NHL Trade Deadline, who is playing with who

Now that the trade deadline has come and gone I’m going to take a look back at the big names that moved and see who they are playing with. Because if you can’t add the big name to your Fantasy Hockey roster, you may be able to pick up some points by snatching their new linemates off of the waiver wire.

Peter Forsberg

Centering Paul Kariya and Martin Erat would likely boost any players fantasy stats, if that player is Peter Forsberg the sky may be the limit. If you didn’t manage to nab Forsberg before the deadline take a look and see if you can nab Erat. Forsberg has only put up 3 points since the trade so you may be able to snag him from a dissatisfied owner.

Ryan Smyth

Smyth is on a line with Islanders leading scorer Jason Blake and Randy Robitaille, once Alexei Yashin returns from injury he will replace Robitaille on that line. This could greatly increase Smyth’s point production for the remainder of the season and Robitaille might be worth a pickup for the short term.

Keith Tkachuk

Is now centering Ilya Kovalchuk and John Sim. Anyone on the same line as Kovalchuk should be able to generate some points, especially a player like Tkachuk who makes his living by parking his butt in front of the net. He has yet to record a point since the trade but keep an eye on him.

Bill Guerin

Guerin has joined former teammate Joe Thornton and Jonathan Cheechoo on San Jose’s top line. Guerin is probably gone already but some twitchy owner may have dropped Cheechoo earlier this season, if so grab him immediately.

Gary Roberts

Roberts started off riding shotgun with Sidney Crosby and Mark Recchi but has since been bumped down to the second line with Evgeni Malkin and Michel Ouellet. He also has 0 points since the move. Don’t take any action yet but keep an eye on Roberts as he could end up with a nice point burst in the last few months of the season.

Those are the big names, there were a few smaller names traded that could make a serious impact due to their new linemates.

Kyle Calder

Calder is currently on Detroit’s second line with Robert Lang and Johan Franzen, not a big deal but if Bertuzzi returns healthy Calder could see some quality icetime.

Anson Carter

For the short term Carter is partnered with Ray Whitney and Eric Staal but once Erik Cole returns from injury he will be likely relegated to the third line. He is a quality short term pickup until then even though he is pointless in 3 games so far.

Scottie Upshall

Upshall is on Philly’s top line with Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne, since the Feb 15^th Peter Forsberg trade Upshall has potted 3 goals and 2 assists in 7 games including 2 GWGs. Considering that he had only put up 2 goals and 1 assist (both of those goals were game winners by the way!) this is a huge increase. If he can continue or even increase his current pace he would be a good addition as a 3^rd or 4^th winger to most teams in larger fantasy hockey leagues.

Leafs take aim a Stanley Cup, and a hit off the crack pipe

The Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs are two teams going in different directions, but which direction is the question.

Edmonton today traded the face of their franchise, Ryan Smyth for two former first round picks and a first round pick in next years draft. Coupled with the trade earlier this month of defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron to the Islanders it seems clear that the Edmonton Oilers are waiving the white flag on this years season.

Toronto today announced signing Darcy Tucker, arguably the face of the franchise and undoubtedly one of the Leaf's most popular players, to a 4 year, $12 million contract. Oh, and they inked a trade to bring back center Yanic Perreault for his third stint as a Maple Leaf. The message in Toronto is clear, they are gearing up for a run at the Stanley Cup this year.

So, if we assume that an NHL team can only go in two directions, up or down, which team is going in which direction?

As far as I am concerned the Toronto Maple Leafs have just taken a huge step backwards in improving their team. Sure, Tucker has had a great season and Perreault is a valuable role player with offensive upside and a dominating presence in the face off circle. But, do they help us build a team for the future? And more importantly, is there enough crack cocaine in the world to make anyone believe that the Leafs can make a serious bid for the Stanley Cup this year? The Toronto Maple Leafs now have committed about $28 million of their available cap space to 6 players, there is not much room to add significant players to the team there and even a combination of crack and heroin isn't enough to make anyone believe that this Leafs team will be better 2-3 years from now with this same roster.

On the other hand, the Edmonton Oilers may have traded the face of the franchise and their highest scoring defenseman but they definitely improved their team for the future. With these two moves the Oilers have picked up 4 first round picks that include a highly prized defensive prospect (Denis Grebeskhov) and a top 6 forward prospect (Robert Nilsson). Oh, and did I forget to mention that the Oilers retain the possibility of resigning Smyth during the offseason? This is a team that has grasped the present and used it to ensure a prosperous future.

Being a Toronto Maple Leafs fan I spent the last few weeks leading up to the trade deadline praying to Crosby that MLSE would have the wisdom and vision to make some trades for the future. Instead they once again threw good money after bad to make yet another vain attempt at a Stanley Cup win.

This leaves me with one more question... how many more years does Toronto need to go without ownership of the Stanley Cup before it learns the lesson that the Oilers seem to have grasped. You can't rebuild an organization without making some sacrifices.

NHL Trade Deadline Approaching, Floodgates opening?

Tkachuk moved to Atlanta yesterday for 3 draft picks and a roster player. Steep price for a rental player.

Craig Rivet leaves the Canadiens for San Jose for 1 pick and defenseman Josh Georges. So does this mean the Montreal Canadiens have thrown in the towel this season?

In both cases the Fantasy Hockey value of the player is increased by the move. Tkachuk could end up on a line with Kovalchuk or Hossa, either way an increase in points is probably around the corner. In Rivet's case, just moving to a team that scores goals on a regular basis should be a help to his fantasy value.

Montreal and Edmonton are both in the same position at this year's trade deadline, a few points out of a playoff position and trading away free agents. In prior years this was a clear sign that teams were writing off the remainder of the season. In the post-lockout era I'm not exactly sure what it means?

I'll be back later today with a wrap up of last weeks hot players and some sleeper picks.