In the United States, high school grades are determined by a weighted grading system. This means that there is no perfect way to determine or predict how someone will do in college based on their GPA score. A year later, teams have been whittled down to 256 and only 16 remain after this week’s match-up. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be one of them next time around!
The “nfl grades” is a website that provides the grades for all 32 teams in the NFL. The site also provides links to each team’s stats and standings.
The NHL trade deadline is a necessary evil if you want to win the Stanley Cup.
The cost of doing business is expensive, the market is unpredictable, and it’s a gamble that the players acquired by clubs will pass the chemistry test. The facts don’t lie, though: nine of the previous ten Stanley Cup champions have made a deal around the deadline.
Some of the transactions, like as the additions of Jeff Carter and Marian Gaborik by the Los Angeles Kings, looked to have an instant effect. Others, like the Tampa Bay Lightning dealing for Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow, would go on to become championship legends.
Of course, there were hundreds of more changes that teams thought would send them over the top but didn’t.
Which deals did you make before the deadline on Monday? What were the overpayments? Which ones were tactical miscalculations? Which ones are the most successful in elevating their clubs to championship status?
Here are our grade cards for each of the NHL’s 32 clubs, as well as their trade deadline decisions:
The Atlantic and Central divisions were graded by Kristen Shilton, while the Metro and Pacific divisions were assessed by Greg Wyshynski. Within each letter, different groups for teams with plus grades, standard grades, and minus grades are arranged alphabetically by grade. Natural Stat Trick, Hockey Reference, and Evolving Hockey are some of the sites where statistics may be found. Figures for cap space are based on CapFriendly.
ANA | ARI | BOS | BUF CGY | CAR | CHI | COL CBJ | DAL | DET | EDM FLA | LA | MIN | MTL NSH | NJ | NYI | NYR OTT | PHI | PIT | SJ SEA | STL | TB | TOR VAN | VGK | WSH | WPG VAN | VGK | WSH | WPG VAN | VGK | WSH | WPG
A grades
Additions of note: G D Drew Helleson, F Zach Aston-Reese, F Dominik Simon, D Urho Vaakanainen, Calle Clang, D Drew Helleson, F Zach Aston-Reese, F Dominik Simon, D Urho Vaakanainen, 2022 first-rounder, four second-rounders Important omissions: D Hampus Lindholm, D Nicolas Deslauriers, D Nicolas Deslauriers, D Nicolas Deslauriers, D Nicolas Deslauriers, D Nicolas F. Josh Manson Rakell, Rickard
Our take: It’s mind-boggling to consider how many trade deadlines previous GM Bob Murray dallied with his key players, hoping without hope that the Anaheim club he created might compete and anchoring important players to the organization rather than moving them at their peak worth. As the new sheriff strolled into town, declaring that no pending free agent would leave without something coming back, and landing a major haul at his first NHL trade deadline, you could hear the spurs jingling on new GM Pat Verbeek’s boots.
It was a decent return for Manson to get Helleson, a promising defensive prospect, and a second-round pick from Colorado. Lindholm’s first-round pick and two second-round picks were plenty; if Vaakanainen, 23, contributes anything to the Ducks’ blue line, it’ll be gravy. To get Rakell to the Penguins, they had to keep some money, but getting a second-rounder and a strong goaltender prospect in Clang was a fair return — and who knows, maybe they’ll keep Simon or Aston-Reese. It’s remarkable to get a third-round selection for a one-dimensional guy like Deslauriers.
If the Evgenii Dadonov trade with the Golden Knights had gone through, Verbeek might have been flirting with an A+, as the Ducks could have gotten a middle-six winger and a second-round pick in exchange for two injured players (John Moore and Ryan Kesler, whose career is over) in a Vegas salary dump. Unfortunately, Anaheim was on Dadonov’s no-trade list, and the transaction is anticipated to be canceled. Who has Anaheim on their no-trade list, by the way? Is it possible that he just favors Walt Disney World?
D Justin Barron, F Emil Heineman, F Tyler Pitlick, F Ty Smilanic, 2022 first-round selection, 2023 first-round pick Important omissions: F Tyler Toffoli, F Artturi Lehkonen, D Ben Chiarot
GM Kent Hughes couldn’t have asked for a better first deadline, in our opinion.
To begin with, Hughes’ return from Florida for Ben Chiarot was highway robbery. Chiarot is about to become an unrestricted free agent after a dreadful season in Montreal. For a player you weren’t going to keep anyhow, you got a first, a fourth, and Ty Smilanic. Incredible. Excellent work.
Artturi Lehkonen is a restricted free agent who is far from certain to be part of the Canadiens’ long-term plans. Hughes sent Lehkonen to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a second-round pick and defensive prospect Justin Barron, a potential rising star who will fit well in the Canadiens system.
If the Canadiens’ loss of Lehkonen and Toffoli (who were moved to Calgary last month for a first-rounder, a fifth-rounder, Heineman, and Pitlick) makes them a lesser club this season, Hughes’ large return of choices and prospects is the ideal method to build a solid foundation for the franchise. A well-done task.
Tyler Toffoli, Ryan Carpenter, and Calle Jarnkrok are all key signings. Subtractions include a second-round pick in 2022, a third-round pick in 2023, and a fifth-round pick in 2024.
Our take: Given Jarnkrok’s season — a second and a third — the Flames had to pay a little more for him than one would expect, but that’s due to the Kraken keeping his money and the deal being done so early (March 16). Jarnkrok is a good fit at the bottom of the lineup because of his flexibility and offensive potential. This is a fantastic acquisition if he can rediscover his defensive game, which one expects will happen under Darryl Sutter. Carpenter is a welcome addition to the fourth line, as he adds some muscle to the mix.
It would have been ideal for the Flames to add another seasoned defender to the mix, but given their cap position, that was unlikely. Given that he’s now a 14:14 per game player, it would have been wonderful to see them fix that cap scenario by moving Sean Monahan’s $6.375 million AAV deal. Maybe in the summer. In the end, the Flames made their major move in February when they acquired Toffoli from Montreal. And that’s a lot better than 99 percent of Monday’s deals.
F is a key addition. F Artturi Lehkonen, D Josh Manson, F Nico Sturm, Andrew Cogliano, F Artturi Lehkonen, F Artturi Lehkonen, F Artturi Lehkonen, F Artturi Leh D is a key subtraction. F Tyson Jost, Justin Barron
So what if Claude Giroux doesn’t end up in Colorado? GM Joe Sakic made several savvy moves to solve his team’s (few) needs. He accomplished all of this while avoiding the loss of a first-round pick. Nice.
Manson was the Avalanche’s first trade acquisition, providing size and toughness to a blue line that also included Cale Makar. He’ll make Colorado more difficult to play against, which is a must-have asset for a Stanley Cup run.
But it was on Colorado’s forward depth that the major work was done. Sakic needs to surround the Avalanche’s best players with role players since they are exceptional players. Lehkonen (traded from Montreal), Sturm (from Minnesota), and Cogliano (from San Jose) add variety and defensive skill to compliment Colorado’s fast-paced, high-scoring style of hockey. Lehkonen, in particular, is a versatile player who can play anywhere in the lineup and has a high offensive potential. Sturm and Cogliano will be valuable additions to the fourth line.
Colorado’s sole roster loss is Jost, and Sturm will essentially be his replacement. Barron was the Avalanche’s first-round selection in 2020, and he has the potential to be a valuable player for the team. Sakic is now attempting to push Colorado over the top, and he has made significant progress in this regard.
F Nicolas Deslauriers, G Marc-Andre Fleury, F Tyson Jost, and D Jacob Middleton are among the newcomers. Important omissions: F Nico Sturm, G Kaapo Kahkonen
GM Bill Guerin, in our opinion, grasped the mission.
To improve a goalie position that has been shifting for weeks, he acquired defending Vezina Trophy winner Fleury from Chicago for a second-round selection (that might become a first). That is fantastic work.
Guerin sent Kahkonen to San Jose in exchange for bruising defenceman Middleton. The Wild have lacked toughness on the blue line, and Middleton’s skill set will be a huge help as they push for the playoffs.
Then there’s the acquisition of Nicolas Deslauriers, a 31-year-old striker with a nasty streak, from Anaheim. It’s impossible to have too many of those guys in the playoffs.
Overall, Minnesota comes out of this deadline in a better position than it was before.
F is a key addition. Tyler Motte, D Justin Braun, Andrew Copp, F, Nick Merkley, F Important omissions: C Morgan Barron is a fictional character. Second-round selections in 2022, third-round picks in 2023, and fourth-round picks in 2023
Our opinion: If things had gone differently, this would have been a different analysis and trade. If Tomas Hertl hadn’t elected to stay in San Jose, things may have been different. If only the cost of J.T. Miller wasn’t so exorbitant. Instead of swinging for the fences, the Rangers chose to play small ball, and it paid off.
Copp may be considered a poor man’s Miller, despite his scoring skills falling well short of that of the Canucks’ forward. He can play all three forward positions, either up front with the team’s best players, as he did in Winnipeg this season, or down the lineup in a more defensive role. He has the ability to play on both special teams. He, like Motte, who is one of the best depth forwards available before the deadline, has an expiring deal. Braun looks to be insurance for rookie defender Braden Schneider on the third pairing, but his 100 postseason appearances may be useful for a budding contender.
GM Chris Drury did some great tinkering here without giving away a top prospect or a first-round selection — but one of the conditional picks they handed Winnipeg for Copp upgrades to a first if they win two rounds and he plays 50% of those games. That’s a risk I believe they’ll take.
F is a key addition. D Nathan Beaulieu, Rickard Rakell F Zach Aston-Reese, F Dominik Simon, G Calle Clang, and a 2022 second-round selection are among the notable departures.
The Rakell transaction, in our opinion, was one of the greatest of the day. The three players shipped to Anaheim were expendable: Aston-Reese, an all-defense forward with an expiring deal; Simon, who didn’t amount to much in two tours with the Penguins and had an expiring contract; and Clang, a solid prospect caught in the Pittsburgh goalkeeper pipeline.
Rakell is practically a second-round pick, which is amazing. Rakell is effective at both getting into scoring zones and generating offense off the rush, despite his lack of defensive ability. Rakell ranks 25th in the NHL in shots off the rush in all scenarios, according to Stathletes statistics. Given that it’s a contract year, his offense has recovered dramatically this season.
We gave the transaction a ‘A,’ but we had to dock them a point for acquiring Beaulieu for a (likely late) seventh-round pick, given there’s a strong argument to be made that he was the worst defender in the NHL this season.
Additions of note: C Four second-round selections (three in 2022, one in 2023), and two third-round picks (Victor Rask, F Daniel Sprong). Important omissions: D F Calle Jarnkrok, F Mason Appleton, F Colin Blackwell, D Mark Giordano, F Marcus Johansson, D Jeremy Lauzon
Our thoughts: The Kraken were chastised throughout the offseason for failing to take use of the expansion draft’s power, failing to gain draft selections or prospects. They selected veterans, and they will almost certainly finish last in the Pacific Division. Was it, however, all part of a greater plan? It’s a fair question, given that Seattle now owns 25 selections in the next two NHL drafts thanks to a trade deadline windfall.
Only a handful of the outcomes were unexpected. The Maple Leafs should give Giordano and Blackwell at least two second-round picks and a third-round pick, particularly given Giordano could choose where he wanted to play. However, some of the trades were significant: Lauzon for a second-rounder; Jarnkrok for a second, third, and seventh-rounder and 50 percent salary retention; and Sprong for two selections for Johansson.
Would a first-round pick have been preferable, particularly for Giordano? Sure. The Kraken can not only establish a prospect pool, but they can also utilize this war chest to purchase players who can help them turn their fortunes around swiftly. “We want to be as bit as competitive as any other club in the league when we start next season going ahead,” stated GM Ron Francis.
B grades
D is a key addition. D Hampus Lindholm, Josh Brown D is a key subtraction. Urho Vaakanainen, first-round selection in 2022
Our opinion: Boston’s major need at the deadline was defense, and the Bruins did not disappoint. Lindholm’s acquisition from Anaheim was a major deal, but signing him to an eight-year, $52 million agreement was even larger. Lindholm will be a significant top-four defender who will help to settle a group that has been in turmoil far too frequently this season. Brown’s addition from Ottawa will also assist there, providing additional backend depth as well as some height (he’s 6-foot-5) and grit for what the Bruins hope will be a lengthy spring.
Then there’s the deal with Jake DeBrusk. Last autumn, DeBrusk demanded a trade out of Boston, but instead signed a two-year, $8 million deal on deadline day; DeBrusk will be an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the contract. Of course, this does not rule out the possibility of his being relocated at some time in the future. The agreement just eliminates uncertainty in the near term, allowing DeBrusk and the Bruins to concentrate on the playoffs.
Now, before the deadline, GM Don Sweeney did not add anybody at forward. That was less of a priority, but given Boston’s injury problems in the past – and continuing to face – having some insurance up front would have been helpful. Sweeney said that the proper trade was not available, so the Bruins would make do with what they have.
F Max Domi and D Tyler Inamoto are two key signings. Egor Korshkov, Egor Korshkov, Aidan Hreschuk, Egor Korshkov, Egor Korshkov, Egor Korshkov,
Our take: Unlike some of their Eastern Conference competitors, the Hurricanes weren’t eager to make a big splash. They didn’t want to part with anybody on their roster, and they didn’t want to lose any of their best prospects. They did want to bring in a striker who matched their style of play and fit inside their budget. The Hurricanes pulled off their lone trade extremely close to the 3 p.m. deadline when the Blue Jackets retained 50% of Domi’s contract and the Panthers grabbed another 25%.
Domi doesn’t provide much on defense, but as a playmaker, he has some attacking potential. Coach Rod Brind’Amour presumably gave the move his blessing because of his toughness. Domi should be OK as a fill-in for the injured Jordan Martinook as a low-cost acquisition in terms of money and assets (Korshkov is in the KHL and Hreschuk is a middling NCAA prospect). He’ll be an unrestricted free agent after that.
F Brandon Hagel and F Nick Paul are two key signings. F Boris Katchouk, F Mathieu Joseph, F Taylor Raddysh, F Boris Katchouk, F Mathieu Joseph, F Taylor Raddysh, F Boris Katchouk, F Boris Katchouk, F a first-round selection in 2023 and a first-round pick in 2024
Our opinion: The Tampa Bay Lightning will never be accused of playing it safe. GM Julien BriseBois received a little boost in his grade as a result of this.
Brandon Hagel was a hot commodity for the Lightning. He was traded to Tampa by Chicago in exchange for two first-round selections, Taylor Raddysh and Boris Katchouk. Who cares about the future if you’re going to three-peat now? That’s something BriseBois could put on a T-shirt.
Hagel is just 23 years old, but he’s already a good player (he has 37 points in 55 games this season with Chicago). Tampa Bay understands that if it doesn’t stockpile crucial middle-six players before a playoff run (see: Barclay Goodrow and Blake Coleman), it won’t be able to go all the way. The Hagel agreement was Tampa’s equivalent of a “chips-in-the-middle” strategy. Also, don’t overlook the Nick Paul deal. Paul is a prospective unrestricted free agent who brings height (at 6-foot-3) and snarl to Tampa’s roster, as well as the ability to play on the wing or center and a relentless forechecker. Tampa Bay has coveted the prototypical playoff grinder in the past.
Did BriseBois have to give up a lot to close his deals? Sure. The Lightning’s core, on the other hand, isn’t getting any younger. The moment has come to pursue another title. Onward.
F is a key addition. C Johan Larsson, Marcus Johansson Important omissions: Daniel Sprong, a third-round selection in 2023, a fourth-round pick in 2022, and a sixth-round pick in 2023
Our opinion: We’re suckers for reunions, which makes Johansson’s return bittersweet. He was an excellent complement to Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom in 2017. He’s no longer that player offensively, but he’s somewhat above average defensively. In terms of postseason performance, I’m not a huge admirer of his. However, considering the good fit here and the low cost of Sprong, a fourth, and a sixth relocating to Seattle, my prospects are significantly greater.
Larsson’s price was somewhat greater, with a third-round pick going to Arizona, but the effect should be larger as well. Prior to his injury, he was enjoying a very promising season and could be a valuable addition to the Capitals’ bottom six when he returns for the playoffs. He’s a solid defensive center, but he’ll likely be used on the wing to replace Carl Hagelin, who is injured.
Additions of note: F F Taylor Raddysh, Boris Katchouk, 2022 first-round selection, 2023 first-round pick Important omissions: F Marc-Andre Fleury, Brandon Hagel
Our take: With the huge Hagel trade, new GM Kyle Davidson wasted little time going to work before of the deadline. With Katchouk and Raddysh, they were able to bring in a pair of first-round draft selections.
Clearly, the Blackhawks are in the midst of a rebuild, which, if you didn’t realize it before the Hagel deal, you now do. Players in Chicago are already feeling the emotional impact of that deal, and they anticipate a few more trying years ahead. However, the two firsts should help to soften the pain, and Davidson’s comeback was extraordinary to earn what he did.
Because Fleury had a 10-team no-trade list, Davidson’s possibilities for a trading partner were restricted. Minnesota still came through with a second-round pick that may turn into a first if the Wild make it to the Western Conference finals and Fleury has a big role in the first two rounds. It was about as good a bargain as Davidson could have asked for.
What Davidson didn’t do was find a new home for Calvin de Haan or Dominik Kubalik. It would have truly thrown this deadline over the top for Chicago if he had discovered the appropriate returns.
D is a key addition. Aidan Hreschuk is a Canadian actor. F Max Domi and D Tyler Inamoto are among the notable absentees.
Tyler Inamoto, we had no idea who you were! Domi was moved to Florida for NCAA fifth-year senior defender Tyler Inamoto of Wisconsin, and the Blue Jackets kept half of his contract. To complete the three-way transaction that brought Domi to Raleigh, they sent Inamoto to the Hurricanes in exchange for Hreschuk. Hreschuk, who just finished his freshman season at Boston College, is tiny (5-foot-11) but has excellent puck skills. He’s a stronger prospect than Inamoto and has a chance to play in the NHL as a low-end offensive defender in the future.
The Blue Jackets, on the other hand, are docked a half-point for failing to find a buyer for goalkeeper Joonas Korpisalo during the season. Given Elvis Merzlikins’ injury problems, they nearly had to retain him at the deadline. While it’s true that Korpisalo has done nothing to persuade people to hire him with a horrible. With an 878 save percentage in 21 games, it wasn’t ideal that he couldn’t be moved during last summer’s hot goaltender market when he wasn’t in the plans for the future.
F is a key addition. Jake Walman, Oskar Sundqvist, Oskar Sundqvist, Oskar Sundqvist, Oskar Sundqvist, Oskar Sundqvis D is a key subtraction. F. Nick Leddy Namestnikov, Vladislav
The Nick Leddy deal to St. Louis was the centerpiece of GM Steve Yzerman’s deadline, and it was a good one. Leddy is an older defender who has struggled with the Red Wings this season and is a potential UFA who they were not planning to re-sign. Getting a second-round selection from the Blues is a fantastic deal. When you include in the potential of prospect Walman and the possibility that Sundqvist’s game will improve next season, this transaction has a lot of staying power. We’ll have to wait and see.
It’s a little surprise that Yzerman was only able to get a fourth-round selection out of Dallas for Namestnikov. Although Namestnikov is a prospective UFA, he has been a reliable backup scorer in Detroit. When compared to Marcus Johansson’s return (he was traded from Seattle to Washington for a roster player, a fourth-round pick, and a sixth-round pick), Namestnikov’s fourth felt cheap.
Regardless, the Red Wings have a plethora of youthful talent, and Detroit’s emphasis should be on developing that group via abundant chances.
D is a key addition. F Claude Giroux, D Robert Hagg, Ben Chiarot Important omissions: F Owen Tippett, first-round selection in 2023, and first-round pick in 2024
Our take: I’m still not over the Ben Chiarot trade after a week.
Panthers GM Billy Zito was so desperate for Chiarot, a 30-year-old potential free agent, that he traded a first-round selection, a fourth-round pick, and Tyler Smilanic to get him. Mind-blowing. In some ways, it demonstrates Zito’s will to win this season. It might also go down in history as one of the worst deals of the year. We’ll have to wait and see.
Claude Giroux’s willingness to waive his no-trade clause in order for Philadelphia to play in Florida aided discussions. It’s easier to part with another first-round pick and a previous top prospect like Owen Tippett when the newcomer has Giroux’s background and is playing fantastic hockey. He’s already a member of Florida’s top line with Aleksander Barkov, so best of luck to all competitors.
Bringing in Hagg from Buffalo makes sense since Aaron Ekblad is out with another injury. For the back end, he’ll be a solid depth piece. However, the Chiarot decision casts a pall on Florida’s deadline. It’ll be fascinating to watch how it all turns out.
D is a key addition. F Mathieu Joseph, F Zach Senyshyn, F Travis Hamonic D is a key subtraction. F Nick Paul, Josh Brown
The Senators accomplished a lot before the deadline, in our opinion. How much of it will be used to improve the team’s performance? That is the unanswered question.
The purchase of Hamonic from Vancouver for a 2022 third-round selection sparked outrage on social media. Hamonic has only appeared in 24 games this season, and Ottawa could have gotten him off waivers for nothing earlier this year. GM Pierre Dorion isn’t giving it his all.
Joseph is the superior candidate. He comes from a strong school in Tampa, has terrific speed, and adds some fury to the Sens’ lineup. Ottawa should have little issue re-signing Joseph, who is a prospective RFA.
It was fascinating to send Brown to Boston in exchange for a conditional seventh-round selection and Senyshyn. Senyshyn was picked 15th overall by Boston in 2015, however he has only featured in 14 NHL games since then and has been labeled a flop. Getting any player out of the Brown deal was a plus, but it wasn’t a given going into the deadline.
Dorion also signed goaltender Anton Forsberg to a three-year contract deal, which was a crucial move considering the uncertainty surrounding Matt Murray’s future position.
Ottawa fared well in the end.
D is a key addition. G Kaapo Kahkonen, Anthony Bitetto Important omissions: D Jacob Middleton, F Andrew Cogliano, F Nick Merkley
Our opinion: The Sharks have an interesting deadline. The major news is that Tomas Hertl, the 28-year-old center, has signed an eight-year, $65.1 million agreement with the team. I understand that there are others who oppose this agreement for San Jose, but he is much more a part of the solution than the issue. It’s not like they can go back in time and un-sign Marc-Edouard Vlasic in order to make a trade for a better player work.
Middleton has emerged as the deadline’s “defensive defender with the small cap cost that everyone now wants.” For him, the Wild traded a fifth-round pick and Kahkonen. Kahkonen, who became expendable with the Marc-Andre Fleury trade, will be a restricted free agency after this season at the age of 25. This deal resulted in a fortunate return for the Sharks. Getting a fifth-round pick for Cogliano was also a result of salary retention.
The main question is if they know productive winger Alexander Barabanov is re-signing or whether they risk losing him as an unrestricted free agent for nothing.
F is a key addition. D Mark Giordano, D Colin Blackwell, D Ilya Lyubushkin D is a key subtraction. F Nick Ritchie, Travis Dermott
On the one hand, GM Kyle Dubas pulled off a fantastic deal to get Mark Giordano and Colin Blackwell. On the other hand, Dubas’ contribution to Toronto’s improvement this season was essentially limited to that (and give it the best chance to finally win a playoff round). It does not seem to be sufficient.
Now, Dubas can’t be blamed for Arizona’s Monday waiver claim of goalkeeper Harri Sateri. Dubas persuaded the Finnish goaltender to sign a one-year agreement with Toronto in order to boost the team’s shaky goaltending position, but the Coyotes snatched him up. Dubas also failed to make any additional goaltending agreements. So, until Jack Campbell returns from injury, it’ll be Erik Kallgren and Petr Mrazek. The last two have had varied degrees of poor luck over the last two months, but Dubas is optimistic that they will recover. That’s something he’ll have to pray for.
Returning to Giordano. It was an obvious victory for Dubas since he didn’t have to give up a first-round draft selection to Seattle (only two seconds and a third). It’s even better if you can add a recent Norris Trophy winner who can instantly raise your top four and give senior leadership. With his powerful forechecking, Blackwell should be a good depth addition to the Leafs’ bottom six.
The goalie saga continues. It won’t matter whether Campbell returns to form once he’s healed. It’s still an issue that hasn’t been addressed.
D is a key addition. Dermott, Travis D is a key subtraction. F. Travis Hamonic Tyler Motte is a writer and a musician.
What the Canucks’ trade deadline lacked in pyrotechnics, it more than made up for in astute asset management. Vancouver was keeping an eye on pending RFA forward Brock Boeser and unrestricted free agent J.T. Miller, who will be a free agency in 2023. Nobody was willing to satisfy their criteria, so they’re sticking with Vancouver for the time being.
Meanwhile, asset management was flawless. They were able to find a buyer for Hamonic in the Senators, who bizarrely surrendered a third-round pick (which came from Vancouver) for him. The Maple Leafs received a 2022 third-round pick in exchange for defender Travis Dermott, who is younger, cheaper, and better than Hamonic. In 2023, he’ll be an RFA, while Hamonic will be a UFA. They acquired Motte, a prospective UFA depth player, from the Rangers in exchange for a 2023 fourth-round selection.
D is a key addition. Troy Stecher is a writer who lives in the United States Key omissions: none
Our take: The Kings were one of the more intriguing teams on Monday, owing to their lack of major accomplishments. They signed a few minor-league contracts. They handed a seventh-round pick to Detroit in exchange for Stecher, who might rejoin with Alexander Edler. The team’s options were limited by the staggering number of injuries on the roster, and GM Rob Blake has been adamant about not taking away chances from young players or sacrificing them for short-term remedies.
Still, we hoped the Kings would be able to get someone like Arizona defender Jakob Chychrun at the trade deadline to assist them now and in the future. Instead, they’ll continue to gamble on their chances of being a surprise postseason contender.
G is a key addition. Andrew Hammond is a writer and a musician. F is a key omission. Nathan Schnarr is a writer who lives in New York City.
Our thoughts: Our own Kristen Shilton pegged the Devils as one of the deadline’s losers, and I believe she is correct. Even if others could have helped share P.K. Subban’s $9 million salary charge, there was never going to be a market for him. However, given some of the other defender returns on Monday, defenseman Damon Severson, who is entering the walk year of his deal, may have provided some instant assistance. The same can be said about pending RFA Pavel Zacha, who is developing into a capable middle-six player. However, his injuries close the deadline may have hampered the procedure.
They didn’t move in the winter, but that doesn’t imply they won’t in the summer. In reality, I believe the Devils’ trade for Hammond indicates that they just want to finish well and approach a crucial summer with good momentum, from analyzing the squad to hiring a new coach. Before becoming a UFA, the Hamburglar can provide some protection for Nico Daws and solidify the team’s crease for the remainder of the season.
C grades
D is a key addition. F Derick Brassard, Brett Kulak D is a key subtraction. William Lagesson is a conditional second-round selection in 2022.
The Oilers did not trade for a goaltender, in our opinion. There were plenty of signs along the road that they weren’t going to accomplish it. We all knew why they wouldn’t, from their reluctance to deal a first-round selection or top prospect to the market’s thinness and their own salary limit crisis. With Mikko Koskinen, Mike Smith, and Stuart Skinner making cameo appearances, a squad that can’t afford to miss the playoffs will still try to make it.
Instead of dealing for a goaltender, the Oilers did exactly what we predicted: they traded for a defenceman. They managed to get a decent one. When the Canadiens keep their payroll, Kulak is worth Lagesson and a second-round pick. He’s an excellent defensive defender who thrives in a depth position and in playing more minutes alongside offensive defensemen. He’s 28 years old and might be worth keeping around once his contract expires. Brassard, 34, is a decent offensive contributor in a fourth-line position at 5-on-5, but he does not kill penalties.
The Oilers made their largest move, similar to the Flames, when they added Evander Kane, who has 13 goals in 24 games.
F is a key addition. F Zach Sanford, F Mason Appleton, F Morgan Barron D Nathan Beaulieu, F Andrew Copp, F Bryan Little, F Nathan Smith, F Nathan Smith, F Andrew Copp, F Andrew Copp, F Andrew Copp, F Andrew Copp, F Andrew Copp, F Andrew Cop (rights)
Is GM Kevin Cheveldayoff really committed to the Jets reaching the playoffs this season? The answer is hazy based on his deadline movements.
Cheveldayoff made just minor changes to the Jets’ existing roster, sending pending UFA forward Copp to the Rangers in exchange for two conditional second-round selections. That was a smart move. Beaulieu was also shipped to Pittsburgh in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick.
Cheveldayoff, on the other hand, just stuck to his guns. The vacuum left by Copp will be filled by Appleton (from Seattle) and Sanford (from Ottawa). Barron (who was acquired as part of the Copp trade with New York) is a talent with a lot of promise. Little hasn’t played since November 2019, thus giving Arizona the last two years of his deal (for $5.29 million AAV) was a prudent move.
Paul Stastny, on the other hand, is still in Winnipeg. That indicates that Cheveldayoff believes Winnipeg will need a versatile senior forward down the line, but he does not believe it is necessary to move Stastny to a contender for future contributions.
Perhaps there wasn’t a market for it. Perhaps Cheveldayoff decided that letting go of Copp was enough turnover for the time being. The position of Winnipeg in a month’s time will tell the story.
F Jack McBain (rights), F Nick Ritchie, F Nathan Smith (rights), G Harri Sateri, F Bryan Little are among the newcomers. Important omissions: G Scott Wedgewood, F Johan Larsson, D Ilya Lyubushkin, F Riley Nash
Arizona did not trade Jakob Chychrun or Phil Kessel, which is the elephant in the room.
GM Bill Armstrong revealed he tried on Kessel, who has a $6.8 million AAV on his deal and is one of the club’s looming UFAs. Some teams may have been put off by the magnitude of the hit.
In the case of Chychrun, Armstrong had a high demand for the top-four defender, and no bidder came close to meeting it. It’s too awful.
Armstrong’s finest move was acquiring Ritchie from Toronto in exchange for Lyubushkin earlier this month. Ritchie was having a bad season with the Leafs, but under the desert heat, he exploded, scoring five goals and seven points in his first 11 games. The fact that Ritchie has another season with a respectable worth (at $2.5 million) adds to the deal’s appeal.
If Arizona can sign both McBain and Smith, two of the best college centers in the country, that will be a huge boost to the Coyotes’ long-term prospects. This season, McBain has 33 points in 24 games for Boston College and 49 points in 34 games for Minnesota State.
The signing of goalkeeper Karel Vejmelka to a three-year agreement was another highlight of the day for Arizona. He’s had a terrific season (.905 save percentage), and he and waiver claim Sateri might create a formidable duo for the Coyotes, who recently parted ways with Wedgewood (traded to Dallas).
There are no significant additions. D is a key subtraction. Robert Hagg is a writer who lives in the United States
Our opinion: There isn’t much to see here. We all anticipated Buffalo to make some moves, but GM Kevyn Adams’ decisions must not have been that enticing. All Adams did was trade Hagg to Florida in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick in 2022. Colin Miller, a defenseman, was reported to be on the move, but his injury history may have put a stop to some clubs’ interest.
Anyway, Buffalo now has ten draft selections to utilize in the next round, which will help the team continue to rebuild. Adams seems to be focused on development. He’s committed to “The Plan” for Buffalo and believes the team’s last run of regular-season games will be crucial. Let’s see whether he’s correct.
Additions of note: Owen Tippett, conditional first-round pick in 2024, third-round selections in 2023, and fourth-round pick in 2023 F is a key omission. Derick Brassard, Derick Giroux, Justin Braun, Claude Giroux, Derick Brassard, Derick Brassard, Derick Brassard, Derick
Our opinion: There isn’t much to say about the Giroux situation. Whether you believe the grand conspiracies about what it would have taken for him to waive his trade protection — such as a return to Philadelphia next season, which his agent Pat Brisson denied to ESPN — the fact remains that Giroux’s market was “ultimately very limited,” as GM Chuck Fletcher put it. Tippett isn’t the finest prospect in the Panthers’ system, but he was the best they could do with a first-round pick (that may be in 2025 if the requirements aren’t fulfilled!) and a third-round pick.
In a strong defensemen market, a third-round pick from the Rangers for Braun looks cheap. A fourth-round pick from the Oilers for Brassard sounds reasonable, albeit not with 50 percent salary retention. There were no buyers for goalkeeper Martin Jones at Fletcher’s asking price. It’s a deadline that will be remembered more for what went out than for what returned.
F is a key addition. G Scott Wedgewood, Vladislav Namestnikov Key omissions: none
Our opinion: John Klingberg is still a Dallas Star for whatever reason.
Why? Because, according to Miro Heiskanen, he has mononucleosis. Due to Heiskanen’s sickness, the Stars’ top defender has been sidelined indefinitely, and GM Jim Nill did not believe it was appropriate to trade pending UFA Klingberg.
That would be OK if Dallas were a shoo-in for the playoffs. But it isn’t the case. Klingberg has already stated his dissatisfaction with the lack of contract movement. Nill could have acquired something for Klingberg now to make Dallas stronger in the future, even if he isn’t expected to re-sign with the Stars this summer. But, oh well.
The Stars don’t have much cap space, so there wasn’t much more they could do in terms of signings. Namestnikov, a strong supplementary scorer, was acquired from Detroit for a fourth-round selection. Given Braden Holtby’s injury and overall goaltender depth difficulties, bringing in Wedgewood from Arizona was crucial.
To say the least, it was underwhelming.
D is a key addition. Jeremy Lauzon is a writer and entrepreneur. Key omissions: none
Our take: GM David Poile’s sole ace in the hole was acquiring depth defender Lauzon from Seattle in exchange for a 2022 second-round selection.
Filip Forsberg is still a Predator, by the way. And he’s still a pending UFA who will be worth the kind of long-term, high-dollar agreement Nashville may or may not be able to provide. Forsberg leads the club in scoring and will be a key component in Nashville’s playoff drive. On Monday, Poile expressed optimism that he and Forsberg can reach an agreement. If that doesn’t happen, Nashville may have squandered a big chance by keeping him on the roster through Monday.
D is a key addition. Nick Leddy is a musician from the United Kingdom. F is a key omission. D. Oskar Sundqvist Jake Walman is a writer and a musician.
St. Louis is a solid squad that is enjoying a terrific season. GM Doug Armstrong didn’t help matters much.
The Blues made a splash by acquiring Leddy from Detroit in exchange for a 2023 second-round selection, as well as Sundqvist and Wallman. There’s always the chance that Leddy, who has a minus-33 rating this season and is a prospective UFA, will play a key part on the Blues’ blue line. But is it really what the Blues require? The Blues’ defensive consistency has been a concern all season, and they were looking for a top-four contributor. For Leddy, that’s going to be a stretch.
St. Louis will benefit from not having to pay Sundqvist’s $2.75 million cap charge next season. Walman, 26, has struggled to make an impact with the Blues, appearing in just 32 appearances this season. However, trading a second-round selection for Leddy might come back to haunt St. Louis.
D grades
There are no significant additions. Key omissions: none
Our take: Lou Lamoriello’s most recent transaction occurred on Nov. 4, when he sent the Sabres retiring defender Johnny Boychuk’s budget hit in exchange for “future considerations,” which have yet to be disclosed and might be a Starbucks gift card for all we know. He didn’t make a deal before the deadline on Monday, which is a strange decision for a club that has been one of the league’s greatest disappointments this season. Instead, he focused on extending the contracts of forwards Zach Parise and Cal Clutterbuck, though the Islanders did obtain the latter on a better AAV for two years.
Look, there wasn’t much of a market for Andy Greene (39) and what’s left of Zdeno Chara (45), even though Lamoriello undoubtedly informed them they weren’t going anywhere. His reasoning for retaining Semyon Varlamov ($5 million AAV through next season) is that he’s crucial to Ilya Sorokin’s “development and maturity,” and the Islanders didn’t want to weaken one position to strengthen another. When Marc-Andre Fleury’s relatively restricted trade market nets a possible first-round selection, one has to wonder what Varlamov might have returned.
Lamoriello stated he’s not happy with the team’s season so far, but he’ll wait until the end to assess where they stand. The Islanders are currently in the following locations: They have 11 forwards under contract for the 2023-24 season, none of them is Mathew Barzal. Nine of them are beyond the age of 28. Against the cap, five of them earn more than $5 million every year. Three of them have trade barriers in place. Perhaps Lamoriello believes this season is an exception. Maybe he’s too enamored with his players, which has been a knock on him for the majority of his NHL career. But the deadline presented an opportunity to begin trimming a bloated roster, which he squandered.
F grade
There are no significant additions (for now) Key omissions: none (for now)
Our opinion: We can only rate the trade deadline based on the work accomplished prior to receiving this report card. Because the situation concerning Evgenii Dadonov has yet to be settled, the Golden Knights may be deserving of a “incomplete.” But there’s no avoiding the trade’s potential for tragedy.
The Knights attempted to trade a player with a $5 million salary hit to the Ducks for the injured John Moore and the contract of Ryan Kesler, whose career is over, plus a conditional second-round selection as a sweetener. Dadonov and his agent, on the other hand, stated Anaheim was on his limited no-trade list. The Senators didn’t mention it on their trade call last summer, so the Golden Knights were unaware he possessed one. Their and the NHL’s presumption was that the list was no longer legitimate. However, it was submitted on time. As a result, the deal is expected to be nullified, leaving the Knights with a $5 million cap burden connected to a player they sought to toss overboard.
The Golden Knights’ injury woes are beyond their control. Their salary cap problem is all their own. What seemed to be a solution might end in disgrace. It’s possible that it’s not their fault. However, it is what it is.
The “nfl draft grades 2020” is a post that has been released by the NFL. The post includes all 32 team’s grades for the 2019 NFL Draft.
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