Which teams made all the right moves?
Examining the winners and losers coming out of the NHL trade deadline
David Zalubowski / APOlli Jokinen, sometimes referred to as a cancer in the dressing room, is reunited with coach Mike Keenan on the Flames.
OPINION
By Liam Casey
updated 2:23 p.m. ET March 5, 2009
The NHL trade deadline has come and gone, and now it's time to take a look at which teams were the biggest winners and losers.
The winners
Calgary Flames
With the acquisition of Olli Jokinen and Jordan Leopold on deadline day, the Flames served notice they will be a team to watch down the stretch. They only gave up Matthew Lombardi, a third line center at best, and rarely used tough guy Brandon Prust. Leopold returns to the team where he played his best hockey — and he's healthy for the first time in years. He will be an underrated, yet reliable, puck-moving defenseman.
Jokinen, sometimes referred to as a cancer in the dressing room, is reunited with coach Mike Keenan who helped transform the center into the game-breaker he became after nearly being run out of the NHL. Don't forget that Jokinen collected 89 and 91 points under Keenan back in Florida. He will be given a shot on the top line alongside Jarome Iginla, and while chemistry is often a question with deadline acquisitions, Iginla is such a strong player, he can adapt to a variety of centers without missing a beat. The Flames will give San Jose and Detroit a run down the stretch.
Florida Panthers
Florida didn't make a big deadline day splash. Acquiring depth with defenseman Steve Eminger from Tampa for fellow depth defender Noah Welch was their only deal of the day. But it was their decision to retain Jay Bouwmeester that will have the biggest impact down the stretch. While Bouwmeester is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at season's end, the Panthers chose to go for the playoffs this year, which would have been difficult no matter what players they would have received had they dealt the star defender. The downside is that they could lose the young defenseman for nothing if he doesn't re-sign with the Panthers this summer. The Cats are reportedly ecstatic about Bouwmeester remaining with the squad. His presence will have the same kind of impact as that of a top flight player acquired at the deadline. An emotional boost will ensue in South Florida.
Honorable Mention
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers secured Patrick O'Sullivan and Ales Kotalik while only giving up one roster player, Erik Cole, who wasn't likely re-signing with the team this summer. It is only an honorable mention because in O'Sullivan and Kotalik they acquire players with incredible skill and little grit — and their roster is filled with those already. What they needed was some dirt to go with their flowers, not more roses and buttercups.
Losers
New York Rangers
The old Glen Sather is back. Remember the GM who acquired names rather than players and thought he could solve all his problems through money? He disappeared for a while shortly after the lockout with the league-imposed salary cap, but he's up to his old tricks again. Sather brought in Nik Antropov and Derek Morris at the deadline for a few draft picks and youngsters Nigel Dawes and Petr Prucha. He had brought in a coach with a high energy, intense forechecking system, ideal for speedsters like Scott Gomez and Chris Drury. But now he has a 6'5" plodder who does his best work on the boards down low but whose skating can best be described as lumbering, and an "offensive" defenseman who has 12 points this season. Welcome back, Glen.
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks failed to make a single deal on deadline day. Rumors persisted that they were swinging for the home run with Jay Bouwmeester, but this failed to manage even a bases-on-balls. Granted, they did sign Mats Sundin back in December and he's finally starting to play like the All-Star he is, but they had the cap room to land a top six forward or some more grit on the bottom two lines. As with last year, they will rely almost solely on the spectacular goaltending of Roberto Luongo, who is good enough to take them a few rounds, but some more offense would have really helped.
Honorable Mention
Phoenix Coyotes
The Coyotes got rid of a No. 1 center, the best shift disturber in the game, and a reliable backup. However, they may be the winners in 2014 when their first, second and fourth round picks ripen along with Scottie Upshall, Matthew Lombardi and shift-disturber in the making, Brandon Prust. The real story is that Jokinen didn't mesh well with the youngsters in Phoenix, Carcillo fell into owner/coach Wayne Gretzky's doghouse and Tellqvist proved replaceable. Plus, the more they lose now, the higher their draft pick will be this year.
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