The National Hockey League trade deadline is Feb. 28 (2 p.m. CST). Here’s our question of the day: Does it matter?
I love watching the annual trade deadline shows on TSN, SportsNet and the Score. It used to be that no matter when they started or when they finished, the panelists would always have plenty to talk about. In fact, there used to be huge trades, trades that could change an entire division and sometimes a conference.
But since the NHL salary cap was instituted in 2005, the entire concept of the annual NHL trade deadline has changed dramatically. Unless a team is significantly under the cap, there is very little chance that it will add a number of high-priced players at the deadline. And while a team or two might consider adding some big money talent, they can’t unless they rid themselves of their own high-priced talent. And that’s why I like watching the trade deadline shows so much.
It’s painful, but it’s really entertaining. For six-to-eight hours (depending on the network), these highly-paid, well-coiffed TV stars and ex-players talk endlessly about who’s buying and selling and then they wait. And then they start talking about buying and selling again and then they wait some more. And then somebody trades a fifth round draft pick for a winger in Hershey and then they talk about buying and selling again. And then they wait.
With the salary cap, blockbuster trades on deadline day are unlikely.
Sure, there will be deals with veteran rent-a-players changing teams in the final year of a contract, so one team can take a run at the playoffs and the other can either dump salary or acquire a prospect. You can wager that Buffalo gets into that kind of scenario a few times.
However, if you think there will be a huge six-player deal involving the game’s biggest names on deadline day, don’t hold your breath. I can tell you, not even the poor guys who are going to be stuck in front of a national audience hoping and praying for a big trade, actually believe they’re going to see one. They’re too smart for that.
After all, take a look at last year. Here is an example of a big deal: Carolina sent Joe Corvo to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Brian Pothier, Oskar Osala and a second round draft pick in 2011.
Here’s another: Vancouver sent Mathieu Schneider to the Phoenix Coyotes for Dean Zimmerman and a sixth-round pick in 2010.
Want a third? Try this. This is what passes for a blockbuster these days and it’s the deal that kept the panels on Canada’s three sports networks on the edges of their seats for hours: Colorado sent Wojtek Wolski to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for Peter Mueller and Kevin Porter.
As we mentioned two weeks ago, there were only two big trade deadline deals last year and neither one took place at the deadline. On Jan. 31, the Toronto Maple Leafs sent Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman, Jamal Mayers and Ian White to Calgary in exchange for Dion Phaneuf, Fredrik Sjostrom and Keith Aulie and on Feb. 4, a full month before the deadline, Atlanta sent Ilya Kovalchuk and Anssi Salmela to New Jersey in exchange for Jonny Oduya, Niclas Bergfors, Patrice Cormier and a 2010 first-round draft pick (which was eventually dealt to Chicago in the Dustin Byfuglien trade).
So perhaps, in the next few days, there might be a decent trade or two. But on deadline day? Not likely.
In the meantime, let’s look at 10 players who could be moved before or on the deadline. These guys might keep our national TV stars busy for eight hours:
1) Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Toronto Maple Leafs: James Reimer has to start playing regularly at some point and Giguere is grossly overpaid. However, he might help a team like Montreal down the stretch. He’s in the last year of his contract and I’d be surprised if any team wanted him, but if one did, it’s pretty certain, that team could get him. He has waived his no-trade clause.
2) Craig Rivet, Buffalo Sabres: The Sabres are falling out of contention so the veteran captain, whose contract runs out at the end of the season is likely to be the first to go. He’ll help a playoff contender. He’s done helping the Sabres. I wouldn’t be surprised if Rivet is moved any day.
3) Chris Phillips, Ottawa Senators: He’s 32 and in the final year of his contract playing for a bad team. He’s garner a draft pick or a couple of prospects from a contending team. Bryan Murray will move him if he can.
4) Thomas Kaberle, Toronto Maple Leafs: Brian Burke has been dying to move Kaberle for awhile. Now would be as good a time as any. He’s a free-agent at the end of the season and his $4.25 million will come off the Leafs’ cap anyway, but Burke’s a smart guy and he’d like to get something in return for a player like Kaberle, who could be a good player in the right situation. Kaberle says he will waive his no-trade clause.
5) Dustin Penner, Edmonton Oilers: He’s not as good as his $4.5 million salary this year would suggest, but he is a Top 6 forward for a number of teams and the non-stop rumours seem to suggest that L.A. is interested. However, the cap will be an issue.
6) Jason Arnott, New Jersey Devils: The Devils are playing better under Jacques Lemaire and so Lou Lamoriello might not move anybdy, but if he can get a draft pick for the 35-year-old Arnott, he’ll pull the cord.
7) Keith Ballard, Vancouver Canucks: He makes $4 million a year and he’s a decent rearguard, but the Canucks are loaded on defense and they wouldn’t mind acquiring draft picks or a young centre. Ballard’s been a healthy scratch far too often this season to make the kind of money he makes.
Alex Kovalev, Ottawa Senators: The Senators want to get younger and they’de love to be able to move Kovalev. He’s playing well — three goals and five points in his past three games — but the Sens are going nowhere and they’ll take draft picks to move him. Word out of Pittsburgh is that his old team, the Penguins, might be interested after losing Evgeni Malkin tore up his knee and is done for the season.
9) Alexei Ponikarovsky, Los Angeles Kings: He makes $3.2 million a year, but he hasn’t been as good as hoped (he has four goals and four assists in 36 games). If the Kings could move Ponikarovsky, it would allow GM Dean Lombardi to improve in other areas. It might also allow Lombardi to acquire a big forward like Penner. Trouble is, Ponikarovsky is not worth the financial burden. Who else would want him?
10) Tim Connolly, Buffalo Sabres: The Sabres might not want to try to sign this first-line forward because he makes a load of dough and is probably going to want more next year. Trouble is, he has only eight goals and 16 assists in 40 games and has been a terrific underachiever. Fact is, the Sabres are going to try and cut salaries at the deadline and Connolly’s is the first one they’d love to eject.