Trade Deadline: Some Winners and Losers

By Jeff Mackie

As the clock struck 3 p.m., the hockey world let out a collective groan. Trade deadline day 2009 was a dud. Only one big-name player changed teams – that was Olli Jokinen who moved from Phoenix to Calgary. Jay Bouwmeester is still a Panther; Chris Pronger remains a Duck; Ryan Smyth still calls Colorado home; Tomas Kaberle is a Leaf; Scott Niedermayer remains a Duck.

What a letdown.

GMs, it turns out, really are spooked by the fragile economy and are reluctant to take on salary beyond this season, especially if it means giving up valuable draft picks and prospects.
One GM who couldn't be spooked is Calgary's Darryl Sutter. In a bold move, Sutter acquired Jokinen and a third-round pick from Phoenix in exchange for roster players Matthew Lombardi, Brandon Prust and a first-round pick.

He also brought in ex-Flame Jordan Leopold from Colorado for defenceman Lawrence Nycholat, prospect Ryan Wilson, and a third-round pick.

Congratulations Calgary – you're the big winner at the 2009 trade deadline. But be warned, it could be the kiss of death. Big deals at the deadline rarely work out as planned. It's the smaller acquisitions that often yield the biggest returns.

Here's a look at a few teams that improved their fortunes today – and a few who didn't.

Winner: Boston Bruins
The Bruins didn't hit a homerun today, but they didn't have to. They brought in Mark Recchi - and he's a perfect fit for the club. He's a true professional who has won Stanley Cups in Pittsburgh and Carolina. He'll add depth at forward and help the B's on the power play.

Loser: Montreal Canadiens
Bob Gainey deserves credit for bringing in Mathieu Schneider in advance of the deadline. However, Montreal is extremely vulnerable at centre. They desperately needed a pivot to replace the injured Robert Lang and it didn't get it. Heading down the stretch, the Habs cannot be considered contenders for the Stanley Cup.

Winner: Ottawa Senators
GM Bryan Murray has significantly improved Ottawa Senators' goaltending situation. In acquiring Pascal Leclaire from Columbus, the Sens get a proven No. 1 who is just entering his prime. The only drawback with Leclaire is his inability to stay healthy. He has only one good season to his credit, but so does Antoine Vermette, the player who went the other way.

Loser: Florida Panthers
Star defenceman Jay Bouwmeester will leave the organization in the summer and the Panthers will receive nothing in return. In a perfect world, GM Jacques Martin would have dealt Bouwmeester to a contender in exchange for a player under contract beyond this year. It didn't happen, and now the Panthers are in a vulnerable position going forward, with several of their defencemen set to become UFAs.

Winner: Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers turned a liability (Erik Cole) into an asset (Patrick O'Sullivan). Cole, who wasn't coming back to Oil Country next season, was jettisoned to Carolina for O'Sullivan – a player with upside who has scored just two fewer goals than Cole this season.

Winner: Buffalo Sabres
At the beginning of the day, the Buffalo Sabres were exposed in goal, with Patrick Lalime minding the net until Ryan Miller is healthy enough to return from injury. GM Darcy Regier wisely picked up Mikael Tellqvist from Phoenix. In addition, Regier brought in centre Dominic Moore from Toronto. The Sabres could have been sellers today, but instead stepped up and demonstrated to their fan base that they're serious about making the playoffs.