Grading NHL Trade Deadline Performances: Pacific Division
Anaheim Ducks: A-
Anaheim turned out to be one of the biggest sellers in the Pacific at the trade deadline.
The Ducks said goodbye to Josh Manson, Hampus Lindholm, Rickard Rakell, and Nicolas Deslauriers, moving all four players for a healthy collection of draft picks.
In total, Anaheim added one first-round pick, three second-round picks, and a third-round pick at the deadline. The Ducks also acquired some players that have the potential to find homes in the bottom half of the lineup.
There are still veteran players that the Ducks can either move later or attempt to rally around for one more run at the Cup. In the meantime, Anaheim has set itself up well for the future with the moves made last week.
Calgary Flames: A
The Flames did a great job adding players that fit the team’s strengths.
Acquiring Calle Jarnkrok from Seattle gives the team a solid depth option that knows how to play defensive hockey, something that has propelled Calgary to the top of the division this season.
The Flames also added forward Ryan Carpenter from the Chicago Blackhawks, who can bring something similar to the table. Once again, it’s a good depth move for a team that intends to make a deep playoff run.
Calgary didn’t force anything or make a deal that felt like a reach. Instead, the team added a couple of players that play its style of hockey, which made for a productive deadline.
Edmonton Oilers: D
The Oilers once again failed to do what was necessary to bolster the lineup around stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Goaltending has become a problem for the Oilers, but no netminder was acquired at last week’s deadline. Edmonton’s defense ranks 23rd in the league, allowing 3.3 goals per game. That should have been a priority for the team, but it wasn’t addressed.
Further, the two players added last Monday, Brett Kulak and Derick Brassard, are both rental players, but at this point, Edmonton needs individuals that will be around for more than 20 games. The club needs to continue building around its core, and two short-term answers aren’t really answers at all.
I see no reason to expect any result that’s out of the ordinary for this franchise when the postseason arrives.