'09 Deadline Lookback

When the trade deadline passed, I announced my winners & losers for the trade season. Like most media outlets, the Flames were my big winners with the additions of Olli Jokinen and Jordan Leopold. Two months later, that opinion has changed, along with others from that day.
In the playoffs, one of the things I always look at is who did well on deadline day. Here’s my view of the notable trades that went down leading up to 3 ET on March 3rd:

Penguins get:
Chris Kunitz and Eric Tangradi
Ducks get:
Ryan Whitney
- At the time, I didn’t like this deal for Anaheim. I thought giving up Kunitz and a solid prospect for Whitney was not a good deal. But this trade has worked out for both teams thus far. Kunitz was a big factor in Pittsburgh’s late-season push for home-ice, and Whitney has been extremely solid for the Ducks so far in the postseason.
Who won this trade?? Even
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Blue Jackets get:
Antoine Vermette
Senators get:
Pascal Leclaire
- Once I heard about this trade, I thought the long-term winner of this deal would be Ottawa… and that could still happen. But the Jackets hold the edge for now as Vermette jelled instantly with his new team. Leclaire, though, just might be the consistent goalie the Sens have been looking for.
Who won this trade?? Blue Jackets (for now)
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Flames get:
Jordan Leopold
Avalanche get:
2 players and a 2nd rd. pick
- We won’t know for a while what the draft pick will turn out to be, but the Leopold acquisition for Calgary didn’t go as planned. He had 4 points in 19 games, was a -5, and had just a single point in the playoffs. With Leopold headed for free agency, I think Colorado did pretty well getting something in return.
Who won this trade?? Avalanche (slightly)
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Flames get:
Olli Jokinen and a 3rd rd. pick
Coyotes get:
Matthew Lombardi, Brandon Prust, and a 1st rd. pick
- Even though Jokinen has one more year left on his contract, Calgary’s short-term goal was not met. When they pulled the trigger on this deal, they didn’t envision getting knocked out in the first round. Lombardi was very solid with the ‘Yotes down the stretch, and got a first-rounder to help with their farm system. I’ll call it even because Jokinen still has work to do next year with the Flames.
Who won this trade?? Even
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Bruins get:
Mark Recchi and a 2nd rd. pick
Lightning get:
Matt Lashoff and Martins Karsums
- The ‘Recchin Ball’ got off to a slow start with the B’s, but really picked up the pace down the stretch. Overall, he picked up 16 points in 19 games. But Recchi hasn’t continued that into the playoffs. The prospects Karsums and Lashoff got a lot playing time with Tampa Bay after the deadline, and should be decent pieces to the Bolts’ puzzle down the road.
Who won this trade?? Bruins (for now)
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Penguins get:
Bill Guerin
Islanders get:
3rd rd. pick
- The conditional draft pick Pittsburgh gave up has turned into a 3rd-rounder since the Pens have gone to the 2nd round. Guerin had instant chemistry with line-mates Crosby and Kunitz. I’m sure he also had a positive impact on the locker room. Guerin has been well worth that 3rd round pick that GM Ray Shero gave up.
Who won this trade?? Penguins
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Flyers get:
Daniel Carcillo
Coyotes get:
Scottie Upshall and a ’11 2nd rd. pick
- I didn’t think too highly of this trade for the Fly-boys. I thought they gave up a decent player in Upshall. Carcillo did his job for Philly, but he wasn’t what the team needed. In the long run, Phoenix should have the upper-hand in this deal, especially if they can re-sign Upshall (RFA).
Who won this trade?? Coyotes
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Rangers get:
Nik Antropov
Maple Leafs get:
2 draft picks
- Antropov was a mainstay on the Rangers’ top line once arriving in New York. He picked up 13 points in 18 games, but was basically a no-show in the playoffs. In the end, though, Antropov was a good player for Tortorella & company, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them try to re-sign him this summer.
Who won this trade?? Rangers
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Rangers get:
Derek Morris
Coyotes get:
Nigel Dawes, Dmitri Kalinin, and Petr Prucha
- Although he didn’t score a goal with the Blueshirts, Morris was a solid pickup. The Rangers had to give up those 3 players to free up the cap room. Glen Sather thought Morris was the d-man they needed, so they went after him. But Phoenix’s outcome of this deal was solid, too. Prucha especially played well.
Who won this trade?? Even
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Sabres get:
Dominic Moore
Maple Leafs get:
2nd rd. pick
- This is easy. Moore overachieved in a contract year, and then had little impact in Buffalo’s pursuit of the playoffs. I feel like the Leafs getting a 2nd rd. pick in return was pretty good.
Who won this trade?? Even
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Blackhawks get:
Samuel Pahlsson and a pick
Ducks get:
James Wisniewski
- This deal worked out well for both teams. At the time, I thought the Ducks were borderline crazy for giving up Pahlsson. But Wisniewski has provided solid depth to Anaheim’s back end. Pahlsson, once recovering from mono, ended up being a solid pickup by the ‘Hawks
Who won this trade?? Even
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Oilers get:
Patrick O’Sullivan
Hurricanes get:
Erik Cole
Kings get:
Justin Williams
- Carolina easily won this deal as Cole worked his magic with Eric Staal upon his arrival, and helped them clinch that playoff spot. Thought to be a good fit with Edmonton, the Patrick O’Sullivan experiment did not work out too well. He compiled 6 points down the stretch for the Oilers. Williams came back from that foot injury, but didn’t much with LA.
Who won this trade?? Hurricanes

My 'silent winner' after the deadline passed was Florida for not trading Bouwmeester. Wrong! My new 'silent winner' is St. Louis. They held on to Keith Tkachuk and it paid dividends as the Blues made the playoffs in Game 81.