2020 NHL trade deadline: Top 5 biggest winners and losers

OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 18: Jean-Gabriel Pageau #44 of the Ottawa Senators looks on during a break in a game against the Buffalo Sabres at Canadian Tire Centre on February 18, 2020 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images /

WINNER: New York Islanders

The New York Islanders finally made a big move. Lou Lamoriello hadn’t made one since being hired, other than hiring Barry Trotz as his head coach. But that all changed today. The Islanders got their top target, acquiring Jean-Gabriel Pageau for a 2020 first-round pick, a 2020 second-round pick, and a conditional third-round pick.

Now, this might sound like a high price. It absolutely was. But the Islanders immediately justified it by signing Pageau to a long-term extension. Do they still have some scoring issues? Absolutely! But do the Islanders now at least have a shot at winning the Stanley Cup? It’s dicey, but yes.

LOSER: Columbus Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets weren’t buyers or sellers. They sort were some of just… there. Yes, the Blue Jackets got Devin Shore from the Ducks for Sonny Milano, but that’s not the kind of trade a buyer makes (though I like Shore).

It’s understandable why they didn’t do much. The Blue Jackets gave up quite a lot about a year ago and probably didn’t want to repeat that. But they could have traded for someone like Andreas Athanasiou or Vladislav Namestnikov, or ever Tyler Ennis. A year after the Blue Jackets shocked the NHL, they were remarkably quiet.

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