Winner - St. Louis Blues
Not to state the obvious here, but the Blues getting Ryan Miller makes them a serious threat in a very top-heavy Western Conference. No disrespect to Jaroslav Halak, but Miller has better than decent numbers on a team that's absolutely atrocious. People all year were musing on the thought of Ryan Miller on a Cup-contender. Now, we get to see that. Let's see if the Blues could live up to their now newly-raised expectations.
Loser - New York Islanders
Other than Ryan Miller, Thomas Vanek was probably the biggest prize of the deadline. All Garth Snow did was turn Vanek into a mid-level prospect and a conditional 2nd round pick. Wait...what? That's it? How did the Islanders blow that? Islanders fans will probably point to the fact that teams were waiting for prices to go down on players like Vanek, Moulson, and Gaborik, but that's no excuse to not get a proper return for one of the biggest pieces in this deadline! If I was Garth Snow, I wouldn't have even traded Vanek for that package. I'd have waited for the draft when teams would want to trade for his rights because he is an unrestricted free agent and expected to be one of the top ones this Summer. Oh, Islanders...
Winner - Montreal Canadiens
Talk about fleecing someone! Montreal knows they won't be able to re-sign Vanek before July 1st, but they gave up almost nothing for an excellent piece. In the crowded Eastern Conference, this will help push Montreal into very solid playoff positioning. Look for Montreal to make some noise in the Spring now with Vanek in their lineup.
Loser - Philadelphia Flyers
It wouldn't be a trade deadline without a couple of head-scratching deals from Paul Holmgren and company. A mid-level defensive prospect, a 2nd rounder AND a 3rd rounder for Andrew MacDonald? I don't know about that. That's seems like quite a haul for someone is no better that average. Granted, that could be just because he was on the Islanders. We'll see if being in Philly helps him any. The Flyers did recoup a 3rd rounder by trading Andej Meszaros to Boston, but it may as well be a 4th rounder because Boston is one of the favorites in the East and will probably go deep into the playoffs. Sometimes, I don't know if Paul Holmgren understands what his job actually is.
Winner - Hockey in Florida
The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning made out like bandits during the deadline. Roberto Luongo goes back to Florida for almost nothing at the end of the day (no disrespect to Jacob Markstrom and Shawn Matthias). Luongo finally gets his wish to be out of Vancouver, and Mike Gillis will probably be on the chopping block this offseason. He has traded Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider for a total of a 1st round pick, Jacob Markstrom, and Shawn Matthias. That's entering Mike Milbury territory. Further up North, Tampa sent their captain to the Rangers for their captain, a 1st rounder in 2015, and a conditional 2nd rounder in 2014. The condition is that if the Rangers make the conference finals, that pick turns into a 1st! I don't care what kind of sentimental value Martin St. Louis holds in Tampa, if Glen Sather is going to let you fleece him like that, you pull the trigger. Sure, Ryan Callahan probably won't re-sign in Tampa, but this pick has the potential to net Tampa TWO 1st round picks. Good work Stevie Y.
Loser - New York Rangers
I really do wish the Rangers would stop trading for non-Devils that I like and thus forcing me to hate them. However, if they absolutely have to do that to me, I'm glad they're going to mortgage their future and make themselves look foolish. Ryan Callahan AND a 1st round pick AND a conditional 2nd round pick that could potentially turn into a 1st rounder? I hope Lou Lamoriello never finds what Glen Sather is smoking. I wish the Rangers would take a lesson from their neighbors up in the South Bronx. Mortgaging your future and signing over-priced stars is not how you gain long-term success.
Winner - Social Media Jokes
Dan Ellis was traded from the Dallas Stars to the Florida Panthers for Tim Thomas. His return to Florida means the return of the glorious hashtag, #DanEllisProblems. NHL Twitter fans, rejoice!
Losers - Michal Neuvirth, Rostislav Klesla, Torrey Mitchell, Chris Stewart
They were all traded to Buffalo.
And finally...
Winners - New Jersey Devils fans and Lou Lamoriello's legacy
I would be remiss to not mention the excruciating saga that was the Martin Brodeur trade rumors. The scene at Prudential Center on Tuesday was like nothing I had seen at a regular season game in a few years. Anyone at that game that owned a Martin Brodeur jersey was wearing it. The "MARTY!" chants were as loud and as frequent as 1st round playoff game. The energy and emotion the Devils played with showed they really wanted that game for Marty because they, like the fans, had no idea what was going to happen by that time tomorrow. Roll into it the fact that that game was crucial in the playoff race, and you have the recipe for an awesome atmosphere. But the fact that Marty was not traded was the biggest relief for all Devils fans. The idea of Marty playing in another jersey makes Devils fans sick to their stomach. We're all grateful that Lou decided not to trade the greatest goalie of all-time. Forget the "business" part of things, not trading Martin Brodeur was the RIGHT thing to do. I don't care about what we could have gotten for him, nothing would be able to replace what the New Jersey Devils organization would lose in trading him. Lou Lamoriello also saved his legacy by not trading Marty. Had he pulled the trigger on a deal, Lou would forever be remember as "The GM that traded the greatest goalie of all-time." Even though Lou has all of these awards and accolades, that would have shot to the top of his resume and stained it. Marty is were he belongs and everyone associated with the Devils can breathe again.
