Gregory Smith / AP

Marian Hossa's playoff numbers are below par, adding to the risk the Penguins made in dealing for the Thrashers' star.

Q: If the Sharks can sign Brian Campbell, their trade with the Sabres is a steal. How likely is it he’ll make a home in San Jose?
— T.Z. from Reading, Pa.
A: Tough rad, T.Z. One thing is for sure: he will be playing in a vastly different hockey environment than the one he knew in Buffalo over the course of eight seasons. The pressure to win in San Jose, in terms of community expectation, isn't anywhere near what it is in Buffalo.

Hockey in San Jose is just another recreational bauble for the sporting public. In Buffalo, it is central to the culture, the topic of nearly everyone's conversation ... all ... day ... long. Some players find that shift very pleasing (see: Joe Thornton), while others find themselves asking what happened to the buzz, or high, that came with playing in a hockey town.

Right now, I would say that the Sharks have, at best, a 50-50 chance of getting Campbell to sign a new deal. But if they get hot, and have a successful playoff run, that could change dramatically.

Q: For only a sixth-round pick, Chris Simon is worth it in my opinion. What do you think of the Wild’s move and are there any other ‘minor’ trades that might also have a major impact?
— Mark Tanner from St. Peter, Minn.
A: Simon, now with seven suspensions on his rap sheet, can be a valued, intimidating force, provided he plays within the rules. As we know, that's not easy for the big guy.

Just days before the trade deadline, he finally made it back to the Islanders lineup after his most recent suspension (30 games for kicking Pittsburgh's Jarkko Ruutu). No surprise, he was booed every time he touched the puck. However, it was surprising that the Islanders were playing at home that night. Even his own team's fans didn't want him anymore. No surprise that Islander GM Garth Snow found him a new home.

Overall, Mark, the move by Minnesota doesn't do much for me. Simon was once a very effective player. But he's older now, and he has shown that it's all but impossible for him to mind his manners. I don't see him having much, if any, impact with the Wild. But based on his antics, he's gone to a team a name that fits him perfectly.

The best of the ''minor'' trades, I think, was Washington's surprise acquisition of Cristobal Huet, who was, until the afternoon of Feb. 26, Montreal's No. 1 netminder. He only cost the Caps a second-round pick — a very cheap price for a guy with a 21-12-6 record and a 2.55 goals against mark.

The Hossa and Richards deals will be remembered as the key blockbuster deals of the 2008 deadline. But it would not surprise me if, in the end, Washington's acquisition of Huet makes the most impact.

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