waiting for the ball to drop on the trade deadline front, a goalie deal has been struck, though just not one many expected.  The goalie that many are expecting to be moved is Bobrovsky (who seems to be getting kicked off the force).  I personally don’t think he will be moved until the offseason as he will be a UFA this summer.  Since all the contending teams seem the have starting goalies, I can only see him being move in the offseason for conditional picks at most so a team can try to negotiate with him before free agency begins.  But it seems that he and Panarin are going to be a packaged deal, so even then it is unlikely.  But the goalies who were moved were by teams I previously talked about in my original Goalie Conundrum posts (You can see Part One here and Part Two here).

Stolarz from Philly, Talbot from Edmonton

The two teams I am talking about here are the Philadelphia Flyers and the Edmonton Oilers.  Both teams have had up and down seasons in their own ways as well as controversy off the ice and just pure craziness in goal.  But late (or early depending on how you want to look at it) the other night the Oilers sent Cam Talbot packing to the Flyers for Anthony Stolarz.  Both players and teams seem to have their own different reasons for making this move so let’s start by looking at Cam Talbot.

Cam Talbot Career Stats via HockeyReference.com

Talbot is a 31-year-old goalie he is set to be a UFA after this season.  He was originally a back up with the Rangers for two season and he was an absolute stud there where he totaled a .931 SV% and a 2.00 GAA.  Those are amazing numbers.  But ever since then he has been on a steady decline and this year in 31 games, he has a .893 SV% and a 3.36 GAA.  Playing on a team that is supposed to make the playoffs (which let’s not kid ourselves, that isn’t happening), that is truly back breaking.  But I won’t put it all on him.  The problems in Edmonton go far beyond just what’s happening in net.

Back just three weeks ago all hell started to break loose in Edmonton.  In a 24-hour period they signed Mikko Koskinen to a 3-year extension, basically sealing the fate of Cam Talbot that he was going to be a goner one way or another.  Then the very next night, in the middle of a game they were losing, they fired their General Manager.  So, it is safe to say that Talbot is happy to be out of that situation.  We have further proof of that by way of his contract.  Talbot has a modified No-Trade Clause in his contract were he only has 10 teams he would willing accept a trade too, generally player submit these lists prior to the start of the season.  Well Pierre LeBrun of TSN has reported that the Flyers were originally not one of those 10 teams meaning he waived the clause allowing the trade to be consummated.

On the Philly front, Talbot will be the 8^th goalie to play for them this season, that is an NHL record.  The most important factor may be that he has become a mentor to rookie goaltender Carter Hart, who took over starting duties in Philly about two months ago.  The two have bonded in offseason training sessions together, which is likely one big part of why he accepted to waive his No-Trade clause to go to Philly.  Another is both Brian Elliot and Michal Neuvirth are both on IR and unlikely to be resigned this summer, both are set to be UFA’s. With both gone and Hart taking the starting role, Talbot will likely be able to secure a nice contract extension with the Flyers to be their back up and possibly split time with the young prodigy.  Being 32 when next season starts, I could see him signing a 3-year deal at a little under his current salary, maybe in the $3.5-4 Million range.

Anthony Stolarz Career Stats via HockeyReference.com

In Edmonton they’re getting a younger goalie (25-years-old) with a lot of size and some pretty good upside.  Stolarz comes in at 6’6’’ which means he is just taking up a lot of net, but he is set to become a potential UFA as well this season.  Due to his age and amount he has played in his career, the Oilers must play him in at least 10 games this season for 30 minutes or more, if they do that then he will become a RFA instead.  That is beneficial for Edmonton because they’ll hold his rights and likely be able to sign him to an extension and have a secure back up goalie for the next few years. 

At least that will be one stable position in Edmonton as they will likely being going back into some sort of a rebuild mode after this season.  But both goalies they will have are truly unproven at the NHL level, as of now they both have only played a combined 55 games in their NHL Careers.  So, while they’ll have to “solid” goalies signed, it may not be enough to help them through this rough patch they’re going through, no matter how hard McDavid skates. 

Now that we're only a week away from the trade deadline we are expecting things to pick up like crazy.  Teams are trying to make a push and show their managers they can contend and make the playoffs which is going to determine who is going to be buying and selling.  I know for sure that these two teams are not done moving players and reshaping their rosters.  Edmonton even made a second move the same day as this trade acquiring Sam Gagner for Ryan Spooner.  And we've already seen players I have mentioned in trade scenarios be moved (Boyle, Muzzin, and Brassard), and with the competition ramping up we're going to be in for an exciting week!

The Trade Deadline Looms: Western Conference Edition

Well, how about that for kicking off some trade deadline predictions.  Within one day of releasing my thoughts on what could happen in the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Maple Leafs went out and made a splash in the market by acquiring Jake Muzzin from the L.A. Kings, one of the top defensemen I mentioned they could and should target. And just a few days later the Penguins had also moved Brassard, just not in the manner I mentioned, so that’s a partial win.  Now with the trades beginning to become more frequent and even more important there is no time to waste in breaking down a few of the top teams in the Western Conference.

Winnipeg Jets:

The Jets are one of the most complete teams in the NHL this season and at this moment they’re leading the toughest division in the entire league, the Central.  How could a team like this get much better?  They have a killer PP which has a 26.1% of success, tops in the West.  They’re tied for 3^rd in GF/G at 3.4 and their GA/G is 3^rd best as well at 2.8.  The PK is even top-5 at 81.5%...this is a team that seemingly has no weakness. But even the best teams still look to make improvements and for them it looks like getting another center could be their main objective.

When looking to grabbing up another center, two come to mind for me.  Brian Boyle and Brayden Schenn could both be good fits in the 3^rd line role. Schenn who I previously mentioned in the Eastern Conference write up I had originally as a fit in Pittsburgh in exchange for Brassard. I originally had an idea for the three-team trade here that would send Brassard to the Jets since it is known that they have been targeting him since last season.   But now that the Pens have moved him to Florida instead, Schenn would be an equally good fit for the Jets. He is a big body who plays with a physical edge and is usually good for 50+ pts a year as well.  And as we know the playoffs are all about playing a tight, physical game, and depth scoring.

Brayden  Schenn stat line

When it comes to size, not many players bring more than Brian Boyle.  At 6’7” in height and almost 250lbs, Boyle brings size, speed, physicality, and defensive responsibility.  Though he has been playing on the wing most of this season, he has been very successful at center in the past and is a player many would love to have to upgrade their PK.  In his last 4 seasons he has a combined FO% winning 51.1% of his draws.  He also has been a key shot blocker with 146 blocks, including 31 this season.  While his isn’t known for his offense, he brings leadership and experience to teams which has proven just as important in the past. 

Brian Boyle stat line

Colorado Avalanche:

Colorado has been one of the hot picks this season to make a deep playoff run after their hot start to the season.  They also have one of the top lines in the league with Rantanen, MacKinnon, and Landeskog who have all been at the top in league scoring from the beginning of the year.  But beyond those three players, the Av’s don’t get many pucks in the net. Between the players on this line, the lowest scorer of the bunch is Landeskog at 54pts.  From there it is a steep drop to the next highest scoring forward all the way down at 31pts.  It is without question the Av’s will be looking to add some scoring punch.

Two premiere wingers they could target are Mark Stone and Artemi Panarin.  Both players would likely come and very high price though. Both players bring speed and scoring as both players have toped 50pts already this season.  Both will also be UFA’s when the season is up, so the Av’s will have to weigh paying a very high price against the possibility of losing these players in just a few months. This cost will likely be a high-end prospect and a 1^st round pick at the bare minimum.  I would bet money that a 3^rd round pick would be included as well, and you’re likely looking at having a guy like Tyson Jost or Cal Makar included in the deal.  And resigning either player is going to cost you a high salary as well, probably in the range of $9 million.

Artemi Panarin stat line

Mark Stone stat line

I don’t think that is a realistic route that they will take but it is a possibility to think about.  They could likely go a cheaper route though and grab a player like Kevin Hayes, Wayne Simmonds, Mats Zuccarello, or Gustav Nyquist (I discussed a few teams where he could have end up right here).  Hayes and Simmonds are both big and physical yet bring offense to their teams.   Both players take advantage of the powerplay as well, Simmonds has made a career out of playing in front of the net. Simmonds is the older and more physical player of the two as well which brings added value.  But Hayes is younger, bigger, and a better skater.  Both players will be UFA’s after this season.

Wayne Simmonds stat line 

Kevin Hayes stat line

And then there was Mats Zuccarello, the smallest of the bunch standing only 5’8” and weighing in at 185lbs.  But what he lacks in size he makes up for in skill.  He is a smaller forward who is an excellent skater with great vision.  In his last three full seasons he has scored over 50pts each year and has 27pts in only 36 games played this year. For all these players the cost should remain about the same. 1^st or 2^nd round pick and a mid-late round pick with a prospect mixed in.  But if the Av’s are serious about contending, look for them to make a move for a defensive defenseman as well.  Someone like Andy Greene or Alex Edler.

Mats Zuccarello stat line

San Jose Sharks:

The San Jose Sharks will be the final team we look at in the Western Conference.  They have been one of the top teams in the league all season long and are currently in 2^nd place in the Pacific Division.  And they’re near the top of the league in most categories, including PP%, PK%, SF/G, and SA/G.  The have balanced scoring up and down the line up, including on defense.  As far as defense goes, they have what is one of the top-5 defense cores in the league.  So, what is there to add for a team that seems to have everything?

Let’s start on defense.  The players that they have all skate well, defend well, and move the puck up the ice very well.  If adding a player on defense they’ll be looking for someone similar as to not disrupt the chemistry, but perhaps a player who is a bit more of a shut down defenseman who can play a physical game in front of the net and block some shots.  Two veterans come to mind Andy Greene and Brent Seabrook. 

Brent Seabrook stat line

Andy Green stat line

Seabrook is a longshot to be moved due to his price tag, long contract, and No-Trade Clause, though it is rumored that Chicago has asked him to waive it.  But he has a championship pedigree that has been missing in San Jose for years.  He plays well in front of the net and is a very good shot blocker.  He also moves the puck very well and has a cannon of a shot.  Andy Green is a similar player though he doesn’t put up the points like Seabrook has, but that could be because of the teams he has played on.  And at 36 years old, Greene has 1 more year on his contract at $5 Million.

Offensively the Sharks seem to have it all.  But adding another consistent point producer who can skate never hurts.  A good fit could be Chris Kreider of the New York Rangers.  He is a big guy who can skate like the wind, has an excellent shot and drives the net hard.  He is currently 1^st in goals and 2^nd in points and hits on the Rangers including 11pts on the PP. He is only 27 years old and has 1 more year on his contract at a very reasonable $4.625 Million.  He is a player that could be worth the Sharks taking a shot at and may be just the piece to put them over the top.

Chris Kreider stat line

And with that we’ll be looking forward to a lot of potential action from the teams not only in the West but the entire league.  I will say the Western Conference is extremely hard to predict since all the teams are roughly within 10pts of a playoff spot currently.  All it would take is a small winning streak for a team at the bottom to jump into a wild card spot and focusing at the teams in the top of the standings like I have brings its own difficulties too.  These top teams are so good already it is hard to find a way to improve them without upsetting what the teams already do so well. 

But these are fun scenarios to think about and with all the moves that have happened already we’re going to be in for a very busy month.  Will any of these trades take place or these players move somewhere, that I can’t say for sure.  But if I were a GM for a any of these teams, these are the areas I would look to improve, and these are a few of the players who could help do so.  Seeing a few moves that have already happened tells me I’m not to far off either seeing that Muzzin and Brassard have already been moved.  But we’ll all find out together, as the trade deadline looms.