O Canada: Grading the pre-trade deadline moves (so far)
Every Tuesday, theScore's hockey editors will examine the fortunes of the north's seven NHL franchises. Welcome to "O Canada."
Calgary Flames
Trade: Acquired defenseman Michael Stone from the Arizona Coyotes for a 2017 third-round pick and a 2018 conditional fifth-round pick. Arizona also retained 50 percent of Stone's salary.
Grade: B-
Stone has jumped onto the Flames second defense pairing alongside T.J. Brodie with solid results to date. In four games, he's recorded two assists, and seven shots, albeit with a five-on-five Corsi rating of 42.8. He's also helping in the plus/minus department, for those who still care about the stat.
For what it's worth, TJ Brodie was minus-27 up until three days ago when he was paired with newly acquired Michael Stone. He's now minus-23.
— Darren Haynes (@DarrenWHaynes) February 26, 2017
Calgary also further shored up the blue line with the signing of Matt Bartkowski.
Edmonton Oilers
Trade: Nothing, yet
Grade: Incomplete.
General manager Peter Chiarelli hasn't made a trade since sending Nail Yakupov to St. Louis prior to the start of the regular season, preceded by the infamous Taylor Hall-Adam Larsson deal.
Barring a complete collapse, however, the Oilers appear to be a lock for a playoff spot, and could secure home ice in the first round with a second-place finish in the Pacific.
A clear need exists at the backup goalie position, as Cam Talbot continues to carry a heavy workload and could use some rest down the stretch.
Montreal Canadiens
Trades: Acquired Jordie Benn from the Dallas Stars for Greg Pateryn and a 2017 fourth-round pick.
Grade: C-
GM Marc Bergevin followed up the hiring of Claude Julien as head coach by adding some depth on the blue line, which is fine, except it doesn't address the team's biggest need.
That would be down the middle, where Martin Hanzal appeared to be a perfect fit. Instead, the center was sent to Minnesota by the Coyotes, leaving Montreal with the prospect of heading into the playoffs with Phillip Danault, Alex Galchenyuk, Tomas Plekanec, and David Desharnais rounding out the depth chart. No one foresaw Danault centering the first line, while Plekanec and Desharnais have been playing well below expectations.
Still time to get something done, though.
Ottawa Senators
Trade: Acquired Alex Burrows from the Vancouver Canucks for prospect Jonathan Dahlen.
Grade: D
Not only did Ottawa trade a promising draft pick for a player who will turn 36 by season's end, they're also reportedly set to sign Burrows to a two-year contract extension before he even dons the team's jersey.
The Senators appear headed for the playoffs and see Burrows as an effective depth forward who can mix things up, kill penalties, and score the odd goal. That's certainly how he used to be defined, but at this stage in his career, the return on investment hardly seems worth it, especially when Dahlen compares favorably to a player currently tearing up the NHL.
Jonathan Dahlen (#Sens 2016 2nd round pick), just traded to #Canucks for Burrows, comparables to Filip Forsberg at same age: pic.twitter.com/dgcdNKo2ky
— NHL EXPERT PICKS (@NHLexpertpicks) February 28, 2017
Toronto Maple Leafs
Trade: Acquired forward Brian Boyle from the Lightning for forward Byron Froese and a 2017 second-round pick.
Grade: B+
One year removed from finishing dead last in the NHL, the renaissance is on in Toronto, and the Maple Leafs are buyers with a view to their second playoff appearance since the lost season of 2004-05.
Boyle brings a wealth of playoff experience after making two trips to the Stanley Cup Final in recent years, and gives Toronto solid depth down the middle behind Auston Matthews, Nazem Kadri, and Tyler Bozak.
The trade value will rise even further if Boyle - who seems excited about the opportunity - can re-sign with the team in the offseason.
Boyle calls going to Leafs an "unbelievable opportunity ... they have some guys who are just phenomenal, phenomenal players"
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) February 27, 2017
Vancouver Canucks
Trade: See aforementioned deal with Ottawa.
Grade: A
The best way to grade this trade is to check in on the social media reaction. Praise was heaped on GM Jim Benning while shade was thrown at Ottawa immediately after the deal was announced, and the hits just kept coming.
If you get beat in a deal by Jim Benning, you gotta retire. Sorry but that's the rule.
— Reluctant Kings Fan (@loserpoints) February 27, 2017
Is it a bad sign when people in Vancouver are praising Benning for "what is arguably his most impressive deal in his time as Canucks GM"?
— The 6th Sens (@6thSens) February 28, 2017
In regards to the #Canucks: Jim Benning with a stroke of genius. Most #VAN fans would have been fine with a 3rd round pick, I think. #NHL
— Randip Janda (@RandipJanda) February 28, 2017
Winnipeg Jets
Trade: *crickets*
Grade: Incomplete
This may come as a shock, but GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has yet to tinker with a roster set to once again fall short of the postseason. In fact, the biggest move made recently was to recall exiled goaltender Ondrej Pavelec from the AHL, to zero positive effect.
The Jets are only five points out of a playoff spot, but should be looking to sell, as they did last year with Andrew Ladd. Soon-to-be unrestricted free agents Drew Stafford and Paul Postma are the obvious candidates to be moved, with Pavelec also a possibility in the unlikely chance there's any takers.
(Photos courtesy: USA Today)