2009 Trade Deadline Look-back

We continue a week-long feature, looking at past trade deadlines and seeing how they affected the teams and players involved...

The Blockbuster: Olli Jokinen to Calgary
Calgary: Olli Jokinen, 3rd round pick
Phoenix: Matthew Lombardi, Brandon Prust, 2010 1st round pick

The deadline in 2009 came up a bit short when it came to blockbusters. However, the biggest one made the Calgary Flames true Cup contenders for a day when they acquired Olli Jokinen. When the trade went down, I remember everyone making them out as favorites to get out of the West since he was supposed to be the answer as the top-line center next to Jarome Iginla. That wasn’t quite the case, as they stumbled down the stretch and lost their grip on the division.

That trade alone has been a big reason for Calgary’s demise over the last couple years. Jokinen wasn’t the best fit on or off the ice with the team; it began the tailspin that they are still suffering from today.

The commitment to Jokinen for the 2009/10 season caused GM Darryl Sutter to pass on re-signing Michael Cammalleri due to cap restrictions. Half a year later, Dion Phaneuf was dealt and, days later, Jokinen was out of town (only to be re-signed this summer). Sutter’s gamble on deadline day in 2009 backfired big-time.

On the flip side, Phoenix got Matthew Lombardi, who centered the top line for the fourth-seeded Coyotes last season. The first-rounder from Calgary was utilized this past summer when they nabbed defenseman Brandon Gormley at 13th overall. Brandon Prust was eventually traded back to Calgary.

The Steal: Jussi Jokinen to Carolina

Carolina: Jussi Jokinen

Tampa Bay: Wade Brookbank, Josef Melichar, 4th round pick

I bet the Lightning are kicking themselves over this one. Even though Jussi Jokinen wasn’t meshing well in Tampa Bay (16 points, -8 rating in 46 games), they have seen him thrive with a Southeast Division foe.

All Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford had to give up for Jokinen was a bag of pucks and a pick (no, literally). The Finland native has made Rutherford look incredibly smart by being a go-to-guy up front for the Hurricanes. In the 2009 postseason Jokinen was extraordinarily clutch, notching seven goals (including three game-winners) in 18 games. Last season he registered a career-high 30 goals and 65 points.

Meanwhile, Brookbank is in the AHL and Melichar is playing overseas. Melichar was the only one to play with the Lightning (24 games). The pick was traded to Toronto in a deal later in the year in exchange for Richard Petiot.

Point, Rutherford.

The Steal, Part 2: Mark Recchi to Boston
Boston: Mark Recchi, 2010 2nd round pick
Tampa Bay: (P) Matt Lashoff, (P) Martins Karsums

At the time of this deal, it looked like Mark Recchi was a pure rental pickup by Boston. The veteran fit in right away with his new team and management has decided to bring him back in each of the last two seasons. In 154 games with the B’s, Recchi has 96 points.

Tampa Bay was obviously in a rebuild mode, but the two prospects have yet to live up to expectations (and may never do so). Matt Lashoff and Martins Karsums have combined to just play 35 games with the Lightning. Neither are in the organization anymore.

The second-rounder that went to Boston was used in the trade to acquire Dennis Seidenberg from Florida in 2010. You have to like how GM Peter Chiarelli made out in this deal.

The Win-win: Scottie Upshall for Dan Carcillo
Philadelphia: Dan Carcillo
Phoenix: Scottie Upshall, 2011 2nd round pick

Here’s another one of those player-for-player deals that has worked out for both sides.

Dan Carcillo would not fit in the current-day Phoenix system but has become something of value with the Flyers… no matter how dumb he may act on occasion. He scored 12 goals with Philly last year and even saw some time on a line with Mike Richards in the playoffs.

Scottie Upshall – when in the lineup – has been a nice fit with the ‘Yotes. Injuries throughout his career have lowered his ceiling, but he’s still an effective player with 71 points in 124 games in the desert.

The Cup Champion’s acquisitions…
Pittsburgh Penguins:
Acquired: Bill Guerin, Chris Kunitz, (P) Eric Tangradi
Traded: Ryan Whitney, Conditional draft pick

Possibly the best work GM Ray Shero has done since arriving in Pittsburgh occurred at this trade deadline. He picked up Chris Kunitz and Bill Guerin via a small price, and both were key contributors in their march to the Stanley Cup.

Both Kunitz and Guerin played on the top line alongside Sidney Crosby in the Pens’ quick roster shuffle. Guerin didn’t set the world on fire production-wise, but did rack up 15 points in 24 playoff games that year. He also scored 21 goals last year before calling it quits.

Kunitz was acquired for the popular, but oft-injured, Ryan Whitney. Kunitz had 32 points in 44 games following the trade (including the playoffs), and is still a primary offensive threat for the Penguins.

Other notable deals…
Montreal: Mathieu Schneider, Conditional draft pick
Atlanta: 2nd round pick, 2010 3rd round pick

Ottawa: Mike Comrie, Chris Campoli
NY Islanders: Dean McAmmond, 1st round pick (Calvin de Haan)

Columbus: Antoine Vermette
Ottawa: Pascal Leclaire, 2nd round pick

Calgary: Jordan Leopold
Colorado: Lawrence Nycholat, Ryan Wilson, 2nd round pick

Boston: Steve Montador
Anaheim: Petteri Nokelainen

NY Rangers: Nik Antropov
Toronto: 2nd round pick, Conditional draft pick

NY Rangers: Derek Morris
Phoenix: Petr Prucha, Nigel Dawes, Dmitri Kalinin

Buffalo: Dominic Moore
Toronto: 2nd round pick

Anaheim: James Wisniewski, Petri Kontiola
Chicago: Samuel Pahlsson, Logan Stephenson, Conditional draft pick

San Jose: Travis Moen, Kent Huskins
Anaheim: Nick Bonino, Timo Pielmeier, Conditional draft picks

Los Angeles: Justin Williams
Edmonton: Patrick O’Sullivan, 2nd round pick
Carolina: Erik Cole, 5th round pick

Edmonton: Ales Kotalik
Buffalo: 2nd round pick

Photos credit: Getty Images