A sure sign of spring possibly coming and ending the Winter That Will Not End, the NHL's trade deadline passed today at 3PM.
Since I have been asked multiple times about my whereabouts wrt: writing on here (this is actually false, Jer just gave me shit for not putting up the Album of the Year list I was working on), I figured I'd make my not-so-grand return by breaking down some of the more important deals of the past day or two.
Start!
Washington gets: Dustin Penner
Anaheim gets: 4th round pick
Obviously funny because this trade came yesterday, on Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday/Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Day, and yeah, Dustin Penner. Washington's been on the outside looking in this season, so obviously a pretty good pickup for them.
Minnesota gets: Ilya Bryzgalov
Edmonton gets: 4th round pick
The big rumor leading up to this trade was that it'd be Marty Brodeur heading to Minnesota. I feel that some ineptitude somewhere in the front office lead to "GET ME BRO*cough*-" "BRYZGALOV, YES SIR ON IT".
Meanwhile, Edmonton's goalie revolving door keeps spinning. What are they going to do to replace Bryz?
Anaheim gets: 3rd round pick, 2015 5th round pick
Edmonton gets: Victor Fasth
I guess that solves that. Fasth and Scrivens! Whatever happened to the other guy?
Montreal gets: Devan Dubnyk
Nashville gets: future considerations
In baseball, we call that a "player to be named later". In very rare conditions (Doug Mirabelli), you can be your own PTBNL.
Price is injured. Nashville got Dubnyk as a filler until Rinne was healthy. Rinne's back. A move that both teams needed to make.
Florida gets: Roberto Luongo, Steven Anthony
Vancouver gets: Jacob Markstrom, Shawn Matthias
Luongo and Tim Thomas in the same locker room. The greatest sitcom pitch of all time, plus holy crap Bobby Lu FINALLY got his damn trade.
Dallas gets: Tim Thomas
Florida gets: Dan Ellis
@TSNBobMcKenzie NOOOO!!!!!!!!
— Strombone (@strombone1) March 5, 2014
You know how in the Lego Movie, Liam Neeson's character is always kicking chairs in anger? IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PERFECT, FLORIDA.
ONWARD!
Washington gets: Jaroslav Halak, 2015 3rd round pick
Buffalo gets and keeps: Michel Neuvirth, Rostislav Klesla
Did Halak even have time to eat his complimentary plate of wings before he got shipped out? Geez. I'm still a little miffed at the beginning of this deal, as I sort of like St. Louis, but REALLY dislike Steve Ott. Not cool. Klesla was also previously traded...yesterday, from Phoenix. Speaking of teams I like:
Boston gets: Andrej Meszaros
Philadelphia gets: 3rd round pick
Bruins players love this, since Peter Chiarelli seems to build most of his team out of ex-Sens, and Mez is another piece in that puzzle. Also a HUGE piece in the "Boston defensemen have been injured left and right" puzzle. This is likely the replacement down the run for Dennis Seidenberg. He played well in the Olympics for Slovakia, but because he's coming from Philadelphia, I'm not entirely sure he's up to no good. I'm watching you.
Tampa Bay gets: Ryan Callahan, conditional 2nd round pick, 2015 1st round pick
Rangers get: Martin St. Louis
Probably the biggest names getting moved around at this year's deadline, and a deal that makes sense for everyone. MSL wanted out of Tampa, and it was becoming quite aware that getting Callahan a contract extention was going to be nigh impossible. Two plus two equals trade.
Tampa Bay gets: Jonathan Audy-Marchessault, Dalton Smith
Columbus gets: Matt Taormina, Dana Tyrell
A move on the minor league level, but one that I really like. Syracuse has been hit hard this season, both by the injury bug and by call-ups due to injured Tampa players. They were Calder Cup runners up last year, and this year are sitting just outside the last spot in the East. From a Syracuse standpoint, Marchessault is a damn good forward that'll help them along the stretch along with the return of Vladdy Namestikov, and from a Tampa standpoint, Taormina was a piece that didn't hurt to give up.
Montreal gets: Thomas Vanek, conditional 5th round pick
Islanders get: Sebastian Collberg, conditional 2nd round pick.
Montreal has had Boston's number all season. Vanek has had Boston's number all season. I'll be in the corner, swearing to myself for the next two hours.
Detroit gets: David Legwand
Nashville gets: Patrick Eaves, Calle Jarnkrok, conditional 3rd round pick
Coming into yesterday, if you told me a guy that'd spend his entire, long career with one team would be moving (besides St. Louis), I'd have figured it was going to be Brodeur. Legwand was Nashville's first draft pick, and up until now, had been around for every single Preds season. Business, bloody hell.
Los Angeles gets: Marian Gaborik
Columbus gets: Matt Frattin, possible draft picks
Not much to say. A big piece for LA's playoff run. Good move.