The NHL trade deadline has finally passed. This year, as with every year, it was a whirlwind of trades in the final few days leading to the deadline. Every team that made a deal hopes they did enough to put themselves over the top to win a Stanley Cup, but only one team did.
This edition of rank counts down the winningest deals of the 2017 NHL trade deadline. These are not necessarily in order of biggest or best trade, but rather ranked by how much they improved the team making a playoff push.
10. Habs add Benn (the other one)
- Montreal Canadiens acquire Jordie Benn
- Dallas Stars acquire Greg Pateryn and 2017 4th-round pick
Jordie Benn may not be the superstar player that his brother Jamie is, but he is a quality NHL defensemen. He plays with a lot of grit and forces opposing forwards to keep their heads up. His role has always been to physically disrupt the opponents offensive gameplan. The Canadiens have a lot of big, tough defenders. The addition of Benn will make them an even more difficult team to play against as they try to hold onto the top spot in the Atlantic Division. I still think the Habs are lacking offensively if they plan to compete with Washington or Pittsburgh.
9. Burrows to Ottawa
- Ottawa Senators acquire Alex Burrows
- Vancouver Canucks acquire Jonathan Dahlen
At this point in his career, Alex Burrows is not the type of player that can take your team from fringe playoff team to the Stanley Cup finals. That is if he does not return to his 2009-10 form where he scored 35 goals for the Canucks and helped get them to the Stanley Cup finals. Burrows has not reached the 20-goal plateau in 5 seasons. So he is not expected to transform the Senators fortune. However, he is still a very solid second or third line winger and could help the Senators lockdown a playoff spot in the weak Atlantic Division.
8. Vanek becomes a Panther
- Florida Panthers acquire Thomas Vanek
- Detroit Red Wings acquire Dylan McIlrath and 2017 3rd-round pick
The Florida Panthers are a fringe playoff team. Currently they sit just outside the wild card positions in the Eastern Conference. The Panthers needed a shot of life if they are going to make into the playoffs. Vanek can provide that for him. He is an impact player that has always been a productive goal scorer. Even with a struggling Red Wings team, Vanek has managed to score 15 goals so far this season. Playoff motivation may push him even more in Florida. The Panthers will need to leapfrog both the Islanders and Maple Leafs if they are going to make it to the dance this year. They are banking that Vanek is enough to get them there, I am skeptical.
7. Bishop may come in handy in LA
- Los Angeles Kings acquire Ben Bishop, 2017 5th round pick and 2017 conditional pick
- Tampa Bay Lightning acquire Peter Budaj, Erik Cernak and 2017 seventh round pick
This trade caught a lot of people off guard and left most analysts confused. Ben Bishop is a former all-star goaltender and still could be one of the best goalies in the NHL, so there were a lot of teams interested in him. However, the Kings trading for him at this time makes almost no sense. Peter Budaj had done an admirable job in Jonathan Quick's absence and helped keep the Kings in the playoff hunt. Now Quick is healthy and ready to resume his role as one of the NHL's top goaltenders. So why add Bishop? The thought is there may be concern that Quick could find himself back on the injury report and miss more time. If that does happen Ben Bishop would be a great substitute to help keep the Kings on track. Also, this is a copy cat league. The Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup last season with the two star goalie model, so that may also be the Kings thinking.
6. Boyle becomes a Leaf
- Toronto Maple Leafs acquire Brian Boyle
- Tampa Bay Lightning acquire Byron Froese and 2017 2nd-round pick
Brian Boyle may not be the flashiest guy or score the most goals, but every team would love to have him. It is almost impossible to find a 6'6" 240 lbs monster that can play center or wing. He is a great leader and will do wonders for this young, unproven team. I do not necessarily think Boyle will lead the Leafs to a Stanley Cup, but that was not their goal this year. They are currently on the fringe of the playoffs, holding onto the second wild card spot in the east. Boyle makes them a better team and therefore should help them lockdown a playoff spot.
5. Chicago brings back Oduya
- Chicago Blackhawks acquire Johnny Oduya
- Dallas Stars acquire Mark McNeil and conditional 4th-round pick
Oduya has previously won two Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks. So it makes perfect sense why Chicago wants him back. He is an excellent two-way defensemen that will add great depth to the Blackhawks blue line. The Blackhawks did not need anymore star players at the deadline, but they did need depth. Adding Oduya (and Tomas Jurco from Detroit) gives them the depth they will need to compete with the tough Western Conference. It also is a great help to the Blackhawks that Oduya has so much experience and success with their organization already.
4. Washington lands Shattenkirk
- Washington Capitals acquire Kevin Shattenkirk and Pheonix Copley
- St. Louis Blues receive 2017 1st-round pick, 2019 conditional pick, Zach Sanford and Brad Malone
Shattenkirk was maybe the most coveted prize of this year's trade deadline. He is a skilled defensemen that fits well into any team's top-four, and most team's top pairing. Although the team that landed him does surprise me. Of all the team's that showed interest, I thought he could help Washington the least. They already have offensively skilled defensemen in John Carlson and Matt Niskanen. Depth is always important when you get to the playoffs, especially on the blue line. However, a first-round pick is a high price to pay for depth. Had Shattenkirk ended up elsewhere, that trade probably would have been higher on this list.
3. Iginla to LA
- Los Angeles Kings acquire Jarome Iginla
- Colorado Avalanche acquire 2018 conditional 4th-round pick
It appears the Kings are all-in on this years playoffs. They made two of the biggest trades of the deadline and are now in a position to climb the Western Conference rankings. Jarome Iginla is no longer the premier first line winger that he used to be. He now is a high end third line or low end second line winger. However, he still is an impact player and will fit in great with the Kings. The Kings love big physical forwards that can score goals. That is precisely what Iginla offers, even at age 39.
2. Eaves to Anaheim
- Anaheim Ducks acquire Patrick Eaves
- Dallas Stars receive conditional 2nd-round pick
Eaves has grown into a very strong top six forward in Dallas. In just 60 games this season he has scored 21 goals. Only one Ducks player has scored 20 goals this season. He fits exactly what the Ducks want. He is big, physical and skilled. Reaves will make a great fit in Anaheim on the wing of either Ryan Kesler or Ryan Getzlaf. This trade makes Anaheim a very serious contender in a Western Conference that is much weaker than year's past.
1. Minnesota wins the Hanzal sweepstakes
- Minnesota Wild acquire Martin Hanzal, Ryan White and 2017 fourth-round pick
- Arizona Coyotes acquire Grayson Downing, 2017 1st-round pick, 2018 2nd-round pick, 2019 conditional pick
Many people thought of Hanzal as the player to get at the deadline, that includes me. However, most people did not think Minnesota was in the running for a big move at the deadline. The Wild currently sit atop the Western Conference and are in the running for the President's Trophy. So they certainly see themselves as Stanley Cup contenders. Hanzal fits very well with the Wild's style. They are a team of strong two-way forwards and, like Hanzal, most can play center or wing. Martin Hanzal has always underachieved with the Coyotes, partially due to injury and also due to how bad the Coyotes have been. Now we get to see how he responds to an opportunity to play on a winning team where games will actually matter in March and April. I expect Hanzal to become a much more effective player with the Wild.
This edition of rank counts down the winningest deals of the 2017 NHL trade deadline. These are not necessarily in order of biggest or best trade, but rather ranked by how much they improved the team making a playoff push.
10. Habs add Benn (the other one)
- Dallas Stars acquire Greg Pateryn and 2017 4th-round pick
Jordie Benn may not be the superstar player that his brother Jamie is, but he is a quality NHL defensemen. He plays with a lot of grit and forces opposing forwards to keep their heads up. His role has always been to physically disrupt the opponents offensive gameplan. The Canadiens have a lot of big, tough defenders. The addition of Benn will make them an even more difficult team to play against as they try to hold onto the top spot in the Atlantic Division. I still think the Habs are lacking offensively if they plan to compete with Washington or Pittsburgh.
- Vancouver Canucks acquire Jonathan Dahlen
At this point in his career, Alex Burrows is not the type of player that can take your team from fringe playoff team to the Stanley Cup finals. That is if he does not return to his 2009-10 form where he scored 35 goals for the Canucks and helped get them to the Stanley Cup finals. Burrows has not reached the 20-goal plateau in 5 seasons. So he is not expected to transform the Senators fortune. However, he is still a very solid second or third line winger and could help the Senators lockdown a playoff spot in the weak Atlantic Division.
8. Vanek becomes a Panther
- Detroit Red Wings acquire Dylan McIlrath and 2017 3rd-round pick
The Florida Panthers are a fringe playoff team. Currently they sit just outside the wild card positions in the Eastern Conference. The Panthers needed a shot of life if they are going to make into the playoffs. Vanek can provide that for him. He is an impact player that has always been a productive goal scorer. Even with a struggling Red Wings team, Vanek has managed to score 15 goals so far this season. Playoff motivation may push him even more in Florida. The Panthers will need to leapfrog both the Islanders and Maple Leafs if they are going to make it to the dance this year. They are banking that Vanek is enough to get them there, I am skeptical.
7. Bishop may come in handy in LA
- Tampa Bay Lightning acquire Peter Budaj, Erik Cernak and 2017 seventh round pick
This trade caught a lot of people off guard and left most analysts confused. Ben Bishop is a former all-star goaltender and still could be one of the best goalies in the NHL, so there were a lot of teams interested in him. However, the Kings trading for him at this time makes almost no sense. Peter Budaj had done an admirable job in Jonathan Quick's absence and helped keep the Kings in the playoff hunt. Now Quick is healthy and ready to resume his role as one of the NHL's top goaltenders. So why add Bishop? The thought is there may be concern that Quick could find himself back on the injury report and miss more time. If that does happen Ben Bishop would be a great substitute to help keep the Kings on track. Also, this is a copy cat league. The Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup last season with the two star goalie model, so that may also be the Kings thinking.
6. Boyle becomes a Leaf
- Tampa Bay Lightning acquire Byron Froese and 2017 2nd-round pick
Brian Boyle may not be the flashiest guy or score the most goals, but every team would love to have him. It is almost impossible to find a 6'6" 240 lbs monster that can play center or wing. He is a great leader and will do wonders for this young, unproven team. I do not necessarily think Boyle will lead the Leafs to a Stanley Cup, but that was not their goal this year. They are currently on the fringe of the playoffs, holding onto the second wild card spot in the east. Boyle makes them a better team and therefore should help them lockdown a playoff spot.
- Dallas Stars acquire Mark McNeil and conditional 4th-round pick
Oduya has previously won two Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks. So it makes perfect sense why Chicago wants him back. He is an excellent two-way defensemen that will add great depth to the Blackhawks blue line. The Blackhawks did not need anymore star players at the deadline, but they did need depth. Adding Oduya (and Tomas Jurco from Detroit) gives them the depth they will need to compete with the tough Western Conference. It also is a great help to the Blackhawks that Oduya has so much experience and success with their organization already.
4. Washington lands Shattenkirk
- St. Louis Blues receive 2017 1st-round pick, 2019 conditional pick, Zach Sanford and Brad Malone
Shattenkirk was maybe the most coveted prize of this year's trade deadline. He is a skilled defensemen that fits well into any team's top-four, and most team's top pairing. Although the team that landed him does surprise me. Of all the team's that showed interest, I thought he could help Washington the least. They already have offensively skilled defensemen in John Carlson and Matt Niskanen. Depth is always important when you get to the playoffs, especially on the blue line. However, a first-round pick is a high price to pay for depth. Had Shattenkirk ended up elsewhere, that trade probably would have been higher on this list.
3. Iginla to LA
- Colorado Avalanche acquire 2018 conditional 4th-round pick
It appears the Kings are all-in on this years playoffs. They made two of the biggest trades of the deadline and are now in a position to climb the Western Conference rankings. Jarome Iginla is no longer the premier first line winger that he used to be. He now is a high end third line or low end second line winger. However, he still is an impact player and will fit in great with the Kings. The Kings love big physical forwards that can score goals. That is precisely what Iginla offers, even at age 39.
2. Eaves to Anaheim
- Dallas Stars receive conditional 2nd-round pick
Eaves has grown into a very strong top six forward in Dallas. In just 60 games this season he has scored 21 goals. Only one Ducks player has scored 20 goals this season. He fits exactly what the Ducks want. He is big, physical and skilled. Reaves will make a great fit in Anaheim on the wing of either Ryan Kesler or Ryan Getzlaf. This trade makes Anaheim a very serious contender in a Western Conference that is much weaker than year's past.
- Arizona Coyotes acquire Grayson Downing, 2017 1st-round pick, 2018 2nd-round pick, 2019 conditional pick
Many people thought of Hanzal as the player to get at the deadline, that includes me. However, most people did not think Minnesota was in the running for a big move at the deadline. The Wild currently sit atop the Western Conference and are in the running for the President's Trophy. So they certainly see themselves as Stanley Cup contenders. Hanzal fits very well with the Wild's style. They are a team of strong two-way forwards and, like Hanzal, most can play center or wing. Martin Hanzal has always underachieved with the Coyotes, partially due to injury and also due to how bad the Coyotes have been. Now we get to see how he responds to an opportunity to play on a winning team where games will actually matter in March and April. I expect Hanzal to become a much more effective player with the Wild.
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