Trade deadline debate rages on

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This article was published 29/03/2024 (554 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Three weeks after the NHL trade deadline, which players are actually making the biggest impact with their new teams? We’re glad you asked.

Going into weekend action, Winnipeg Jets centre Sean Monahan has accumulated the most points, with 10 goals and seven assists in 25 games since he was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens on Feb. 2.

That Monahan has reached double digits in goals along with everything else he’s bringing to his new club — improving its numbers in the faceoff dot, killing penalties, playing on the power play and providing leadership during the stretch run — reinforces the importance of the pre-emptive strike Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff pulled off.

Vancouver Canucks GM Patrick Alvin did something similar in acquiring Elias Lindholm from the Calgary Flames, but the Swedish centre’s production has tailed off significantly (five goals, four assists in 22 games) after a hot start.

The Dallas Stars added defenceman Chris Tanev for his all-around abilities and he’s fit in seamlessly on a team that’s on a roll and risen to the top of the Central Division standings.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Jake Guentzel has proven to be a perfect fit for a team that was looking to boost its offensive production, with his two goals and 12 assists in 10 games — even more impressive when you consider he was working his way back from injury. Guentzel also brings championship pedigree to a team that has been knocking at the door the past few seasons but hasn’t quite been able to kick it down.

Speaking of Stanley Cup winners, the Hurricanes also took on Evgeny Kuznetzov as a bit of a reclamation project after a tough season with the Washington Capitals and he’s put up six points in 12 games.

The Vegas Golden Knights made plenty of headlines for their ability to acquire defenceman Noah Hanifin from the Flames, winger Anthony Mantha from the Capitals and Tomas Hertl from the San Jose Sharks. Hanifin is providing top-pairing minutes, Mantha has chipped in a goal and six assists, while Hertl is progressing from a lower-body injury and might be ready to return to action down the stretch.

The Golden Knights are familiar with the importance of adding the right players at the deadline, with Ivan Barbashev fitting nicely on the top line with Jack Eichel and Jonathan Marchessault as they captured the Stanley Cup in 2023. With Vegas trying to lock down a playoff spot this spring, there was Barbashev providing the game-winner and an empty-netter for an insurance marker in a 4-1 win over the Jets on Thursday.

So, what are the keys to integrating new players so they can feel comfortable in the system and begin to click with new linemates or defence partners?

“It goes to the group. The guys in the room have to be a welcoming group and they are. They recognize that why a player is coming in is to help us win and to help us be better,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said Thursday.

“It’s not like they look at it as, ‘This guy is taking my job.’ It’s for the good of the group, and they have that mentality. Second of all, it’s on us as coaches to make sure that we get an accurate assessment of what the player does and our guys do a good job of giving us that, so that when they do come in, this seems like it would be a good fit.

“There’s a bit of trial and error involved and when you’re bringing in good players, they usually find their way.”

As has been discussed in Winnipeg after the additions of Monahan, Tyler Toffoli (six points in 10 games) and Colin Miller (one point in three games), when a team with championship aspirations pushes more chips into the middle of the table, players take notice.

“When your GM and president go out and get players and not just anyone, some pretty high-end players, it sends a message to the group that not only can we compete, but we can win a Stanley Cup,” said Eichel. “(Hanifin, Mantha and Hertl) bring a ton of different elements to our group. Great moves and we’re happy to have them.”

There are several other contenders that took relatively big swings as well, including the Edmonton Oilers, who added centre Adam Henrique, fourth-line pivot Sam Carrick and depth blue-liner Troy Stecher.

The Colorado Avalanche changed the complexion of their roster by adding centre Casey Mittlestadt from the Buffalo Sabres in a deal for defenceman Bowen Byram and then picking up D-man Sean Walker from the Philadelphia Flyers before trading for a pair of hard-working forwards for the fourth line in Brandon Duhaime and Yakov Trenin. Mittelstadt has three goals and three assists in nine games and is settling into the second-line centre role behind Hart Trophy candidate Nathan MacKinnon.

Byram has matched Mittelstadt’s production (six points in 10 games) and seems to be enjoying his enhanced role, even if the Sabres are going to be hard-pressed to make the playoffs.

Heading back to the land of contenders in the Eastern Conference, Vladimir Tarasenko has supplied some secondary scoring for the Florida Panthers (four goals, two assist in 10 games) since coming over from the Ottawa Senators.

Anthony Duclair has been an outstanding fit for the surging Tampa Bay Lightning, as he’s producing at more than a point-per-game clip (five goals, four assists in eight games) for a team that’s suddenly pushing the Toronto Maple Leafs for third spot in the Atlantic Division. The Lightning also added defenceman Matt Dumba after losing Mikhail Sergachev to a knee injury.

The good news is the debate over the winners and losers of the deadline will continue to rage on and won’t officially be settled until the Stanley Cup playoffs are over and Lord Stanley’s mug is awarded in June.

AROUND THE GLASS

Speaking of the Golden Knights, the narrative surrounding salary-cap manipulation isn’t something the players spend any time worrying about.

“You see some of the memes out there, the tweets and you just have to get a chuckle sometimes,” said forward (and Winnipeg product) Keegan Kolesar. “When you’re internal, you know what’s real and what’s not. People are going to always have their opinions of whatever it may be.

“There’s narratives for everything. I just think people like to talk before they know all of the facts and that’s when it becomes a little bit skewed.”

The defending champs are most focused on clinching a playoff spot rather than worrying about what first-round matchups are going to look like when the playoffs begin on Apr. 20.

“Nothing is going to be easy, nothing is going to be given,” said Eichel. “Every team is trying to make themselves better at the trade deadline and find a way to be the last team standing. It’s a long process and you try to dumb it down to a day at a time and that’s what I try to do.”

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The Nashville Predators’ 18-game point streak came to a halt on Thursday with a 8-4 loss to the Arizona Coyotes. By going 16-0-2, the Predators went from a longshot to make the post-season to pushing the Jets in the chase for third place in the Central Division. Winnipeg holds the tie-breaker (regulation wins) and are four points up on Nashville, but the final meeting between the two clubs next month should have a bit more spice attached to it.

The Predators made a couple of deadline additions of their own without mortgaging much of the future, adding veteran forwards Jason Zucker and Anthony Beauvillier. Zucker had the game-winning goal against the Golden Knights the other night and has four goals and an assist in nine games, while Beauvillier has been limited to one assist in eight games.

Winnipegger Cody Glass chipped in a goal and an assist in Thursday’s defeat. He’s battled through multiple injuries this season and is trying to earn a regular spot in the lineup during the stretch run. Glass is up to five goals and seven assists in 37 games this season.

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Paul Maurice is the gift that keeps on giving.

Asked Thursday about clinching a playoff spot despite a 3-2 loss to the New York Islanders, the Florida Panthers bench boss wasn’t biting.

“Today is free quote (expletive) day. Take whatever you think I might say and use it. I won’t bitch about it,” he said.

This, after another gem earlier in the week when Maurice was quizzed about Sam Reinhart, who leads the team with 51 goals and is an unrestricted free agent this summer.

“He never cheats the game. Not once,” Maurice began, “He’s really good… unless you’re trying to sign him as a free agent in which case there’s a little attitude problem and he’s hard to deal with.”

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X: @WiebesWorld

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg