2019 NHL TRADE DEADLINE

I GRADE EACH TEAM’S PERFORMANCE

The 2019 NHL Trade Deadline has now come and gone, and we all want to know how our teams did. Here’s a first look at who won and who lost.

Finally, the 2019 NHL trade deadline has come and gone. The dust has settled, and the trades are all finished. It took a while, for some reason, to really get the trades going. For those watching Trade Centre, the crew was just shooting the breeze until about a half hour to go, then it hit the fan and calls kept coming in until well past the 3:00 p.m. deadline.

As with every deadline, there are teams that have done better than others. Certain teams mortgaged their future for a chance at glory this year, while others traded away expiring assets for futures. Only three teams didn’t get in on the action this past weekend, so there’s plenty to talk about.

In this post, we’ll run down how well each team did. We’ll start with the winners and gradually work our way down with those teams who didn’t have such successful days.

This is all knee jerk reactions from one person, and it doesn’t necessarily reflect the proceedings from now until June when one team hoists Lord Stanley’s Cup. So if you have any issues with what I’ve written here, well, there’s probably some merit to that, so feel free to argue about it in the comments below.

Without further ado, your trade grades for each team.

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS: A+

Landing Mark Stone for the remainder of this year, then immediately signing him for the rest of his prime? Yeah, take that any day. The price wasn’t unbelievably high either. Sure, Erik Brannstrom is a top prospect, but you have to give to get, and the fact that Brannstrom was the crux of this package, leaving Vegas with plenty left to play with for their next run at it after this year is a clear win.

WINNIPEG JETS: A

The Jets were the busiest team on Deadline day, making six different trades over the course of the day. Most of the deals were minor depth deals, but they did land Kevin Hayes from the Rangers. The cost for doing business was their first round pick this year and Brendan Lemieux, but as far as rentals go, and where the Jets are in their competitive arc, this is a great trade for them. Grabbing all those depth pieces can’t hurt either.

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS: A

The Jackets were going to be one of the most interesting teams to watch during this time period, and they didn’t disappoint. They spent almost all of their draft picks, gave up a few good prospects, and held on to their expiring superstars Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky.

However, the Blue Jackets also added Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel, and Adam McQuaid to bolster the lineup. For good measure, they got Keith Kinkaid to reinforce the goal. They’re certainly pushing their chips all in on this season, it just remains to be seen if it’s enough to get past the other elites in the East.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS: A

They didn’t make much noise, but quietly, the Devils had a very good deadline. They traded away their three remaining expiring contracts and got back more than what most would have expected. Connor Carrick is a solid pickup for them, because he’ll be able to show what he’s got right away, and the bundle of draft picks they picked up could easily be used to stock the cupboards or trade for more talent (they now have three 2nd round picks this year). For what they sold, they did very well.

OTTAWA SENATORS: A

Bear with me on this one, because many may not agree here. They had three big players who were definitely leaving, so they had to get stuff in return. They now have 15(!) picks in the first three rounds of the next three drafts, as well as landing some very solid prospects including Erik Brannstrom, Vitaly Abramov, and Jonathan Davidsson.

While many were underwhelmed with the Stone trade, I think landing a stud prospect plus was not the worst return. The Stone trade is what puts the Senators here, and not closer to the top, but they certainly did well here to build toward a future (hopefully).

The Senators needed to scorch the earth and start from scratch, and have now done so (at least the scorching part). This is a good first step to build on, just as long as they don’t find a way to dig their hole deeper, and find a way to make Ottawa a place people want to play again.

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING: A

If it ain’t broke, no need to fix it. Because they didn’t rock the boat, they’re winners on that alone.

BOSTON BRUINS: B+

In order to compete in the Atlantic, Boston needed to add scoring depth. Bringing Charlie Coyle and Marcus Johansson into the fold definitely helps that. They didn’t overpay for either one, just Ryan Donato and some picks, which is also a win.

It wasn’t an over the top win, though, but their main targets weren’t on the market at the time they were shopping, so it’s not like there was much else they could have done. Still, you have to think they got better.

COLORADO AVALANCHE: B+

They made a single simple trade, adding Derick Brassard for a third rounder in 2020. It’s hard to hate this move because the risk isn’t very high and adding Brassard as center depth will help the Avalanche try to make a playoff push. Their top heavy offense needed support, and Brassard fits that to a tee. Could they have done more? Yeah. Should they have done more? No.

NASHVILLE PREDATORS; B+

Nashville’s issue stems from their forward depth. Adding Mikael Granlund and Wayne Simmonds definitely helps upgrade the top nine. Kevin Fiala and Ryan Hartman are good young pieces each, but to get you have to give. To win now, the price should be worth it. The Predators are now loaded up for a run at the Jets as the favorite from the Central.

SAN JOSE SHARKS: B+

The Sharks’ window is this year and perhaps not far beyond. While they did nothing to address their goaltending issues, adding Gustav Nyquist is a good boost to the forward group. The team was already geared at a big run, but adding Nyquist, and not paying a super high cost was a swell move.

VANCOUVER CANUCKS: B+

The Canucks are this high up solely on the merit of turning Erik Gudbranson into Tanner Pearson. Gudbranson is an old school defenseman with term while Pearson is a serviceable forward who’s not old. This trade is addition by subtraction, while also adding at the same time.

WASHINGTON CAPITALS: B+

Last year’s addition of Michal Kempny was low key but very helpful for the eventual champions. They pulled a similar move this year with Nick Jensen from Detroit. They also figured you can never have enough speed, and Carl Hagelin is the product of that. Madison Bowey is a solid young player, but the Capitals are in the business of winning now, so it’s worth the price.

BUFFALO SABRES: B

With the glut of first round picks the Sabres have at the 2019 NHL Draft, as well as the position they are in, it’s certainly worth it to upgrade at defense. Brandon Montour is a good young defenseman who’s played on a bad team this year, and spending what should be a late first round pick to get him is a good idea. It’s not a move that’ll put them over the top, but it’s good for the long term.

MINNESOTA WILD: B

Ryan Donato is already proving a good pickup, and Kevin Fiala is young and has had flashes of success for Nashville. The Wild are a team that needed some change, and shipping out two of their better players (Charlie Coyle and Mikael Granlund) for two younger players with potential is a decent shake-up for a middle of the road team stuck in some contract trouble.

ST. LOUIS BLUES: B

They did nothing besides adding Michael Del Zotto for a late pick. The team is finally clicking after a rough start, so no reason to shake things up. Honestly, do we think it would have been worth it to try and chase the Jets or Predators? Probably not.

CALGARY FLAMES: B-

They had a deal almost done for Mark Stone. Instead, they ended up landing just depth defenseman Oscar Fantenberg from the Kings. While the Flames don’t need much, you have to figure it’s a small let down that they didn’t land their guy. Still, they should be fine for a playoff run.

MONTREAL CANADIENS: B-

The Canadiens are in a good spot for the next few years, so there’s no reason to join an arms race with the Bruins, Lightning, or Leafs by mortgaging the future. They made one depth trade, adding Jordan Weal, so it’s fine that they were quiet by the deadline otherwise.

NEW YORK RANGERS: B-

They did what they set out to do, and that’s sell on Kevin Hayes and Mats Zuccarello. The return was decent, if not slightly underwhelming. Hayes returned the Rangers a late first round pick and Brendan Lemieux, and Zuccarello netted the Rangers a second and a third (which both can turn to firsts, but it’s not terribly likely). If those Zuccarello conditions are met, this grade would get pushed up a few steps, but now? They could have done a little better.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS: B-

The Leafs are fine as is, but it would have been nice to add more than just Nic Petan. There’s a clear distance between them and the Lightning at the top of the Atlantic, and the Leafs may need more than what they have to compete with them in a potential second round matchup.

DALLAS STARS: C+

Is it really their fault that in his first game with Dallas, Mats Zuccarello broke his arm blocking a shot, and will miss at least four weeks? No. It was a good deal for the Stars at the time, who didn’t give up a ton to get him, despite the conditions that could be met to turn those picks into first rounders. Is it their fault they overpaid to get Ben Lovejoy, who’s a penalty killer and not much else? Yes.

DETROIT RED WINGS: C+

Getting a couple of draft picks out of Gustav Nyquist is a good move, considering he had a no-trade clause and had full say on if and where he’d go. Also, getting Madison Bowey is not a bad return for Nick Jensen.

But you have to feel like there was more to do for the Wings. Despite there being other no-trade clauses holding them down, they could have been more active in reaching that next step in their rebuild.

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS: C+

I get that they wanted to hold on to Wayne Simmonds for a possible late push for a wild card spot, but that doesn’t mean that they should hold on so late that your return is underwhelming. Simmonds was the quintessential deadline rental, and getting just Ryan Hartman and a fourth (all due respect to Hartman) isn’t enough.

ARIZONA COYOTES: C

Not wanting to mortgage the future for a playoff spot only to get spanked by one of the elite clubs is understandable. But the Coyotes are very close to that second wild card spot, and it’d mean so much for this club to make the playoffs. The fact that they did almost nothing is a disappointment.

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS: C

There wasn’t really much they could have done, and so they were quiet. Its fine, but it won’t get them anywhere quicker.

EDMONTON OILERS: C

Buying made no sense because their playoff hopes are all but dashed as things stand. Selling didn’t make any more sense, because they didn’t have much to sell on. With an interim GM in place, there’s no reason to mess with things before they evaluate exactly where they stand with the state of their franchise, so making no trades works. Although, it would have been nice to at least start a rebuild.

FLORIDA PANTHERS: C

They may have undersold on Derick Brassard and kept Riley Sheahan. Not great, but at a certain point what can you do? There was no reason to buy, and the stars of the team can carry them for a while. Panthers have to fix from within.

LOS ANGELES KINGS: C

They need to sell. They found a buyer for Carl Hagelin and got a decent return for him. That’s fine, but nothing else happened, which makes it tough to like what the Kings did at the deadline. If there’s any team that needs a blowup, it’s the Kings. They needed to do more.

ANAHEIM DUCKS: C-

Oh, yeah forgot about the Ducks needing a blowup more than the Kings. I’m very curious at the decision to trade away Brandon Montour, and not trying to sell off parts that won’t be part of the future. I get that you want to get some value, but one in the hand is worth two in the bush, and Montour was definitely one they should have kept. Getting rid of nothing else makes this a deadline to forget.

CAROLINA HURRICANES: C-

For all the smoke around the Hurricanes camp this past month, the fact that nothing significant happened is a loss. They’re good as is now, but they could have done something to improve their lot. They can use an upgrade at forward, and certainly in net. They have a lot of bargaining chips, and used nothing.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS: D

With all the expiring contracts they have, plus their place in the standings, they certainly should have made at least some kind of move. Selling wasn’t an option, but trying to upgrade their offense was a must, especially in response to Columbus loading up for a run at the division. They made no moves, and that was a missed opportunity for the Islanders.

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS: F

If they made no moves, it would have been understandable. The trade for Nick Bjugstad and Jared McCann was the shot they took. But trading Tanner Pearson for Erik Gudbranson? I don’t get that. I know the Penguins are dealing with injuries to their defensemen, but Gudbranson isn’t the fix, especially since he’s nailed down for a couple more years after this. Pearson is far more useful.