This year’s trade deadline came and went without much excitement. There was excitement from the fans, if TSN’s claim that there was a record-breaking audience is anything to go by. But on paper, nothing spectacular happened.
The most notable trade took place between the Los Angeles Kings and the Edmonton Oilers. The Kings traded a first-round draft pick in 2011, a conditional third-round draft pick in 2012, and former first-rounder Colten Teubert, in exchange for Dustin Penner.
An undrafted player, Penner was signed as a free agent in 2004 by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks after he finished playing college hockey for the University of Maine. He won the Stanley Cup in 2007 in his rookie year. This season he has scored 21 goals and assisted on 18 for a total of 39 points. Colten Teubert, 21, was drafted by the Kings in 2008. He is probably best known
Washington made two trades at the deadline: they acquired Dennis Wideman from the Florida Panthers in exchange for forward Jake Hauswirth and a third-round draft pick in 2011, as well as acquiring Jason Arnott from the New Jersey Devils for David Steckel and a second-round draft pick in 2012.
Dennis Wideman was drafted in 2002 by the Buffalo Sabres in the eighth round. He had nine goals and 24 assists for 33 points this season with the Panthers. Jake Hauswirth, 23, was signed as a free agent by Washington two years ago, and was assigned by the Panthers to their ECHL affiliate, the Cincinnati Cyclones.
The New York Rangers also made two trades on Monday February 28th. They traded Tim Kennedy and a third-round draft pick in 2011 for Florida’s Brian McCabe. Brian McCabe, a former Leaf, was drafted in 1993 by the Islanders. He has five goals and 17 assists for a total of 22 points this season with the Panthers. He was named the Panthers’ captain in 2009. Tim Kennedy, 24, currently plays in the AHL for the Rochester Americans. This season he has 12 goals and 30 assists. He was drafted by Washington in 2005.
The Rangers traded with Toronto as well, obtaining John Mitchell for a seventh-round draft pick in 2012. John Mitchell, 26, was drafted in 2003 by the Leafs.
The winners of the deadline have to be the Washington Capitals as they strive for a Stanley Cup. The acquisition of Dennis Wideman and veteran Jason Arnott adds depth, and Stanley Cup experience. These could be the missing pieces Washington needs to make the final push.
Another winner of their trades are the L.A Kings and the Edmonton Oilers. They both acquired what they wanted: the Kings got their big body in Dustin Penner and the Oilers recieved a draft pick and Colton Teubert. This fits well with their youth movement.
In any case, the new players should help their new teams regardless of where they are.
