Here are my team grades on Trade Deadline Day. I’m only concerning myself with the buyers not the sellers. Did these contenders fill the holes they needed to fill?
Penguins – The Penguins got two-time Stanley Cup winner Jeff Carter to fill in many holes caused by injuries. Carter can play center or wing. He’s not Evgeni Malkin or Kasper Kapanen but he gives the Penguins versatility in the middle of their lineup when there are healthy. He can also play powerplay and penalty kill. Carter still has his wheels just not so much his hands. Carter was relatively cheap so not much risk. The Penguins did however fail to get a truculent winger and a rugged defenseman. B-
Capitals – Washington pulled off the biggest trade of the day acquiring Detroit’s young power forward Anthony Mantha for Jacob Vrana, Richard Panik, 1st and a 2nd. It seems like a ton to pay but Mantha is a bona fide power forward. He’s a large, tough man with good mitts. He will fit right in Washington’s big boy style of hockey. The Capitals also got Micheal Raffl from Philadelphia who is the kind of dirtbag you want come playoff time. Apparently, Washington is not concerned about defensive depth or goaltending experience. A-
Islanders – The New York Islanders got Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac to fill the void left by Captain Anders Lee’s injury. Both guys are solid pros but not Anders Lee. In true Islander fashion it’s depth and consistency over skill. Palmieri and Zajac guys fit right into the Islander system. B+
Bruins – The Bruins hope Taylor Hall will solve all of their secondary scoring needs but Hall only has scored two goals all season. Hall has never been known for being a great character guy. Curtis Lazar should help Boston’s weak bottom six forwards. Boston needed more help on defense than Ottawa’s Mike Reilly. C-
Maple Leafs – GM Kyle Dubas checked all the boxes on what Toronto needs. He paid a high price, but the organization is all in this season. Rugged third line center Nick Foligno, check. Bottom six help Riley Nash and Stefan Noesan, check. Defensive depth Ben Hutton, check. Goaltending insurance David Rittich, check. B+
Canadiens – The Canadiens added defensemen Jon Merril and Erik Gustafsson after losing defenseman Victor Mete on waivers. Playoff teams always need defensive depth, but Montreal also needed a big center. B-
Jets – Winnipeg was looking to sure up their defense and all they got was Jordie Benn. D
Oilers – The Oilers add to their blueline with Dmitry Kulikov who is a solid. They did not give Connor or Leon any help upfront. B-
Lightning – What did the team that has everything need? Defensive help? Sure, but they paid a ton for David Savard. B-
Panthers – Florida picked up Brandon Montour to fill the void left by Aaron Ekblad’s injury on defense. Montour is no Norris candidate, but he is capable and was not expensive. Sam Bennet gives them a rugged center perfect for the playoffs. The signing of Nikita Gusev could prove to be very wise. A
Hurricanes – Carolina got Jani Hakanpaa. He’s a mountain of a defenseman. Sneaky great acquisition. A
Avalanche – Colorado got themselves insurance everywhere. Devan Dubnyk solves their goaltending crisis if something happens to Philipp Grubauer. Carl Soderberg and Patrik Nemeth are former Avs who provide depth upfront and on the back end. A
Golden Knights – Vegas got Lucas Wallmark to bolster their top nine forwards but did nothing to help their blueline which for a true Stanley Cup contender is thin. B-
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