Biggest One-For-One Trades Of The Past 10 Years
For the first time since his shocking trade last June, Taylor Hall is facing off in Edmonton on Thursday night.
The Oilers-Devils trade was one of two major one-for-one trades that took place that day, the other being P.K. Subban for Shea Weber just 17 minutes later. Despite the evidence of June 29, one-for-one trades are exceedingly rare in today’s NHL.
In honor of Hall’s return to Edmonton, let’s take a look at some of the more notable one-for-one swaps of the past decade:
February 26, 2008 – Andrew Ladd for Tuomo Ruutu — The Chicago Blackhawks and Carolina Hurricanes swapped former top-ten picks at the 2007-08 trade deadline. Nearly nine years later, the trade can be classified as a win for the Blackhawks: Ruutu did score 216 points in 378 games with the Hurricanes but the team only made the playoffs once in his tenure there. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks were just two years away from winning the first Stanley Cup of their modern dynasty; with a Stanley Cup already under his belt, Ladd played a key role in helping the young Hawks learn how to win. Ladd scored 99 points 184 games in Chicago before being sacrificed to the Salary Cap Gods after their 2010 championship.
July 3, 2011 – Dany Heatley for Martin Havlat — Heatley and Havlat were both superstars of the early 21st-century, but neither player was at that level in 2011 when the Sharks and Wild made this trade. The Sharks were looking to improve their roster with hopes of getting to the Stanley Cup Finals after yet another playoff disappointment, but Havlat appeared in just eight playoff games over three years in San Jose. He never played more than 48 games in a season, or scored more than 27 points. Heatley had 82 and 64 points in his two years in San Jose, but was unable to consistently score in Minnesota, finishing his three-year stint with a 28-point season, his last full season in the NHL. Heatley also caused salary cap troubles, as he was unable to be bought-out after his second season due to injury, costing the Wild their last chance to use a compliance buyout on the declining Heatley.
June 23, 2012 – James Van Riemsdyk for Luke Schenn — Maple Leafs fans hoping for their team to trade Van Riemsdyk for a top defenseman may want to look at the trade that brought the power winger to Toronto. Then-GM Brian Burke traded Schenn, a right-handed third-pairing defenseman just four seasons removed from being the fifth-overall selection. Both players were coming off down seasons, as Schenn struggled in a third-pairing role while Van Riemsdyk scored 24 points in 43 games after a 40-point sophomore season. The trade was a clear win for Toronto, as Van Riemsdyk has 211 points in 289 games as a first-line winger while Schenn scored 42 points in 213 games in Philadelphia as a below-average possession player. Schenn was traded last season and signed a cheap show-me deal with Arizona as a UFA. The trade is yet another example of the trade values of average defensemen and scoring wingers.
January 6, 2016 – Seth Jones for Ryan Johansen — The major trade was the first big one-for-one trade in nearly four years, and was a sign of things yet to come in 2016. While it’s too early to declare a definitive winner, as both teams look like they got what they needed with the swap, the early results put Columbus slightly ahead. Jones has 38 points in 75 games so far with the surprising Blue Jackets, who currently sit in first place in NHL standings. The Predators haven’t been as successful as they would have hoped, though Johansen has 63 points in 83 games in Music City. He’s growing into a legitimate first-line center on a contending team, which is what the Predators hoped for when they made the swap. Nashville GM David Poile was initially criticized for trading his young defenseman as Shea Weber showed signs of regression, but that was addressed by on of the below trades.
June 29, 2016 – Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson — The decision to trade Hall was not popular at the time, and is still the most talked-about trade in Edmonton since Chris Pronger asked for a trade in 2006. The Oilers have finally turned the corner and currently sit in third in the Pacific Division. Larsson is a big part of the much-improved defense core, but has just seven points in 43 games. Hall is leading the Devils in scoring with 25 points in 32 games, but the Devils’ offense has not been able to outscore their defensive issues. It must be frustratingly familiar for Hall, who was in a similar situation in Edmonton for six seasons. While the Oilers gave up value, it could be argued that the Devils miss Larsson’s defensive ability more than Edmonton misses Hall’s offence.
June 29, 2016 — Shea Weber for P.K. Subban — After a tough 2015-16, changes were expected in Montreal. But few expected Subban to be the one to go. Like the Hall-Larsson trade made 17 minutes earlier, the Canadian team was panned initially. However, Weber is on pace for a career-high in points while the Canadiens have rebounded to lead the Atlantic Division at the half-way point. Unfortunately for Subban, he’s been injured for much of the season and may require surgery. The Canadiens are the winners of this trade six months in, but considering the four years Weber has on Subban, the verdict will slowly change over the next few years. If either one of these teams win a Stanley Cup in the next few years, that would likely be the deciding factor in naming a winner.
Devils Place Greene, Auvitu On Injured Reserve
It’s a double whammy on defense for the New Jersey Devils today, as they moved veteran Andy Greene and rookie Yohann Auvitu to the injured reserve, ahead of the team’s upcoming four-game road trip. Greene still plans to travel with the team, just in case, while Auvitu will stay behind. When the captain Greene was first diagnosed with an upper body injury, it was thought to just be day-to-day, but when his 350-game active streak was snapped on Friday, there was the impression that it was more serious. Auvitu was then knocked out of the Devils’ game on Saturday with a lower body injury and did not return. Both players missed Monday’s contest, and the team is winless over these past three games. New Jersey may have to do without them for a while longer, but needs to find a way to win even with a depleted defensive corps.
The 34-year-old Greene is an invaluable asset for the Devils. The head of their young blue line group and the unrivaled leader of the locker room, Greene has an important role on the team. A veteran of 680 NHL games, all with New Jersey, Greene has established himself as a smart and reliable two-way defender whose absence is felt whenever he is sidelined. While his age has begun to show this season with some defensive lapses, Greene has still contributed three goals and six assists and leads the team in ice time. The Devils are certainly a better team with the captain in the lineup and will be fortunate if he is able to return during their road trip.
Auvitu was somewhat of an unknown entering 2016-17, a 27-year-old Frenchman signed out of the top Finnish league. Auvitu was not intended to have a large role right away, but due to injury has been pressed into service and has performed well in 25 games thus far. The NHL newcomer has two goals and two assists and plays a sound defensive style for a player unfamiliar to the North American game. Auvitu would have been looked to for increased ice time and responsibility with Greene sidelined, but now appears as if he could be out even longer.
With John Moore still out with a concussion, the result of a vicious hit in a recent match-up, adding Greene and Auvitu to the injury mix puts a lot of pressure on a New Jersey defense that wasn’t deep to begin with. Former Merrimack College defenseman Karl Stollery has been recalled, alongside forward Blake Coleman, to fill the spots surrendered by Greene and Auvitu, and he is likely to see his first action as a Devil since signing with New Jersey this summer. Through 12 games with the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks, Stollery has yet to record his first NHL point. However, Stollery had 24 points with the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda last season and has nine helpers with the Albany Devils so far in 2016-17, so New Jersey will hope that those puck-moving skills show up if Stollery gets the call. Breakout star Damon Severson will continue to be relied upon for some offensive contribution from the blue line, while veterans Ben Lovejoy and Kyle Quincey protect their own zone. To really make up for the loss of Greene and Auvitu though, the Devils need Stollery, Jon Merrill, Seth Helgeson, and rookie Steve Santini to step up in their absence.
Snapshots: Three Stars, Oshie, Kulak, Jersey Changes
The NHL honoured Michael Grabner, Patrick Maroon, and Braden Holtby as the Three Stars of the Week.
Grabner has been a pleasant surprise for the Rangers this season, having scored 18 goals for 26 points in 41 games. His goal total through the first half of this season equals his total point output from last season. Grabner scored five goals and added two assists in three games, including his fourth hat-trick of his career (second of the year).
Maroon scored five goals and six points in four games for the Oilers last week. He scored his first career hat-trick in a 4-3 win over Boston and added another two in last night’s loss in Ottawa. Maroon has 16 goals and 23 points in 42 games this season. He was acquired by the Oilers at the 2016 trade deadline for failed prospect Martin Gernát and a fourth-round pick. The trade is already a clear win for the Oilers, as the Ducks retained 25% of Maroon’s bargain $2MM-per-season contract, and Gernát is now in the Czech league. Maroon is already four goals past his career high, and is on pace for 30-plus goals. He has 24 goals and 37 points in 58 games in Edmonton, quickly becoming a fan-favorite.
Hotby went 2-0-0 in three appearances, following up a poor game versus the Maple Leafs with back-to-back shutouts over the Blue Jackets and Senators. He made 29 saves in the 5-0 win over Columbus, which ended their 16-game winning streak. Holtby is 18-8-4, with a 0.931 SV % and a 1.93 GAA this season. He also five shutouts, which ties him for tops in the NHL.
- T.J. Oshie will miss Monday night’s game with an upper-body injury, according to Isabelle Khurshudyan. Oshie took a big hit from Dion Phaneuf on Saturday night and appeared to be favoring the same shoulder he had injured earlier this season. Oshie has 20 points in 32 games so far.
- The Calgary Flames have recalled Brett Kulak from Stockton, according to Roger Millions of Sportsnet. Kulak has split this season beteween the NHL and the AHL, with three points in 15 NHL games and five points in 11 AHL games. He’s not expected to be in the lineup tonight when the Flames visit Winnipeg.
- Some interesting news is coming out this morning about the NHL’s upcoming jersey-provider switch. Reebok has made the NHL’s jersey’s since 2005-06, but now their parent company, Adidas, is taking over. Michael Russo of the Minnesota Star Tribune cites multiple sources that all 18 teams with third jerseys will be dropping them to make the switch easier. Notable changes that have been leaked so far include the New Jersey Devils getting a full makeover, the Oilers dropping their current blue home uniforms in favor of their current orange thirds, and the Wild leaning towards using a re-designed green jersey as the home uniform.
NHL Teams With Prospects On Both USA and Canada
The United States and Canada face off in the World Junior Championships gold medal game tonight. Each team is loaded with NHL draft picks, and it is inevitable that some teams have players from both teams. While these players may be part of the same organization, there is no love lost when the two countries play each other. Below are all the NHL teams who have prospects on both Canada and USA tonight:
Arizona Coyotes
F Dylan Strome (CAN) vs. F Clayton Keller (USA)
Boston Bruins
D Jeremy Lauzon (CAN) vs. D Ryan Lingren* and D Charlie McAvoy (USA)
*Lingren was a late scratch before the gold-medal game
Calgary Flames
F Dillon Dube (CAN) vs. G Tyler Parsons and D Adam Fox (USA)
Nashville Predators
D Dante Fabbro (CAN) vs. F Patrick Harper (USA)
New Jersey Devils
F Michael McLeod and F Blake Speers (CAN) vs. F Joey Anderson (USA)
New York Islanders
F Matthew Barzal (CAN) vs. F Kieffer Bellows (USA)
Ottawa Senators
D Thomas Chabot (CAN) vs. F Colin White (USA)
Philadelphia Flyers
G Carter Hart and D Phillipe Myers* (CAN) vs. F Tanner Laczynski (USA)
*Myers was injured in the CAN vs. USA preliminary game and was unable to play in the gold-medal game.
Minor Transactions: 1/5/17
Here are today’s minor transactions around the hockey world:
- Forward Jared McCann has been recalled by the Florida Panthers from their AHL affiliate in Springfield, the team announced this afternoon. McCann started the season with Florida and appeared in 17 games, tallying one goal and three points during that time before a reassignment to Springfield. In 15 AHL contests McCann registered four goals and six points.
- The Avalanche announced via Twitter that they have assigned goaltender Jeremy Smith to San Antonio of the AHL. This suggests that Semyon Varlamov, who has been out since December 23rd with another groin injury, is nearing a return to action. Smith didn’t see any game action with Colorado and has played just seven minor league games this season, going 1-4-0 with a 2.60 GAA and a .903 SV%.
- Philadelphia placed defenseman Mark Alt on waivers according to TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie (Twitter link). The 25 year old suffered an upper body injury late in training camp and had been out ever since. He has one career NHL game under his belt, back in 2014-15 and recorded 19 points in 72 AHL contests last season. As CSN Philly’s Tim Panaccio notes, it’s likely that the Flyers will recall center Roman Lyubimov from Lehigh Valley after Alt’s waiver period expires on Friday.
- New Jersey announced (Twitter link) that they have recalled defenseman Seth Helgeson from their AHL affiliate in Albany. He’s an insurance policy for fellow blueliner Andy Greene who left Tuesday’s game against Carolina after being hit by a puck in the first period. Helgeson has played in two games with New Jersey this season while recording two goals and three assists in 30 AHL contests.
- The Rangers have recalled netminder Brandon Halverson from Hartford of the AHL, per a team release. Halverson is in his first pro season and has a 3-5-0 record with a 3.59 GAA and a .867 SV% in eight appearances with the Wolf Pack.
- The Islanders announced via Twitter that they have summoned blueliner Adam Pelech from AHL Bridgeport. Pelech had been sent down late last week after being activated off injured reserve having recovered from an upper body injury. In nine games with New York this season, he has a goal and two assists while logging 15:26 per night in ice time.
- With the vacancy on the roster created by losing Matthew Nieto to Colorado on waivers, the Sharks announced (Twitter link) that they have recalled defenseman Tim Heed from San Jose of the AHL. The 25 year old Heed has yet to play in the NHL but has been one of the top offensive threats in the minors this year with nine goals and 21 assists in 27 games.
Wednesday’s Waiver Wire Roundup
Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston provides the latest updates on what has proven to be a busy day on the NHL’s waiver wire.
- The Vancouver Canucks have claimed forward Reid Boucher off of waivers from New Jersey. Boucher recently returned to the Devils organization, albeit for only a short time, after they reclaimed the winger off of waivers from Nashville over the weekend. The Predators had earlier acquired the 23-year-old via waivers from New Jersey. All told, Boucher has one goal and three points in 12 appearances this season. It’s clear there is still much interest around the league in the former fourth-round draft pick and based on last season’s eight-goal, 19-point output in 39 games, it’s easy to see why. Vancouver currently ranks 23rd in the NHL in scoring and has been in the market for a scoring-line winger since this past summer. Boucher represents a low-cost, low-risk option to fill that need.
- Ty Rattie is headed to Carolina after the Hurricanes were awarded their claim on the 23-year-old winger. Rattie was placed on waivers yesterday by St. Louis, the team that drafted the 6-foot, 195-pound forward in the second-round of the 2001 entry draft. Carolina ranks 19th in scoring this season and has just two players who have scored more than eight goals. The skilled Rattie has an excellent track record of offensive production at both the junior and minor league levels. He netted 105 goals over his final two junior campaigns in 131 games and has registered 69 goals and 137 points in 196 AHL games in the Blues organization. After appearing in just four NHL games with St. Louis this season, Rattie should be given a better opportunity in Carolina to show what he can do.
- Meanwhile, the Boston Bruins have placed veteran goaltender Anton Khudobin on waivers this afternoon. Khudobin has struggled between the pipes in his second stint with the organization, winning just one of seven starts and posting a GAA above three. The net minder, now in his eighth NHL season, is in the first season of a two-year deal with an AAV of $1.2MM. If he clears waivers and is sent down to Providence of the AHL, Khudobin would still account for $250K against the Bruins cap. It’s possible another team in need of goaltending depth takes a chance on the 30-year-old back-up and if he is claimed the Bruins will be in need of a goalie with enough NHL playing experience to expose in next June’s expansion draft. Likewise, other club’s could have interest in Khudobin for the same reason if they don’t currently have a second goalie that meets that requirement under contract for next season. Should Khudobin be claimed or assigned to the minors after clearing waivers, the Bruins will likely recall Zane McIntyre to serve as the team’s back-up behind Tuukka Rask.
- Joining Khudobin on waivers is four-year veteran left wing Matt Nieto. The 24-year-old has struggled to put up points this season, posting just two assists in 16 games this season for San Jose. However, Nieto scored 10 goals in each of his first two NHL campaigns and could provide another team with solid production in a bottom-six role should he be claimed. He will be a RFA next summer after earning $735K on a one-year deal and might represent a low-cost, low-risk acquisition for a club looking to add forward depth.
Devils Waive Reid Boucher For Second Time This Season
Just one day after re-claiming him on waivers, the New Jersey Devils have placed Reid Boucher on waivers… again.
Boucher was a fourth round pick of the Devils in 2011. He played 82 games over three seasons in New Jersey before being claimed on waivers by the Nashville Predators in early December. Boucher only appeared in three games in the Music City (scoring one goal) before being re-claimed by the Devils..
With just three points in 12 games at the NHL level this season, Boucher has been unable to find last season’s scoring success; the 5’10, 195 lbs winger scored 19 points in 39 games with the Devils in 2015-16.
Because players claimed on waivers must remain on the NHL roster, the Devils need to place Boucher on waivers in order to send him to Albany of the AHL. He has 110 points in 169 AHL games in his career, including a solid 4-1-5 statline in five games with Nashville’s AHL club while on a conditioning stint earlier this season.
Snapshots: Outdoor Games, Devils, Dubois
News and notes from around the NHL this evening:
- NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced today that the NHL expects to hold three outdoor games next season, reports ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun. The NHL is already exploring Ottawa as one potential site given the city hosted the first ever NHL hockey game—something the NHL wants to commemorate in its 100th anniversary. Montreal and Columbus also deserve serious consideration as they remain the most prominent and climate-ready locales yet to host an outdoor game. The expansion Vegas Golden Knights may garner some consideration if the NHL wants to give the franchise some supplemental exposure.
- The New Jersey Devils are without both Travis Zajac and Jacob Josefson tonight against the Boston Bruins. Both forwards are out with undisclosed illnesses. Zajac leads the Devils in scoring with 8G and 16A in 37 games. Josefson, however, only has 2A in 16 games. Finally, defense prospect Steve Santini makes his NHL debut tonight. Santini is scoreless in 15 games for the Albany Devils so far this season.
- Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Pierre-Luc Dubois was demoted off of Canada’s top line at the World Junior Hockey Championships prior to tonight’s Quarter-Final game against the Czech Republic, reports Scott Wheeler. The 3rd overall pick in 2016 has 0G and 4A in the tournament so far, but has not impressed the Hockey Canada coaching staff. Dubois is having an excellent year in the QMJHL, scoring 6G and 12A in 20 games so far this season. The top line now consists of Colorado Avalanche prospect Tyson Jost, New Jersey Devils prospect Blake Speers, and Arizona Coyotes prospect Dylan Strome.
Snapshots: Pedan, Benn, Auvitu
The Vancouver Canucks have decided that Andrey Pedan might have a better chance of realizing his potential if he actually plays. The team has sent him back to the AHL to join the Utica Comets. Pedan has spent multiple periods with the Canucks this season, but has yet to get into a single game. Like Frank Corrado in Toronto, he’ll go back to the AHL to get some game time in.
The 23-year old has had trouble with his defensive game since coming over from the Islanders organization, but is a physical presence and can chip in offensively when he’s playing well. He’s played 19 games this season for the Comets, registering three points and 30 penalty minutes.
- Jamie Benn is listed as day-to-day with a lower body injury for the Dallas Stars, reports Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News. The captain will hopefully be able to play in the team’s next game, which thankfully isn’t until Wednesday. Benn has 34 points in 38 games this season, though his 10 goals is a far cry from the 41 he put up a year ago.
- The Devils have sent Yohann Auvitu to Albany to make room for their recent waiver claim, Reid Boucher. In welcoming back the former Devil, Auvitu will head back to the AHL after playing 24 games this season with the NHL club. The French-born defenseman has four points (two goals, two assists) in those 24 games this season.
- Arizona, the other team who made a waiver claim today, has moved Ryan White to injured reserve to make room. White hasn’t played since December 21st due to a lower-body injury, and has five points in 30 games this season. Likely back soon, the team will have to make a move to accommodate him when he does return.
Waiver Claims: Burmistrov, Boucher
Elliotte Friedman reports that the Arizona Coyotes have claimed Alexander Burmistrov from the Winnipeg Jets. The former eighth-overall pick hasn’t found his footing in Winnipeg (or Atlanta) since his draft, and will now open a new chapter.
Reid Boucher, the other player currently on waivers, is heading back to New Jersey after a short stint in Nashville. Boucher played just three games with the Predators, scoring one goal.
Burmistrov has long been expected to turn into a top-six forward, but has never turned into it. After two fairly successful seasons in the KHL, he returned to North America last year and only registered 21 points, despite playing in 81 games. Obviously, with his upside, the Coyotes will gladly take a risk on the 25-year old. Their team isn’t destined for anything big this season, and Burmistrov is still an RFA this summer. If he can find success in the desert, he could be a nice addition to that team.
For Boucher, he’ll head back to the only other franchise he’s ever known after a month away. The former fourth-round pick has had much success during his time in the Devils organization, and even scored 19 points in just 39 games last year for the Devils.