LOS ANGELES – The trade deadline gets less important each year. Each year more trades happen in the weeks preceding the deadline than on the actual deadline. The salary cap has made huge trades tougher to pull off.
The Cap has also brought parity meaning less defined buyers and more importantly less defined sellers. 
GMs are also more cautious knowing only one team wins the Stanley Cup and are less likely to throw in the kitchen sink for a rental player. GMs now toss around first rounders like manhole covers. Only two went this year, for arguably the two biggest prizes, Mark Stone and Kevin Hayes.
This year’s GM grades will be based on all the moves made this season leading up yo and including the deadline.
METRO
CAPITALS- B+
The Capitals made two solid pickups for minimal cost. Carl Hagelin gives the Washington a speedy penalty killer and a fierce forechecker with Stanley Cup pedigree. Nick Jensen is a versatile defensemen who immediately signed a very team friendly four year , ten million dollar deal.
ISLANDERS- B
The Islanders did nothing but GM Lou Lamoriello has forgot more about hockey then Ill ever know.
DEVILS- B-
GM Ray Shero moved his expiring contracts for some picks and Connor Carrick. He didn’t make a killing but he didn’t get taken by anyone either.
BLUE JACKETS-
B+ The Blue Jackets got Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel, Adam McQuaid and Keith Kinkaid for one !st rounder, some top but not can’t miss prospects and Anthony Duclair. I loved the Duke, three teams ago.
HURRICANES- B
They only added Tomas Jurco but won last month’s Nino Niederreiter for Victor Rask trade.
PENGUINS- B
The Penguins needed defensemen, size and grit. Erik Gudbranson checks all of the those boxes for underwhelming Tanner Pearson, Obviously Adam McQuaid would be better but Gudbranson was practically free. Tanner Pearson did nothing as a Penguin. The Penguins won their trade with Florida earlier this year. Jared McCann alone was worth Derick Brassard and Riley Sheahan if Nick Bjugstad doesn’t pan out.
FLYERS- B
The Flyers did not get a 1st rounder for Wayne Simmonds but Ryan Hartman is a Flyer type player.
RANGERS- B
Kevin Hayes brought back Brendan Lemieux and a first rounder. The Rangers must be pleased with that trade. Mats Zuccarello did not bring back enough and Adam McQuaid was stolen.
ATLANTIC –
LIGHTNING- B+
The NHL’s best team did nothing. They have no holes so why mess with chemistry.
BRUINS- C+
Marcus Johansson was a solid pickup. I’d rather have Ryan Donato than Charlie Coyle. Coyle is big but he has never beaten anybody. Donato is faster, has better hands and a youthful exuberance.
MAPLE LEAFS- C-
Toronto paid virtually nothing for Jake Muzzin. Toronto should have used its considerable assets to bring in more size and toughness. Trevor Moore doesn’t scare anyone. William Nylander should have moved. Leafs have enough scoring.
SABRES- A
Anybody would trade a 1st rounder for Brandon Montour.
PANTHERS- B
Only getting a 3rd rounder for Derick Brassard say more about Brassard than the GM. The Big Cats shipped a lot of talent to Pittsburgh in January in an effort to have cap space for a big summer.
RED WINGS- B-
Only Mark Stone and Kevin Hayes brought first rounders so Gus Nyquist bringing back a 2nd and 3rd from San Jose is fair. A second and a 5th for Nick Jensen was a little underwhelming. Detroit should have shipped out more veterans. Even for pennies on the dollar to make room for more kids to play.
SENATORS- D
The Senators did not get enough for Mark Stone, Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel. Is it the final nail in an Ottawa fans coffin?
CANADIENS – B
Dale Weise, Nate Thompson and Jordan Weal are decent spare parts that cost GM Marc Bergevin nothing.
CENTRAL
JETS- B+
They gave up a lot for Kevin Hayes but they think he’s the final piece to the puzzle. Matt Hendricks hold the puzzle together. They reacquired the ultimate glue guy.
PREDATORS-
A- I love the beef shipment Wayne Simmonds, Brian Boyle and Cody McLeod. If they don’t win this year they will regret trading Kevin Fiala for Mikael Granlund.
BLUES – C
The Blues helped everyone remember Michael Del Zotto was still in the league but didn’t help themselves.
AVALANCHE-Â C
Another sucker for Derick Brassard
STARS- B
Mats Zuccarello came relatively cheap ( 2nd & 3rd rounders) but with no warranty and got injured. The Rev Ben Lovejoy brings leadership to a very young blueline.
WILD- A
I definitely would rather have Kevin Fiala than Mikael Granlund and Ryan Donato than Charlie Coyle in two years. Unfortunately for BBQ Bruce he might not be coaching there in two years. They also lost the Nino Niederreiter for Victor Rask trade.
CHICAGO- C
GM Stan Bowman stood pat. I guess there was no deal to make. I would have been a seller. Bowman does get credit for Dylan Strome
PACIFIC
FLAMES – B-
Calgary GM Brad Treliving must be satisfied with his first place team because Oscar Fantenberg is not a big move.
SHARKS- B+
Gus Nyquist slots into San Jose’s top nine and only was cost effect. Micheal Haley gives San Jose canon fodder if and when a playoff series becomes a war.
GOLDEN KNIGHTS- A-
Vegas got the big fish Mark Stone then signed him to an eight year deal for under ten million a year. The deal will either be brilliant in eight years or an albatross.
COYOTES- B
The Coyotes did nothing and it is a step in the right direction for this organization. They didn’t sell off assets or take dead contracts.
CANUCKS- C-
The Canucks hope Tanner Pearson ends his disappearing act.
OILERS- D-
Edmonton did nothing. They did not even move UFA Alex Chiasson. It’s a fire-able offense but everyone will be fired in Edmonton anyway.
DUCKS- D-
Why was Brandon Montour traded? Why weren’t about ten other players.
KINGS- D+
The Kings have been so awful this year the only players they could move were Carl Hagelin and Oscar Fantenberg. Nobody wanted Ilya Kovalchuk, Jeff Carter or Tyler Toffoli. The other teams were unwilling to help the Kings unload dead weight off a sinking ship.
You must be logged in to post a comment.