Trade Deadline Summary: Winners & Losers Of The Central Division
The NHL Trade Deadline has come and gone, and while it wasn’t the most exciting deadline day in recent memory, there were quite a few notable moves. Here are the winners and losers of the “wild” Central Division:
Winners
Chicago Blackhawks:
- Acquired Tomas Jurco from Detroit Red Wings for 2017 third-round pick
- Acquired Johnny Oduya from Dallas Stars for conditional 2018 fourth-round pick and Mark McNeill
Of course the Blackhawks are winners on deadline day. Did you expect any less? Although they didn’t make any major moves, Chicago brought in two players via trade that can help them immediately. Oduya, a former Blackhawk, is still familiar with the system and has played with many of the current players. Oduya should be able to step in right away, play major minutes, and form a shutdown pair with Niklas Hjalmarsson (when he’s healthy). Just like the good ‘ol days. Meanwhile, like nearly any forward, Jurco has a skill set that will fit in well with Chicago’s star forwards and for just the cost of a third-rounder, could represent a long-term fit with the Blackhawks.
Dallas Stars:
- Acquired conditional 2017 second-round pick from Anaheim Ducks for Patrick Eaves
- Acquired 2017 fourth-round pick and Greg Pateryn from Montreal Canadiens for Jordie Benn
- Acquired conditional 2018 fourth-round pick and Mark McNeill from Chicago Blackhawks for Johnny Oduya
- Acquired Dillon Heatherington from Columbus Blue Jackets for Lauri Korpikoski
The Stars are a tough team to place at the 2017 deadline. They are in the midst of an unforeseen epic collapse of a season and have done well to trade their impending free agents. If Patrick Sharp, Ales Hemsky, and Adam Cracknell weren’t all hurt, Dallas would be a deadline loser for not moving them. As it stands, they did hold on to Jiri Hudler, but traded their three other healthy upcoming UFAs. Eaves earned them great value in return and Korpikoski, a late off-season addition, nets a promising young defenseman in Heatherington. Even McNeill and a fourth-rounder for Oduya is a pretty good deal. So for those three moves anyway, GM Jim Nill did well. With that said, the Benn trade was ill-timed and doesn’t make your team better. Benn still had term on his contract and was the team’s best defensive defenseman and, of course, captain Jamie Benn‘s older brother. Dallas will likely regret that move. The Stars are teetering on the edge of winner and loser, but they’ve been through enough this season, so we’ll call them winners.
Dallas Stars Trade Lauri Korpikoski To Columbus
As the trades all pour in after the deadline, the Dallas Stars have traded Lauri Korpikoski to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Dillon Heatherington. 
The Blue Jackets added Kyle Quincey on the back end earlier today, and now give themselves some depth up front. Korpikoski has been an effective bottom-six winger for almost a decade in the NHL, providing some consistent secondary scoring and penalty killing ability. He’ll fit in nicely for head coach John Tortorella who Korpikoski briefly played for in his rookie season.
The team has put together everything they need to go and win a playoff round for the first time in their existence. Tied with Pittsburgh in the Metropolitan division, adding some experience will help them keep pace down the stretch.
For Heatherington, this is probably a great chance to make the NHL sooner than later. Since being drafted in the second round in 2013, he has been stuck in the AHL behind a very good group of defense. In Dallas, he’ll immediately become a nice option for the team as soon as next year as they try to rebuild their defense corps. Not an offensive defenseman, Heatherington uses his long reach and physical stature to win puck battles and clear the zone effectively.
For Columbus, it’s a worthwhile move to add depth in a year that almost everything has gone right. While Korpikoski is on just a one-year deal, he may be an option to re-sign in the summer and grow with this group.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Dallas Stars May Miss Chance To Trade Patrick Sharp Due To Injury
Mar. 1: Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports that Sharp’s injury is significant enough that it will stop him from being traded today.
Feb. 28, 4:00pm: If you’re a fan of the Dallas Stars and you hate that they’ve begun to sell off expiring assets this year, you may be in luck. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet is reporting that team doctors will meet with Patrick Sharp at the conclusion of the Stars game against Pittsburgh to discuss a nagging injury. Though he is able to play through it—he played two nights ago and is expected to be in the lineup tonight—it may keep him off the trading block.
Friedman says that Stars GM Jim Nill has been very up front with teams who have inquired about the pending free agent. Though this doesn’t by any means guarantee that he won’t be moved, any team looking for an immediate impact in their top six may look elsewhere.
Sharp is in the last year of a five-year, $29.5MM deal that he signed with the Chicago Blackhawks back in 2011 and is easily one of the most decorated scoring threats on the rental market. With eight 20+ goal seasons (including four in which he scored at least 33) he presented an opportunity to get a player who could provide a real impact with top-line players for the remainder of the season and in the playoffs.
We profiled Sharp a month ago and listed no less than seven teams that could have been interested in the three-time Stanley Cup winner. The fact that he has 47 goals in 142 playoff games and is only owed an actual salary of $5MM this season was just icing on the cake. Sharp is admittedly getting older at 35 and has seen his production slip this year because of concussion problems, but when the market is paying solid prospects for Alex Burrows and second-round picks for Brian Boyle, he still looked likely to command a hefty return.
Again, this doesn’t mean he’s guaranteed to stay with the Stars but it could definitely cool the market on him if he’s deemed to injured to help immediately. Teams may still acquire him if he had a shot at returning for the playoffs, but it would likely have heavy conditions on any picks sent back to Dallas. Obviously the type or extent of the injury isn’t known, but Michael Russo of the Star Tribune guesses that it may have been a collision with Nino Niederreiter on February 16th for which the Minnesota forward was given a five-minute major and game misconduct (video of hit).
Regardless of when it happened, it’s bad timing for the Stars if they wanted to get anything out of Sharp at the deadline.
Minor Transactions: 03/01/17
While all the big deals will be listed on our deadline transaction tracker, we’ll keep an eye open for any player movement between the NHL and AHL here like always.
- The New York Islanders have brought Josh Ho-Sang back up on the emergency conditions he was recalled on yesterday. Interestingly the team loaned him back to Bridgeport just a few hours after recalling him yesterday to leave room in case they made a deal.
- After acquiring Brendan Smith, the New York Rangers have sent Steven Kampfer back to the Hartford Wolf Pack. Kampfer was up with the team because of the Dan Girardi injury, and logged almost 16 minutes of ice time in the Rangers’ 4-1 loss last night.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins have added from the inside today, bringing up Derrick Pouliot from the AHL. The defenseman has played seven games with the NHL club this season.
- According to Mark Divver of the Providence Journal, the Boston Bruins have brought Joe Morrow back to the big leagues. Morrow hasn’t played in an NHL game in over a month, but has 17 under his belt this season.
- The Devils announced that they have recalled forward Kevin Rooney from Albany of the AHL. This will be his first NHL stint after signing an entry-level contract back on Monday. In 57 AHL games this season, he has ten goals and seven assists.
- Dallas announced that left winger Remi Elie was re-assigned to their AHL affiliate in Texas. The 21 year old didn’t get into a game after being recalled on Sunday. In 49 games this season in the minors, he has eight goals and 17 helpers.
- According to Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star, the Maple Leafs have sent Nikita Soshnikov down the Toronto Marlies ahead of the AHL playoff eligibility deadline. The forward was left out of the lineup last night after Brian Boyle joined the team.
Blackhawks Acquire Johnny Oduya
The Chicago Blackhawks have reached an agreement with the Dallas Stars to acquire defenseman Johnny Oduya. In return, the Stars receive a conditional fourth round pick along with minor league forward Mark McNeill. If the Blackhawks win two rounds this postseason and Oduya plays in 50% of the games or more, the pick will be upgraded to a third rounder.
Oduya is no stranger to the Blackhawks as he spent parts of four seasons with the team from 2011-12 through 2014-15. He played a total of 219 regular season games with Chicago in that span, scoring nine goals and 34 assists while averaging 20:37 per game. He left the team to sign with Dallas in the summer of 2015.
The 35 year old rearguard has been slowed by ankle problems this season which took him out of the lineup on two separate occasions. As a result, he has suited up in just 37 games this year, tallying seven points (1-6-7) while logging a career low 18:10 per night in ice time.
Oduya should slot in as a considerable upgrade on the third pairing for the Blackhawks while giving them another option for their penalty kill. Alternatively, he could be slotted back alongside Niklas Hjalmarsson (when he returns which is expected to be next week) as the two played together in Oduya’s first stint with Chicago. Hjalmarsson was placed on injured reserve to free up a roster spot to make the deal.
From the financial side of things, the veteran rearguard carries a cap hit of $3.75MM. However, the Stars will be retaining 50% as part of the deal.
As for McNeill, he has played in just one NHL game since being drafted in the first round (18th overall) back in 2011. He has spent the entire season with Chicago’s AHL affiliate in Rockford, scoring six goals while adding 22 assists in 58 games. He will report to Texas of the AHL.
ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun was the first to report that the Blackhawks had acquired Oduya via Twitter while TSN’s Bob McKenzie added in the details (all Twitter links).
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Atlantic Notes: Gionta, Sabres, Gauthier
The captain wants to stay. That’s what Brian Gionta is telling the Buffalo Sabres and their fans, as he plays through the final year of his current contract. Bill Hoppe of the Buffalo Hockey Beat published a piece today that quotes Gionta reiterating his hope to stay a Sabre through the end of the season and beyond if they’ll have him.
I’ve made my position pretty clear. I’d like to stay here. I’d like to be here going on in the future. I want to see this thing through.
Gionta isn’t the player that scored 48 goals and 89 points in 2005-06, but he is still a reliable winger and huge leadership presence among a young team building for the future. As the reins are handed over to teenage phenoms and 20-something stars, Gionta could still be a positive influence even at the age of 38. As his $4.25MM contract expires this season, perhaps the Sabres will look to bring him back on a shorter, much less expensive deal in the summer.
- The Sabres in general will be involved in rumors right up to the deadline tomorrow, as Dmitry Kulikov and Cody Franson are two of the most talked about names left among defensemen. Joe Yerdon of NHL.com reports that the entire lineup including goaltenders is a game-time decision for the Sabres tonight. With the team struggling to find the success of their contemporaries, it’s very likely that they sell off some expiring assets in order to help facilitate the ongoing rebuild. Though the team thought it may be coming out of it this summer, it looks like another bottom-ten finish for the Sabres is on the horizon.
- Brian Boyle will make his debut in the Maple Leafs lineup tonight and he’s bringing help with him. Both Mitch Marner and Tyler Bozak are expected to play, meaning that there was no longer room for Frederik Gauthier on the roster. The big centerman was sent to the Marlies when the Leafs activated Marner off injured reserve.
Montreal Canadiens Acquire Jordie Benn From Dallas Stars
It’s a big day in the Atlantic Division. The Montreal Canadiens have made a deal of their own, acquiring Jordie Benn from the Dallas Stars in exchange for Greg Pateryn and a fourth-round pick. The Stars defenseman has two years left on his current deal at $1.1MM per season. 
After Pateryn was publicly put on the block recently, it was only a matter of time before the Canadiens found a taker for the 26-year old. Turns out they’ve used him as part of a package to acquire the Benn, a solid depth defender that will help them in their playoff push—especially now that the Maple Leafs and Senators have added to their forward groups.
Benn is the older brother of Stars’ captain Jamie Benn, but far less of a household name. A fine puck-mover capable of playing on the penalty kill, he has 15 points in 58 games this season. Despite being left-handed, Benn has been playing the right side in Dallas and may jump right over Nikita Nesterov who was acquired earlier this year and has played sparingly in recent weeks.
With the Habs relying so much on a 38-year old Andrei Markov and a less than effective Alexei Emelin, Benn offers some respite. Though Nathan Beaulieu has shown the promise of a top-pairing defenseman in the future, adding the experience of a proven NHL player is always welcome as a team heads towards the playoffs. The fairly low cost of Pateryn and a fourth-round pick is understandable for a team in first place.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Stars Activate Johnny Oduya From IR
After missing 15 straight games, it looks like Stars defenseman Johnny Oduya is set to rejoin his team. Mark Stepneski of the Stars official website tweeted that the team has activated their alternate captain from the injured reserve.
Oduya was originally placed on the injured reserve with a lower-body injury in mid-January. The 35-year-old has battled ailments throughout his second season in Dallas, and those injuries have clearly played a role in his production. In 36 games, Oduya has only recorded one goal and six assists, as a well as an underwhelming 20 hits. Still, as our own Zach Leach pointed out, the veteran is a very useful piece for the youthful Stars defense, and they’ve clearly struggled without their leader on the ice. In the 15 games that Oduya has missed, the Stars have limped to a 5-10 record.
With the trade deadline approaching, the defender could actually be on the move, as our own Brian La Rose wrote earlier this month. The player is in the final year of a two-year, $7.5MM deal, and his $3.75MM cap hit certainly isn’t impossible to trade. Oduya could provide some veteran leadership to a team seeking defensive reinforcement. On the flip side, Dallas is still within striking distance of that second Western Conference wild card spot.
Friday Trades Recap: Patrick Eaves, Tomas Jurco
Friday featured a couple trades as the trade deadline approaches. Here’s another look at what went down today, and what it could mean for both teams down the road.
Trade #1: Anaheim acquires Eaves
Ducks Receive: F Patrick Eaves
Stars Receive: 2017 2nd round pick (conditional)
The Details: This could be a huge win for both teams should the Ducks see the playoff success they hope for. Eaves has had a tremendous season, netting 37 points (21-16) for a Stars team that could never turn the corner. Eaves brings another dimension of scoring for the Ducks who are looking up at the Sharks and Oilers. The Stars did well, too, snaring a 2nd round pick at the very least for a player who only had one 20-goal season until this year. Should the Ducks advance to the Conference Finals, Eaves needs to play in at least 50% of those games for the 2nd rounder to turn into a first.
Who wins? It all depends on how far the Ducks advance. It’s a win-win should the Ducks go to the Conference Final or beyond since the Stars have a second round pick become a first. If Eaves bolsters their scoring or has a good playoff, it helps the Ducks case in dealing away a second round pick. Should they get bounced in the first round or Eaves not help out as anticipated, it would be a slight nod to the Stars.
Trade #2: Chicago acquire Jurco
Blackhawks receive: F Tomas Jurco
Red Wings receive: 2017 3rd round pick
The Details: The Red Wings and Tomas Jurco never worked together. A highly touted prospect, Jurco never gave the Wings what they sought while the Wings never gave Jurco the ice time or playing time he expected. Enter the Blackhawks. Chicago dealt a third round pick for the 24-year-old winger, who can slide in nicely on the third or fourth line that is less about grit (unlike Detroit) and more about goal scoring and puck possession. Two seasons ago, Jurco netted eight goals in 36 games. The Blackhawks boast a much stronger roster than the Red Wings, and it could be a steal if Jurco lives up to the potential many thought he had.
Who wins? If Jurco flourishes in Chicago, it’s an absolute win for the Hawks. Still young, Jurco never really broke into the lineup despite being known for his puck possession prowess. While Ken Holland is known for letting his prospects “over-ripen,” this seemed to be an “over-done” situation in Detroit. Regardless, they still got a third round pick for a player they would have most likely lost this summer. Another way of looking at it? The Wings weren’t playing him regardless, and getting a third round pick is an absolute win. Should Jurco be a regular contributor for Chicago, a third round pick suffices as a nice giveaway and pickup for both teams.
Anaheim Ducks Acquire Patrick Eaves For Conditional Second-Round Pick
The Dallas Stars have traded Patrick Eaves to the Anaheim Ducks for a conditional second-round pick. The pick turns into a first rounder should the Ducks reach the conference final with Eaves playing in at least 50% of their playoff games. If that doesn’t happen, the second rounder will be the same pick Toronto sends to Anaheim to complete the Frederik Andersen trade from last summer. That pick is the “middle” one from Toronto’s three seconds—Ottawa, Toronto and San Jose.
Eaves was profiled by our own Zach Leach recently, who actually mentioned Anaheim as a potential match for the winger while we also listed a top-six winger as the biggest need for Anaheim during our deadline primer series. The fact that Anaheim addressed their biggest weakness without dealing from their group of young defensemen is a huge boost for a team looking to make another deep run in the playoffs. Though a first would be a costly price should the team make it to the third round and lose, a late second is palatable for a player of Eaves quality.
The pending unrestricted free agent signed his third straight one-year deal with the Stars on July 1st this summer, and has paid off in spades for the club. With 21 goals and 37 points in 56 games, Eaves has jumped onto the top line for the Stars and looked right at home. His ice time has reached a career high, and he’s been a deadly weapon on the powerplay, notching 11 goals with the man advantage.
While his history should make the Ducks and their fans a little wary about installing him on their top line right away, he has proven to be a capable defender in the past as well and should help their weakened top-six. With Rickard Rakell recently moving back to center for the suspended Antoine Vermette, there was a hole there for the team to fill. The fact that they’ve done it early gives them a little more negotiating power in any discussions about their young defensemen, as they now don’t need a winger desperately in return.
With the move, Eaves has positioned himself even better for another run at free agency. He was already likely deserved of a multi-year deal after his first half with the Stars, but if he can help the Ducks on a deep playoff run while playing with another exceptional center—whether it be Ryan Getzlaf or Ryan Kesler—he’ll be able to sign one last deal before retirement. He’ll be 33 in just over two months.
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