2019 NHL Trade Deadline: 5 biggest impact trades
As the 2019 NHL trade deadline comes to a close and the dust settles, we can now look back on all the trades made. Which ones had the biggest impact?
The 2019 NHL trade deadline is over and it was a big one. 18 trades in total, 27 players dealt, and a bunch of new playoff contenders.
There were many trades ranging from minor league transactions to superstar talent. Here are five trades that had the biggest impact. Any trade from the months of January and February will count.
5. Boston Bruins – Charlie Coyle
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Boston receives: Charlie Coyle
Minnesota receives: Ryan Donato, conditional fifth round pick
The Boston Bruins have one of the best top lines in hockey. But after that, their depth starts to trickle off. They have some depth, but the first line is where most of the offense comes from. That top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak accounts for 38% of the team’s points and 42% of the team’s goals.
However, with the addition of Charlie Coyle, the Bruins now have three solid centers which will help them fight against the Toronto Maple Leafs’ center trio of Auston Matthews, John Tavares, and Nazem Kadri.
Ultimately, the Bruins and Leafs will meet in the first round again and the Bruins have to stock up assets to help them move on to round two. Coyle as the third line center helps Bruce Cassidy when he has to match up line for line as well as gives the Bruins more depth in general.
4. Toronto Maple Leafs – Jake Muzzin
Toronto receives: Jake Muzzin
LA Kings receive: Carl Grundstrom, the rights to Sean Durzi, and a first-round pick in the 2019 draft.
Speaking of the Boston Bruins, the Toronto Maple Leafs had quite a big trade for themselves as well. In the playoffs last season and throughout this season, the defence has been the one gaping hole for the Leafs. Another big problem was the lack of physicality on the team. I’m not talking about goons and fourth liners, I just mean actual physicality. The Leafs are third last in the league in hits per game (16.8) and they often get taken advantage of against bigger teams.
The trade for Jake Muzzin addresses both of those problems. The Leafs’ now have dependable defensive depth and Muzzin is known for laying out big hits like the one he laid on Corey Perry. He plays on the penalty kill which gives Nikita Zaitsev and Ron Hainsey a break and he has the ability to stop the cycle in the defensive zone, a problem the Leafs have had defending against.
This trade addressed two big issues for the Maple Leafs at a price that was not too great. The team got to keep their key prospects while also upgrading their defensive core for this year and next.
3. Nashville Predators – Wayne Simmonds
Nashville receives: Wayne Simmonds
Philadelphia receives: Ryan Hartman, conditional 4th round pick
What a move for the Nashville Predators. The addition of Simmonds to their roster addresses so many needs for the team and makes them so much better. What do the Predators lack? Scoring from their forwards and powerplay success, all of which are right in Simmonds’ wheelhouse.
He has five consecutive 20+ goal seasons, he can play all three forward positions, and he will be a great help on the Predators’ dead last powerplay. He’s a strong net-front presence and he is extremely skilled in tipping the puck in close quarters. The Predators’ defense love sifting shots through traffic and having Simmonds as a screen and puck tipper will make their attack way more effective on both the powerplay and at even strength.
Right now, Daily Faceoff has Simmonds on the second line right wing which gives the Predators two very strong offensive lines. Along with the acquisition of Mikael Granlund, Nashville’s offense just got a whole lot deeper. Combined with their amazing defencemen and Vezina-calibre goaltender, this team just became a Stanley Cup favorite. (I mean, they were always a favorite but now they’re a FAVORITE)
2. Vegas Golden Knights – Mark Stone
Vegas receives: Mark Stone, Tobias Lindberg
Ottawa receives: Erik Brannstrom, Oscar Lindberg, and a second-round pick in 2020
28 goals, 34 assists for 62 points in just 59 games played. The Vegas Golden Knights have just acquired a goalscoring machine which is something that they have been lacking. Currently, the highest scoring Golden Knight is Alex Tuch who has 43 points. Stone eclipses that in his sleep.
The addition of Stone helps Vegas’ 23rd ranked powerplay as he was tied for first on the Ottawa Senators in powerplay goals (5) and assists (12). Not only is he skilled offensively, but he is very strong defensively as well and his two-way game is second to none.
Related Story. Golden Knights acquire Mark Stone. light
And here’s the best part. Stone isn’t just a playoff rental, he’s here to stay. After getting traded, Stone signed an 8-year extension with the Golden Knights worth 9.5 million dollars a season. At 26 years old, Vegas has just locked him up right through his prime.
1. Columbus Blue Jackets – Matt Duchene/ Ryan Dzingel
Columbus receives: Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel
Ottawa receives: Vitaly Abramov, Jonathan Davidsson, Anthony Duclair, a first-round pick in 2019, a conditional first-round pick in 2020 (contigent on Duchene re-signing in Columbus), and two second round picks
The Columbus Blue Jackets went from a fringe playoff team to a Stanley Cup contender with their trade hauls. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen has shoved all his chips to the center and is prepared to go for the Holy Grail of hockey. With Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky reaching free agency at the end of the season, this seems like the perfect time to go for it.
Related Story. How Matt Duchene impacts the Blue Jackets. light
The addition of both Duchene and Dzingel give the Blue Jackets skilled offensive players who are both capable of driving their own lines. Duchene now centers a dangerous top line with Panarin and Cam Atkinson by his sides, and the Blue Jackets currently have 20+ goalscorer Ryan Dzingel on the third line. Duchene bolsters Columbus’ center depth which will be very handy come playoff matchup time, and Dzingel gives John Tortorella flexibility on line combinations.
Columbus added depth players but they’re not just there to fill in slots, these two players have the ability to drive a line and Duchene has the ability to drive a game. Before, Columbus was worried about matching up against other top lines but now, other teams are scrambling to find an answer for their Panarin-Duchene-Atkinson line.
Next. 5 Biggest Deadline Winners And Losers. dark
There were plenty of moves during this year’s trade deadline and many teams and fanbases are eager to see what their new players have to offer. Now it’s time to sit back and separate the contenders from the pretenders.