With less than two weeks leading up to the NHL’s March 3rd trade close, the Daily Faceoff has provided you with at least one trade-related story each day before the trade close.
Today we’re rewinding the calendar a year and looking at five notable trades that took place during the 2022 trade deadline season. What can they teach us from a buyer teams perspective?
Deal close countdown 2023: 12 days
There’s more than one way to win – or lose – at the NHL Trade Deadline. It’s not always about hooking the biggest fish or take the most conservative route. By looking at five notable deals that took place a year ago, we can glean some interesting information about what is and isn’t working in the trading landscape today.
The Hampus-Lindholm trade
March 19, 2022
To the Boston Bruins: D. Hampus Lindholm, D. Kodie Curran
To the Anaheim Ducks: 2022 1st pick, 2023 2nd pick, 2024 2nd pick, D Urho Vaakanainen, D John Moore
What happened: The Bruins paid a pretty hefty price for a solid two-way blueliner at Lindholm whose play had slacked off a poor Ducks team. The day after the trade, they signed Lindholm to an eight-year contract extension at a $6.5 million AAV. He was a good pair with Charlie McAvoy but was injured during Boston’s first-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes and only played four playoff games. But this season? Lindholm took on the Bruins in the first month with McAvoy and is in the midst of the best all-around season of his career, dominating 5-on-5.
The lesson: Once you’re confident about subscribing your new asset to an extension, it pays to submit a large package of recommendations and prospects. The New York Islanders used the same strategy to land Bo Horvat last month.
The Trade by Brandon Hagel
March 18, 2022
To Tampa Bay Lightning: LW Brandon Hagel, 2022 4th pick, 2024 4th pick
To the Chicago Blackhawks: 2023 1st Choice, 2024 1st Choice, RW Taylor Raddysh, D. Boris Katchouk
It was another in a long line of brilliant moves by GM Julien BriseBois to help out a team that didn’t seem to have much wiggle room on the salary cap. Seeing the potential of two-way forward Hagel, who scored 20 goals in Chicago at a criminally low AAV of $1.5 million, BriseBois paid. Hagel’s game didn’t pan out like Nick Paul’s in the playoffs, but now Hagel looks like an incredible bargain for two more seasons. After Ondrej Palat left as UFA, Hagel joined the front row alongside Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov. Hagel has already surpassed his career high of 44 points and will soon surpass his personal best of 25 points.
The lesson: If your heart is set on Your Guy and you love its cost-controlled price, then go for it. overpay. Do whatever it takes to get this asset. When you have a player development system as elite as Tampa’s, you don’t need as many first-round picks as other teams.
Trading with Artturi Lehkonen
March 21, 2022
To Colorado Avalanche: LW Artturi Lehkonen
To the Montreal Canadiens: D Justin Barron, 2024 2nd pick
The Avs were confident that Lehkonen’s feisty two-way play and ability to be used on either flank in any situation made him an extremely valuable reinforcement. You were right. He had eight playoff goals, including four game winners, two in overtime to help Colorado win the Stanley Cup. They rewarded him with a five-year contract extension over the summer at an AAV of $4.5 million. He’s displayed a level of offense this season that I’m not sure anyone knew he had.
The lesson: If you’re confident that what appears to be a mid-size piece is just the right fit to take your team to the top, even if you have to sacrifice a good prospect, get it.
The Trade by Claude Giroux
March 19, 2022
To the Florida Panthers: C Claude Giroux, C German Rubtsov, C Connor Bunnaman, 2024 5th pick
To the Philadelphia Flyers: RW Owen Tippett, 2024 1st pick, 2023 3rd pick
What happened: Giroux joined a dominant Panthers roster en route to his first Presidents’ Trophy, fitting well with a top-six forward who picked up 23 points in 18 regular-season games to wrap up the season. However, his presence wasn’t enough to put Florida past the Lightning in Round 2 of the playoffs. The Cats were smoked and Giroux left as UFA and signed with the Ottawa Senators.
The lesson: Sometimes you take a big hit on a rental and miss. The Panthers also gave up a first-rounder in trade with Ben Chiarot. They won’t have a first-round player until 2026. It seems like results like this are making GMs across the league increasingly reluctant to hire high-profile players. We’re increasingly talking about cost-controlled pieces and post-purchase expansions as the trading hype swells.
The Brett Kulak Trade
March 21, 2022
To Edmonton Oilers: D. Brett Kulak
To the Montreal Canadiens: 2022 conditional second choice, 2024 7th choice, D William Lagesson
What happened: During a relatively quiet deadline day for the Oilers, GM Ken Holland added depth at Kulak. He teamed with puck mover Tyson Barrie, and they had an expected goal percentage of 56 percent in the regular season and just over 50 percent in 5-on-5s in the postseason. The Oilers outplayed their opponents 20-10, with those two tied 5-5 between the regular season and the playoffs. The Oilers were happy enough with Kulak to re-sign him for a four-year AAV of $2.75 million.
The lesson: Improving on time doesn’t always mean making a splashy supplement. In Edmonton’s case, the wisest move was to clean up his own end with a reliable middle pair blueliner.
Source: www.yardbarker.com
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