Photo: Nick Wass, USA Today
With the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline now in the rearview, teams had the final chance to improve whether that is for this year for one’s to come. Now that every team’s roster is inked in pen for the rest of the season, how did the Metropolitan Division teams do? NoVa Caps grades each of the eight teams’ trade deadlines.
New Jersey Devils
Trades
Acquired:
G Andrew Hammond from Montreal Canadiens in exchange for C Nate Schnarr
The Devils were quiet at the deadline with no major moves. Finding a taker for defenseman P.K. Subban, a pending unrestricted free agent, was going to be tough but they could have moved left-wing Jimmy Vesey (pending UFA) right-wing Tomas Tatar (UFA in 2023), left-wing Andreas Johnsson (UFA in 2023), defenseman Ryan Graves (UFA in 2023), and defenseman Damon Severson (UFA in 2023) to maximize their return. The Devils are tied for the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference and there is no reason to expect a massive turnaround next season as they have won just one Stanley Cup Playoff game in the past nine seasons.
Grade: D
Philadelphia Flyers
Trades
Acquired:
2023 fourth-round pick from Edmonton Oilers for C Derick Brassard
2023 third-round pick from New York Rangers for D Justin Braun
RW Owen Tippet, a first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft or 2025 NHL Draft, and a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft for Florida Panthers in exchange for Cs Claude Giroux, Connor Bunnaman, and German Rubtsov in addition to a 2024 fifth-round pick
The big move in Philadelphia was dealing their 34-year-old captain to Florida for Tippet (six goals and 14 points in 44 games this season) and a pair of high picks, one that fetched a large return.
They were able to get a fairly nice return for a third-pairing defenseman (Braun’s average of 20:02 per game was fifth among Flyers blueliners) and a fair return for Brassard.
Grade: A-
New York Islanders
Trades
N/A
The Islanders did not do anything besides extending left-wing Zach Parise (one year, $750,000), who has nine goals and 25 points in 61 games this season, and right-wing Cal Clutterbuck (two years, $1.75 million cap hit), who has six goals, 15 points, a 45.51% five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, and a 46.15% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage.
They missed opportunities to trade defenseman Zdeno Chara (pending UFA), defenseman Andy Greene (pending UFA), and goaltender Semyon Varlamov (UFA after next season) with this season likely lost.
Grade: C-
Columbus Blue Jackets
Trades
Acquired signing rights to D Aidan Hreschuk from Carolina Hurricanes for C Max Domi and Toronto Maple Leafs’ 2022 sixth-round pick
The Blue Jackets got just a player that might not even play for them and lost a pick in trading Domi, who has nine goals and 23 assists (32 points) in 53 games this season.
They also missed opportunities to get something in return for defenseman Dean Kukan and goaltender Joonas Korpisalo before they can hit the open market on July 17, though Korpisalo will miss the rest of the season with a hip injury that required surgery. Right-wing Gustav Nyquist (UFA after next season) might have also fetched a decent return.
Grade: D
Pittsburgh Penguins
Trades
Acquired C Rickard Rakell from Anaheim Ducks in exchange for LW Zach Aston-Reese, C Dominik Simon, the rights to G Calle Clang, and a 2022 second-round pick
D Nathan Beaulieu from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for a 2022 conditional seventh-round pick
The Penguins landed Rakell, 28, who has 16 goals and 28 points in 52 games this season but gave up a lot for a forward who has seen a former 30-goal scorer’s production decline in each of the past three seasons. Aston-Reese, 27, had just two goals and 11 points in 52 games and saw his defensive numbers decline with a 49.58% five-on-five Corsi-for percentage and a 50.41% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage. Pittsburgh could afford to part with Simon, 27, as he earned just three goals and nine points in 55 games. A second-round pick may have also been slightly high to include.
They brought in some defensive depth in Beaulieu, who recorded four points, a -7 rating, a 41.23% five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, and a 39.23% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage in 24 games with the Jets, for very little risk at most. He is currently on long-term injured reserve with a lower-body injury and must miss at least two more games after Wednesday night.
Grade: C
New York Rangers
Trades
Acquired RW Tyler Motte from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2023 fourth-round pick
C Andrew Copp and a 2023 sixth-round pick from the Jets in exchange for C Morgan Barron and two conditional second-round picks in the 2022 or 2023 NHL Draft and a fifth-round pick in 2023
C Nick Merkley from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for D Anthony Bitetto
Braun from the Flyers in exchange for a 2023 third-round pick
RW Frank Vatrano from the Florida Panthers in exchange for the later selection of either Rangers’ or Jets’ 2022 fourth round pick (previously acquired by the Rangers)
The Rangers had an active deadline where they revamped their bottom-six forward group with the additions of Copp (13 goals and 37 points in 57 games, including two assists in his team debut on Tuesday night), Vatrano (11 goals and 20 points in 53 games, including a goal in the team’s 2-0 win at the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday), and Motte (seven goals, 15 points, 44.99% five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, and 47.74% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage in 50 games). They got Motte and Vatrano at reasonable prices but we will need to see how Copp performs as they gave up two high picks (one of which can become a first) and one of their top prospects in Barron.
They also added some defensive depth with the addition of Braun (five goals, 16 points, +1 rating, 45.64% five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, and 44.83% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage in 62 games).
Grade: B-
Carolina Hurricanes
Trades
Acquired Domi and prospect Tyler Inamoto from the Blue Jackets in exchange for Hreschuk and traded prospect Egor Korshkov to Panthers in three-way trade
The Hurricanes made just one move on deadline day but a fairly big one as they reeled in Domi to improve their offense for a cheap price. They also added Inamoto, 22, who has two assists and a -14 rating in 26 games with the University of Wisconsin this season.
Korshkov, 25, has 11 goals and 22 points in 44 games with the KHL’s Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.
The Hurricanes did not need to do much and did not. Will Domi change things for the better in Carolina?
Grade: B
Washington Capitals
Trades
Acquired C Johan Larsson from Arizona Coyotes for WSH’s 2023 third-round pick
RW Marcus Johansson from Seattle Kraken for RW Daniel Sprong, WSH’s 2022 fourth-round pick, WSH’s 2023 sixth-round pick
The Capitals added depth and versatility when they added Johansson (six goals, 23 points in 52 games) and Larsson (six goals, 15 points in 29 games), who has not played since January 25 due to sports hernia surgery, as both can play on any forward line and on the wing or in the middle.
They were able to get Larsson at a reasonable price and the picks they gave up for Johansson were not expensive.
Perhaps including Sprong was a bit much but he could not crack the Capitals’ top-12 forward group due to his one-dimensional game.
Grade: B+
By Harrison Brown
LMAO…..really a B+. I would give it a D. Trading for 2 players that cost them a players and 3 picks that they needed. And one player is still on IR and both are UFA after this year so they should just have traded the picks for a bag of pucks and a few broken sticks.
They paid very little to get two versatile forwards, something they desperately need considering injuries. Larson’s injury is in the rear view and could be a steal for a 3rd round pick. I think it’s good they upgraded without sacrificing high draft picks or touching any of the key prospects. Fans always want a sexy trade/big name, but sometimes that’s not the best move.
Low risk moves. Did not give up more than a second. I thought giving up Sprong was a bit much but he was going to be 13F anyway so
Sprong needed to be moved. Getting MoJo in return, who plays BOTH ends of the ice is a plus. The extra pick to salary is palatable.
You must be kidding giving the Caps the highest grade. They did nothing that improves their chances this year or for the future.
You’re right, the Flyers have the highest
Flyers aren’t playoff bound and are irrelevant. Kind of like these grades.
Post has nothing to do with playoff bound or not. Obviously didn’t read, obviously making you irrelevant
They gave the Flyers an A- which is higher than a B+. I’m not crazy about the moves made by the Caps but the organizational depth chart isn’t as bad as people act. Prospects like Lapierre, Protas, Leason and Alexeyev look like future NHL regulars while McMichael and Fehervary are still in the early stages of development but don’t look out of place. The big oversight was not moving on from Samsonov and bringing in a veteran back-up.
I think the plan for Sammy now is hanging on to him and moving him to Hershey next season. Capitals don’t give up on first round picks, look at Lucas Johansen.
Sammy is paid too much to move to Hershey. He makes $2 million, Copley is next highest goalie at $1.1 million. Sammy is RFA, Copley is UFA this summer. I don’t see the Caps retaining either of them.
He’s too young to give up on. They would have dealt him if they didn’t have anymore patience. They rushed him.
At age 25, it’s certainly decision time for Sammy. However, because he wasn’t moved at the deadline (when teams were desperate) tells me Caps plan to keep him, work with him. They have a lot invested in him and have seen the upside. He’s immature for his age, so I think that has factored into their decision to keep him, hoping he personally matures.
Johansen has looked pretty good in some recent clips I saw. He can skate the puck, he keeps his head up, and he is an effective passer. I think he still has some possibilities.
Yep, much improved this season. Last summer my hope for him was dwindling down to next to nothing, but he’s looked like a different player this season. Some players take longer to develop, glad the Capitals stuck with him for this long.
Should have traded Eller. Returns at deadline are way better than off season. He’s not necessary with McM ready for 3C. Could have cleared his cap space and got picks and prospects. Lost opportunity. Grade F.
Mid-season? I don’t think it’s an outlandish concept, and I wouldn’t have been shocked if they did trade him, but not surprised they didn’t. His days with the Caps are drawing to a close, regardless.
Harrison, I hope you’re right. I certainly wouldn’t give the Caps a B+. I think they just decided to tread water. I’d give them a D.
That’s a bit much. They didn’t mortgage much of their future. Little risk
B+ is very generous. There was nothing particularly dynamic or creative in our approach. We made one very predictable trade, getting Mojo for Sprong and picks, and made a fairly large gamble on a player who could be good or who could be a bust. I could see a B- or a C+. These were conservative moves and we picked up two players that will suppress the opposition offense and ours, also. But I generally approve of the Mojo deal for a rental because he can play any position and he’s good in the neutral zone.
They did a good job with the very minuscule cap space. That in of itself is creative. No flashy moves, which fans always want to see, but that wasn’t required nor gonna happen.
They were lucky to make any move. Solid reinforcements with no cap space nor sacrificing of prospects.