Monday, February 21, 2011

Quick Thoughts on the Recent Trades

Blues get: D Kevin Shattenkirk, F Chris Stewart, 2nd round pick
Avalanche get: C Jay McClement, D Erik Johnson, 1st round pick

I think the Avalanche might have ripped off St. Louis. A young defenseman who has plenty of time to grow and an elite defensive forward for a in-his-prime (23 yrs old) power forward who gets easy zone starts and middling competition (with below-average teammates), but isn't break-even in Corsi, and a young D who was clearly "sold high" thanks to his hot 14pts-in-14gms start this season. The ages of Shattenkirk and Stewart, though, may make this deal a wash in overall impact. Over the next two years, though, no question Colorado wins.

Avalanche get: G Brian Elliott
Senators get: G Craig Anderson

I don't get this trade from an Avalanche perspective. They could have gotten something better than Elliott for Anderson: at the very least, a Ty Wishart-type defenseman.

Bruins get: D Tomas Kaberle
Maple Leafs get: 1st round pick, conditional second round pick, C Joe Colborne

I like this trade for both teams. Colborne is 21 and could reasonably become a bottom-six forward, and the Leafs also get picks to help themselves rebuild. Meanwhile, the Bruins needed some more top-end talent on the blueline. While Kaberle does need soft minutes, Zdeno Chara is already there to take the toughs, and guys like Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci are perfectly capable of playing top lines effectively as well.

Bruins get: C Rich Peverley, D Boris Valabik
Thrashers get: F Blake Wheeler, D Mark Stuart

Looks okay for both teams. One young power forward goes one way, a good 20-goal scorer the other, and a somewhat-young-defenseman swap.

Blackhawks get: F Michael Frolik, G Alexander Salak
Panthers get: F Jack Skille, F Hugh Jessiman, F David Pacan

Easily a win for Chicago--tough minutes top-6 forward, good goalie prospect, for a "project" power forward (think along the lines of Eric Fehr in 07-08, perhaps), a notable draft bust, and a longshot (6th round)-but-only-19 prospect forward.

Lightning get: D Eric Brewer
Blues get: 3rd round pick, F Brock Beukeboom

I don't understand what the Blues are doing. They are a top-5 team by Corsi, yet are trading away D. I understand they have tons of injuries, but they are young enough to be able to wait until next year. As for Brewer specifically, he is one of St. Louis' heavy lifters. Why trade him?

Sharks get: D Ian White
Hurricanes get: 2012 2nd round pick

Seems pretty fair.

Bruins get: C Chris Kelley
Senators get: 2nd round pick

Flyers get: F Kris Versteeg
Maple Leafs get: 1st round pick, 3rd round pick

Versteeg is a legitimate top-6 forward locked up for a couple of more years at a reasonable price. He gives the Flyers some more cap certainty. I do think they overpaid, though--a 2nd and 3rd, or 1st and 5th, may have done the trick as well.

Predators get: C Mike Fisher
Senators get: 1st round pick, conditional 2012 pick

The worst move I've ever seen GM David Poile make. There is little chance Fisher performs enough to warrant his cap hit, let alone overperform. And he's locked up for another two years after this one.

Ducks get: D Francois Beauchemin
Maple Leafs get: F Joffrey Lupul, D Jake Gardiner

Good move for the Ducks, getting a legitimate top-4 D to shore up their shoddy defense. I don't think, however, they should've made this trade--I expect them to fall out of the playoff picture, anyways. Gardiner per Hockey's Future is the Leafs' second-best prospect now (behind Nazem Kadri), so the Ducks gave up a ton of value for Beauchemin.

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