The NHL Trade Deadline has now passed without much action at all. The most talked about deal was would Rick Nash be moved and if so who would be the highest bidder. Well none of that happened. The Columbus Blue Jackets did not find a team willing to pay the asking price for Nash. Then after not moving him GM Scott Howson basically sold out Nash and expressed his displeasure and lack of wanting to stay in Columbus. It will be an even more difficult final six weeks in Columbus.
So who were the winners and losers on this very quiet trade deadline day. It is a little bit harder this year with it being so quiet.
WINNERS:
Toronto Maple Leafs – The addition of Carter Ashton will really pay off in the future. They had to give up a young prospect in Aulie, but Ashton has huge upside. I always feel like Toronto is going to make a group of moves and often times they are knee jerk moves that do not work. The fact that they picked up a prospect and did not make anything major happen makes them a winner today.
BUFFALO SABERS – Darcy Regier stood strong and came up big. He asked for a first round pick for Gaustad and got it. He then finished it up the day by getting a rookie of the year contender in Cody Hodgson from Vancouver. This was really unexpected because reports were that Hodgson was not on the trade block. Well Regier found a way to pull it off. The Sabers are having a terrible year, maybe this will be a glimmer of hope for the future.
LOSERS:
VANCOUVER CANUCKS: The day was not great for the Canucks, but after last years trade deadline success this years was not so hot at all. They gave up way to much for Zack Kassian. I do not feel that he will be an impact player for them in the playoffs. They said they wanted more size and toughness, and they got that, but I really did not think that they lacked that. They have been dominant lately and I would not have messed with that success.
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS: It was more what they did not do, than what they did. Nash should have been moved now. It is only going to make the rest of the season that much harder now having him in the room. Things are as bad as they can get in Columbus. They might has well started the rebuild now. Maybe they will get more waiting till summer, but I would venture to bet the Rangers made a pretty good offer today. I guess this one will really be a wait and see.
Now that trade deadline is over we can focus on some great playoff races. Enjoy.
Shot blocking is a huge part of the game now. Does is slow the game up and does it reduce the amount of goals scored? Now the big question? Should it be banned? I did not think that this was even feasible or even a topic of discussion until I read a very interesting article in the recent issue of The Hockey News (Feb. 20, 2012/Vol 65 No18). The article was written by Adam Proteau and titled Stop, Drop and Roll Your Eyes. The article basically described that shot blocking has strangled the creativity of hockey and limited goals to the point that something needs to be done. It was suggested in the article that it be a penalty to leave your feet (lay down) to block a shot. The thought being that this would allow more pucks to reach the net and intern result in more goals. It was a very interesting article and it got me thinking.