Nothing too exciting happened with the trade deadline this season. Rick Nash remained a Blue Jacket, no notable acquisitions for any team really minus the Hodgson-Kassian trade. Zack Kassian is a big, talented power forward who will one day be a perennial 30 goal scorer on a second line. Cody Hodgson is a highly talented center who needs to be put around scorers to develop his skills fully. Either way you slice this trade both teams will be very happy with their returns.
Virtually all other moves were done for depth, here is a quick synopsis on all the other trades;
Buffalo trades defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani to the Vancouver Canucks for defenseman Alexander Sulzer. Gragnani was once the most promising defensive prospects for Buffalo behind Tyler Myers. After a roaring success as a rookie his sophomore campaign slowed quite a bit. Sulzer will provide a good stand up defenseman for a smaller, offensive minded defensive corps in Buffalo. Vancouver gets a kid that could fill the hole that Christian Erhoff left.
Toronto trades defenseman Mark Fraser to the Anaheim Ducks for right wing Dale Mitchell. Super simple here, minor league deal really. Mitchell hasn't played above the junior level yet and Fraser has played 4 games for the Devils this year before being traded to Toronto in December.
Vancouver traded defenseman Sebastian Erixson to the Anaheim Ducks for right wing Andrew Gordon. Minor league deal here agin. Gordon has been called up here and there for a few games his entire career and Erixon was an undrafted free agent who hasn't played at the NHL level.
Chicago trades defenseman John Scott to the New York Rangers for a fifth round draft pick in the 2012 entry draft. Scott is an enormous defender standing at 6'8" and 270lbs. 7th defenseman for the Rangers who will get some pk time for sure.
Minnesota trades defenseman Greg Zanon to the Boston Bruins for defenseman Steven Kampfer. Boston gets an every day third pair defenseman in Zanon who is a reliable stay at home d-man. Kampfer is a former 4th round pick who has the potential to turn into a reliable 5th or 6th, 2-way defender.
Buffalo trades center Paul Gaustad and a 2013 4th round pick to the Nashville Predators for a 2012 first round pick. Buffalo begins stockpiling for their rebuild as Nashville goes all in for their playoff run. Gaustad is a very reliable second or third line center who can win face-offs, kill penalties, and eat up minutes. Great depth acquisition by Nashville. It will be interesting to see if Nashville re-signs him as he is a UFA at the seasons end. They would be smart to do so.
The New York Islanders trade right wing Brian Rolston and defenseman Mike Mottau to the Boston Bruins for minor leaguers Yannick Reindeau and Marc Cantin. New York continues to build from younger players and Boston acquires a monster shot from the point on the PP in Rolston and a stay at home defenseman to play 6th or 7th in Mottau.
Winnipeg trades defenseman Johnny Oduya to the Chicago Blackhawks for a second and third round pick in the 2013 entry draft. Winnipeg clearly accepted that Oduya was not part of their future as he is a UFA at seasons end. Over payment a little he but Steve Yzerman made that the price of defenders this season. Oduya will likely be just a playoff rental for the Hawks.
Columbus trades center Samuel Pahlsson to the Vancouver Canucks for two fourth round picks in the 2012 entry draft. Columbus saw no reason to hold Pahlsson back from running at another cup. He was an enormous part of the Ducks championship in 2007. He can win face-offs, kill penalties, and play against the other teams top line. Great acquisition by the Canucks for depth going into the playoffs.
Colorado trades left wing Daniel Winnik, left wing TJ Galiardi and a 7th round pick in 2012 to the San Jose Sharks for left wing Jamie Mcginn, center Michael Sgarbossa and left wing Mike Connolly. San Jose wins big today with this trade. Galiardi and Winnik are tremendous grinders who are responsible, 2-way players and will get a lot of minutes in San Jose. The return to Colorado is to help build their future. Nothing notable for now other than McGinns's ability to play today.
Ottawa trades defenseman Brian Lee to the Tampa Bay Lightning for defenseman Matt Gilroy. After all the hubbub about nit trading Brian Lee turned out to be all talk for Ottawa after years of underachieving on Lee's part. Gilroy is an undrafted free agent out of Boston university. He is a big stay at home defenseman, exactly what Ottawa was looking for while Tampa Bay added offense to their blue line with Lee. Very even trade for both teams.
Toronto trades defenseman Keith Aulie to Tampa Bay for right wing Carter Ashton. Aulie has been untouchable since being drafted by the Leafs but Brian Burke is starting to see that he needs to give up some of the depth he has on defense to round out his team. Ashton is a first round pick who brings good size for a power forward and if he is put on the right line he could become a force to be reckoned with. Kudos to Toronto on this trade.
Edmonton trades defenseman Tom Gilbert to Minnesota for defenseman Nick Schultz. Pretty straight up trade here. At best both guys are 2nd pair defenseman. Simply a swap of size and skill sets.
Detroit trades defenseman Mike Commodore to the Tampa Bay Lighting for a conditional 7th round pick in the 2013 entry draft. 6th or 7th defenseman for Tampa on this one. Commodore hopes to revitalize his career in Tampa.
Nashville trades a 2013 2nd round pick and a 2013 conditional 5th round pick to the Montreal Canidiens for left wing Andrei Kostitsyn. If Kostitsyn can find the same fire his brother did in Nashville, this could be a great trade for the Predators. It remains to be seen if Andrei can break the chain of underachieving that he has shown his whole career to date. Possibly a top line winger in Nashville.
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