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Grading each NHL team’s performance at the 2020 trade deadline

By Dave Stevenson

OTTAWA, ON - NOVEMBER 27: Ottawa Senators Center Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) before a face-off during third period National Hockey League action between the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators on November 27, 2019, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - NOVEMBER 27: Ottawa Senators Center Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) before a face-off during third period National Hockey League action between the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators on November 27, 2019, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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C+

Minnesota Wild

Finally, the Minnesota Wild made a decision. They traded Zucker to the Penguins for a pretty solid haul (a 2020 first-rounder, Alex Galchenyuk, and top Penguins prospect Calen Addison). It wasn’t the best trade, but they made a decision. Progress!

Unfortunately, they made no other trades. Though it certainly wasn’t from a lack of trying, as they nearly traded Zach Parise to the New York Islanders.

Philadelphia Flyers

Something can be said for getting two quality depth pieces at the trade deadline for a reasonable price. And the Philadelphia Flyers did that, adding Derek Grant from the Anaheim Ducks and Nate Thompson from the Montreal Canadiens. I like that. But what I don’t like is look at how much better the Penguins, Capitals, and Hurricanes got.

Vancouver Canucks

The Tyler Toffoli trade was a solid one. They needed a scorer and they got one. Unfortunately, their injuries just keep on coming. Brock Boeser’s out for a while and it looks like Jacob Markstrom might be as well. It’s going to look really bad if the Canucks don’t make the playoffs.

C

Anaheim Ducks

They were in a good position to be sellers, but they didn’t do much. I didn’t mind the Kase trade because it was clear he wasn’t a fit in Anaheim, but I think the Ducks didn’t make the Bruins pay enough for taking on David Backes.

Danton Heinen is an interesting young forward and Nick Ritchie needed a change in scenery so that trade could help both sides. Sonny Milano (who they got for Devin Shore) is someone who could benefit from a change in scenery.

They got a fourth-round pick and a prospect for Grant, which is nice. And I like Christian Djoos as a lottery ticket, even if they had to give one up (Daniel Sprong) to get him.

Buffalo Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres acted like both buyers and sellers. They traded for Wayne Simmonds. The Sabres also traded Conor Sheary and Evan Rodrigues to the Penguins for Dominik Kahun. And boy did that Marco Scandella trade make them look dumb, as they only got a fourth-round pick for him.

Calgary Flames

Back in January, the Flames got a fourth-round pick for Micheal Frolik. They used the cap space they saved to upgrade their blueline. The Flames traded a third-round pick for Erik Gustafsson of the Chicago Blackhawks and a fourth-round pick for Derek Forbort.

Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators were a team that could have been either buyers or sellers. They wound up being, well, neither. The Predators made two minor trades, though getting rid of Matt Irwin (along with a sixth-round pick in 2022) is huge. I’m not sure how much of an upgrade Korbinian Holzer is to him, but it would be quite hard for him to be worse.

Columbus Blue Jackets

See above except replace trading Irwin and a sixth-round pick for Holzer with trading Sonny Milano for Devin Shore and trading Markus Hännikäinen for a conditional seventh-round pick.

C-

Chicago Blackhawks

Despite the Chicago Blackhawks’ best efforts to blow it, they actually did alright at the trade deadline. Getting a second-round pick, a good prospect, and some goaltending depth for Robin Lehner was nice. But I feel like they could have gotten more there. Then again, the market for goalies is impossible to read.

They should have traded Erik Gustafsson after last season. That was when his value was sky-high and it was never going to be that high again. Instead, the Blackhawks waited until his value was so low, the Flames got him for a third-round pick.

Winnipeg Jets

I’m a fan of Dylan DeMelo. Getting him for a third-round pick was a really nice deal for the Winnipeg Jets. Unfortunately for the, they didn’t do anything else of consequence other than give up another third-round pick, this time for Cody Eakin. Their blueline is still a mess.

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