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Deadline deals

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Sports Illustrated's Michael Farber kept his eye on the NHL trade movement during Tuesday's deadline. He offered these thoughts on significant trades throughout the afternoon.

The big move at the trade deadline was Phoenix's acquisition of Keith Tkachuk. Eric Lindros, who was heavily rumored to be shipped to the Coyotes, is putting on a sunny public face, but he has to be bothered by remaining in limbo. He limited Flyers GM Bobby Clarke's options to trade him and probably moved too late when he widened his list to four teams. Of the four, only Toronto and St. Louis were seriously interested. The Maple Leafs couldn't come up with the package to please Clarke, and ultimately the Blues then went in another direction by picking up Tkachuk, leaving Lindros with nowhere to go. Here are my choices for which teams helped themselves the most at the deadline along with comments on several of the trades that went down Tuesday.

Gold Medal: St. Louis. The Blues solved their need for a big-time forward, and went the safe way by picking up Tkachuk, who will help them immediately. He also doesn't present the potential health risks that Lindros does. St. Louis also picked up a secondary scorer in Cory Stillman. Michal Handzus is a big center with wonderful instincts who knows how to play a strong defensive game and Ladislav Nagy might develop into a top flight scorer, but the Blues still gave up remarkably little to improve their team.

Silver Medal: Washington. The Capitals approached their situation in the East head on, acquiring Trevor Linden to play against Jason Arnott in New Jersey and Keith Primeau in Philadelphia. If Dainius Zubris winds up playing with Adam Oates, the Lithuanian's career might finally get on track. Also, Jason Marshall gives the Washington a little bit more toughness on defense.

Bronze Medal: Ottawa. Two deals for draft choices should help the Senators smooth over some rough spots. Mike Sillinger brings an ability to win face-offs while Curtis Leschyshyn gives Ottawa another solid stay-at-home defenseman whose playoff experience should help goaltender Patrick Lalime.

	Gets: • LW Keith Tkachuk			Gets: • C Michal Handzus • RW Ladislav Nagy • C Jeff Taffey • 1st round draft choice in 2001
What's in it for them: This is the big-name forward who had "puck grit" that GM Larry Pleau wanted so desperately. The Blues took a good look at Eric Lindros, but obviously felt the risk was too great. In making an inital offer to the Flyers of Pierre Turgeon, who can be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, clearly Pleau thought he was spreading out the risk in an effort to acquire Lindros, who has a history of concussions. Also, Pleau may have perhaps been affected by the situation of his own son, Steve, whose career was cut short by post-concussion syndrome.			What's in it for them: The Coyotes will now go about the business of resigning Jeremy Roenick, who can become an unrestricted free agent after the season. In the meantime, Phoenix has picked up two players who can step into the line up in Handzus (once he recovers abdomen injury), Nagy, a past No. 1 choice in Taffey and a future late first-rounder this season.
The Bottom Line: Tkachuk will benefit by not having to be the centerpiece of a good St. Louis team. He'll be an important yet complimentary part of the equation to Blues captain Chris Pronger. He also played with winger Dallas Drake in Winnipeg and Phoenix, which should ease his transition. Clearly Phoenix is happy to be unloading Tkachuk's $8.3 million salary.

	Gets: • LW Dan LaCouture			Gets: • D Sven Butenschon
What's in it for them: Not too much. LaCouture, who has two goals in 37 games this season, is just a depth player for the Penguins.			What's in it for them: Edmonton adds some size to its backline with the 6-foot-4 Butenschon. The defenseman doesn't play big, but size is seductive. Boutenschon has only played in five games and is up and down constantly.
The Bottom Line: This trade is essentially a shuffling of minor league bodies. Edmonton gets a little depth on its blue line but this is just an exchange of big bodies.

	Gets: • G John Vanbiesbrouck			Gets: • G Chris Terreri
What's in it for them: Vanbiesbrouck is a better fall-back position for the Devils in case starting goaltender Martin Brodeur gets injured. That being said, Brodeur has been one of the most durable goalies in recent years, but if he does go down, New Jersey will be more comfortable with Beezer than Terreri.			What's in it for them: Terreri is pretty much a backup at this stage of his career, but he's a great team guy. Devils GM Lou Lamoriello goes back to Providence college with Terreri. In fact it was Terreri who gave Lamoriello the nickname "The Warden." The Islanders are getting a solid guy in Terreri.
The Bottom Line: Vanbiesbrouck is an experienced goalie and a solid veteran. If Brodeur is unable to play for any reason, New Jersey knows that Beezer took Florida to a Stanley Cup Final in 1996. Clearly, Rick DiPietro is going to be the guy on the Island, but I would think Terreri will play much more for the Islanders then he would have in New Jersey.

	Gets: • D Bobby Dollas • G Johan Hedberg			Gets: • D Jeff Norton
What's in it for them: Dollas is well traveled but doesn't have as much at this stage as Norton. The key pickup here is Hedberg. San Jose has done a better job of scouting, drafting and developing goalies than any team in the NHL. Vancouver goalies coach Andy Moog says whoever is doing it in San Jose really has a clue. The Sharks have brought along Evgeni Nabokov and Miikka Kiprusoff so Hedberg was caught drowning in depth, but one day he'll be a No. 1 goalie in Pittsburgh. It's a nice move by Craig Patrick.			What's in it for them: This is Norton's third stop in San Jose, where he is very popular. He's still a decent third pair NHL defenseman, and maybe even a second pair defenseman under the right circumstances. This is a good pickup for a team with high playoff aspirations.
The Bottom Line: Norton is well-liked by his teammates and adds some depth to the Sharks defense. It's a longer term deal for Pittsburgh, but if Hedberg develops, wow, what a nice trade for the Penguins.

	Gets: • C/F Trevor Linden • F Dainius Zubrus • 2nd round draft choice			Gets: • C Jan Bulis • RW Richard Zednik • 1st round draft choice
What's in it for them: The playoff road in the East is going to go through New Jersey, and to compete against the Devils the Capitals needed a big centerman like they got in Linden. Linden is something of a luxury item considering he has only 12 goals and makes $4 million a year as part of a long-term contract. But if you're going to play against the Devils' Jason Arnott and Bobby Holik, you need some size up the middle. Zubrus looked liked a potential star in his early days in Philadelphia, but he has been a major disappointment ever since. He has terrific skills, but other than scoring a hat trick for the Canadiens earlier this season, he has been all but invisible.			What's in it for them: Capitals' coach Ron Wilson recently benched both Bulis and Zednik to express his displeasure with them, but both still have some upside and can help the Canadiens with their payroll problems. Zednik's 16 goals would rank him second on Montreal this season. It's also significant that GM Andre Savard picked up a first rounder, even one as deep as Washington's, becasue the Canadiens need to rebuild through the draft.
The Bottom Line: The Capitals needed to make this move to compete with New Jersey come the postseason. Linden can still score and adds some much needed size. The Canadiens add a couple of players who have a nice upside as well as an important draft choice.

	Gets: • D Grant Ledyard			Gets: • 7th round draft choice
What's in it for them: A typical move by a typical veteran team as the Stars add insurance to the blue line. Even though Ledyard is 39 years old, he can be like Linus' security blanket in his second tour of duty with Dallas. Ledyard, who has two goals and two assists in 14 games, is just one of those guys who's nice to have around the locker room.			What's in it for them: The Lightning are going nowhere and they're just trying to stockpile for the future.
The Bottom Line: The Stars add some playoff depth, while the Lightning just move an older body for a future player.

	Gets: • C John Emmons			Gets: • D Craig Millar
What's in it for them: Emmons, who has one goal in 41 games this season, is strictly a role player, although he still might be the best NHLer to be born in San Jose.			What's in it for them: Ottawa is looking for a little protection on the back end. The most games that Millar has ever played in a season is 57, last year for Nashville.
The Bottom Line: Not much of trade. Another body-for-body deal.

	Gets: • D Aki Berg			Gets: • C Adam Mair • 2nd round draft choice
What's in it for them: Berg, with no goals and just four assists this season, has been a perpetually disappointing player since being the third overall pick in the 1995 draft. He never seemed to fit in well with his coaches in L.A. First Larry Robinson, and now Andy Murray.			What's in it for them: Mair was a minor leaguer until being called up late in the season the past two years. He played reasonably well, and didn't embarrass himself in the playoffs the last two seasons.
The Bottom Line: Berg has never had the breakthrough season many expected from him. Maybe he can benefit from a change of scenery. The way to judge this trade is by whether Berg finally becomes a player and by what the draft choice turns into. Mair is strictly a depth pickup.

	Gets: • D Frantisek Kucera			Gets: • 2nd round draft choice • 6th round draft choice
What's in it for them: Kucera is back in the NHL after playing the in Czech Republic for the last three seasons. He has two goals and five assists in 48 games.			What's in it for them: The Blue Jackets can always use another couple of draft picks.
The Bottom Line: Kucera is another body on the blue line for the Penguins, who always seem to need help in that area.

	Gets: • LW Ray Whitney			Gets: • C Kevyn Adams
What's in it for them: Whitney has had back problems and has been hurt most of the year. He has just 10 goals, and the Panthers wanted to trim salary.			What's in it for them: Adams is a little bit of a grittier player who doesn't score a lot as evidenced by his eight goals this year.
The Bottom Line: Whitney is still a guy who can score at the NHL level. He should add some goals and excitement to Columbus if he's healthy. The main reason Florida moved Whitney is to create a spot for a 1997 draft choice Kristian Huselius who will becoming over from Sweden next season.

	Gets: • D Todd Simpson			Gets: • 2nd round draft choice
What's in it for them: The Coyotes added another defenseman and paid a reasonable price for a guy who made his name as a one-time captain for the Flames. What's interesting about this trade is that it was carried out by Phoenix GM Cliff Fletcher and Chuck Fletcher, the personnel guy for Florida, making it a father and son trade.			What's in it for them: Tied with the New York Islanders for the fewest wins in the league, Florida needs draft picks.
The Bottom Line: Simpson is a body who provides depth.

	Gets: • LW Dean McAmmond			Gets: • 3rd round draft choice
What's in it for them: McAmmond can be plugged into any line and do a respectable job. However, he's a smaller player who has never scored more than 20 goals in a season.			What's in it for them: Chicago, which is not going to the playoffs, can always use a draft pick.
The Bottom Line: McAmmond is just more depth for the Flyers come playoff time.

	Gets: • LW Cory Stillman			Gets: • C Craig Conroy
What's in it for them: The Blues get another guy who can score. Stillman has 21 goals, and will add to a team that lost a player like Ladislav Nagy, who went to Phoenix in the Keith Tkachuk trade earlier in the day. The rap on Stillman is he's a selfish player too worried about points. Strong leadership in the St. Louis dressing room should cure him of that.			What's in it for them: Conroy is one of the best defensive centers in the NHL. He's a hard worker, a pepperpot, and the conscience of the team. He's precisely the element that the growing Flames needed, even though he's not much of an offensive player.
The Bottom Line: A good trade for both teams. Stillman, who has some upside offensively, will help St. Louis in its playoff run. Conroy toughness will be valuable for Calgary.

	Gets: • D Curtis Leschyshyn			Gets: • 3rd round draft choice
What's in it for them: Great pickup for Ottawa after failing to land another Wild defenseman, Sean O'Donnell, who ended up with New Jersey. Leschyshyn is experienced, having won a Cup with Colorado in 1996, and is certainly competent, two things that any team going into the playoffs could use. Leschyshyn, an unrestricted free agent come July 1, makes $1.9 million so this is strictly a rental for Ottawa.			What's in it for them: The expansion Wild add a draft choice.
The Bottom Line: Leschyshyn is just what Ottawa needs -- a physical defenseman to play in front of goaltender Patrick Lalime, who has no playoff experience.

	Gets: • D Jason Marshall			Gets: • D Alexi Tezikov • 4th round draft choice
What's in it for them: The Capitals add a defenseman that can play on any third pair.			What's in it for them: Tezikov is essentially been a minor leaguer. Not much else to say.
The Bottom Line: A minor deal.

	Gets: • RW Steve Heinze			Gets: • 3rd round draft choice
What's in it for them: This is a nice pickup for Buffalo. Heinze, benefitting from the ice time with an expansion team, has 22 goals, which is four shy of the career high he scored with Boston in 1997-98.			What's in it for them: Columbus wasn't going to win the Stanley Cup with Heinze anyway.
The Bottom Line: Heinze will be another in the group of smallish Buffalo forwards, but still should contribute.

	Gets: • C Mike Sillinger			Gets: • 3rd round draft choice
What's in it for them: The Senators have been among the most face-off challenged teams, but Sillinger answers that question. He's one of the league's best and now Radek Bonk won't have to take most of the big draws.			What's in it for them: The lowly Panthers continue to stockpile draft picks -- a wise decision.
The Bottom Line: Sillinger adds much-needed experience to the Senators. He can also chip in offensively from time to time.

	Gets: • C Donald Audette			Gets: • C Kamil Piros • 4th round draft choice
What's in it for them: Audette, proving you can go home again, is likely a rental for the remainder of the season. He has scored at a career-best pace for the Thrashers, but remember he's had first-line time, power play minutes and splendid chemistry with center Ray Ferraro. He's still a gifted a scorer, but needs to play on the first line in Buffalo.			What's in it for them: Piros was the 212th player taken overall in the 1997 draft and has been playing in his native Czech Republic.
The Bottom Line: Audette likely will be moving on after the season as an unrestricted free agent. He will need a play-making center in Buffalo to help him, but no one really jumps out as an obvious fit.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Michael Farber covers the NHL beat for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com.

 

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