Let’s face it—the 2017 NHL trade deadline was more disappointing than (I want to say Rogue One here but I know that opinion isn’t shared by all so instead let’s go with) the Naked Chalupa. Kevin Shattenkirk went to the Washington Capitals, and that was huge, but beyond that, it was teams plugging holes with decent players.
Little deals can mean a lot. Look at last year, when the Pittsburgh Penguins rolled to a championship after using the deadline to acquire Justin Schultz for a third-round pick. Everyone thought that deal was “nice” for a so-called decent player, but he turned out to be very helpful down the stretch and during the team’s Stanley Cup run.
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OK, so Schultz had four assists in 15 postseason games and was scratched at times, but come on. This is what the deadline is now. Teams add depth, depth wins Cups, and teams that win Cups don’t have big flaws to correct with 20 games to go. This is as sexy as it gets.
To that end, what shape are the Cup contenders in now that the deadline has passed? Using odds from Bovada to determine the favorites, here are the seven teams with the best chances to win the Cup and how their deadline acquisitions helped—or hurt—those chances.
7. Montreal Canadiens (14-1)
What did the GM do? Marc Bergevin … I don’t know. Did he think size and toughness win Stanley Cups in 2017? His team had one glaring need—scoring — and he added Dwight King, Steve Ott (Steve Ott!), Jordie Benn, Brandon Davidson, and Andreas Martinsen. If the Habs are loading up for a run at an AHL title or trying to win a slew-footing championship, then these deals are great. Otherwise, it’s baffling that this was Bergevin’s plan.
It’s particularly baffling when the Habs are likely to win their division and draw a tough opponent from the Metropolitan, perhaps the New York Rangers or Columbus Blue Jackets, in the first round. The Habs are still good enough to win two rounds, but if Bergevin had made a splash for Matt Duchene, they could have maybe pushed for a Stanley Cup Finals berth.
Deadline effect? If anything, they hurt their chances of beating the Rangers in the first round. Toughness is great to an extent, but this is a hockey team, not a group of guys that are taking to the streets to fight a bunch of gangs.
6. New York Rangers (14-1)
What did the GM do? Jeff Gorton needed defensive help and he got it in the form of Brendan Smith, a perfectly fine blueliner who is an upgrade over at least four defensemen the Rangers have iced regularly this season. Instead of overpaying for Shattenkirk when he’s probably coming to New York in July as a free agent, the Rangers exercised patience at the deadline. For once!
Isn’t that odd? The Rangers were willing to shell out first-round picks at the deadline for Martin St. Louis and Keith Yandle when they weren’t necessary pieces, but they won’t do the same for Shattenkirk. The Rangers will almost have to go through Washington, or Pittsburgh, or both to reach the Cup Final, and Shattenkirk could have made a difference.
Deadline effect? If the Rangers cross over to the Atlantic, they could go deep. If they have to face the Penguins in the first round, it could be a quick postseason. Smith shouldn’t matter too much one way or the other. He’s basically the equivalent of asking for a Diet Coke when you go out to a barbecue place and also order three mixed plates.
5. San Jose Sharks (10-1)
What did the GM do? Doug Wilson paid a lot for Jannik Hansen, but with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau at a combined age of … let me see, carry the one … 156 years old, the time is now in San Jose. This NHL deadline was the scene in The 40-Year Old Virgin when Andy is speed dating. Are you fine? You’re fine, then?
Joel Ward has struggled and Micheal Haley stinks, and the Sharks aren’t winning a Cup with Haley in the lineup every night. Hansen makes the Sharks deeper and a little better. This is an “every little bit helps” deal.
Deadline effect? The Sharks are probably assured of winning two rounds; having Hansen to combat the depth of the Minnesota Wild, Chicago Blackhawks or even the Nashville Predators in the conference finals will be key. It may not seem like much, but the Sharks made themselves better, even if they have to keep Hansen on the roster next year.
Pittsburgh’s acquisition last year of Justin Schultz helped the Penguins solidify their championship position. Photo by Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
4. Pittsburgh Penguins (10-1)
What did the GM do? Apparently, Jim Rutherford didn’t do enough to make his team any better than fourth or fifth in the eyes of oddsmakers. Injuries have ravaged the Penguins defense all year, and adding Ron Hainsey, Mark Streit, and Frank Corrado should provide plenty of insurance if Olli Maatta, Trevor Daley, or whoever else gets hurt during the postseason.
It’s possible the Penguins will have Daley and Maatta on LTIR until the postseason starts, which means they could be anywhere from $4 million to $7 million over the cap—legally. The Blackhawks pulled the same cap-circumventing maneuver with Patrick Kane’s clavicle in 2015, and won a Cup when Kane was magically healthy for Game 1 of the first round. It’s hard to imagine a 68-year-old Rutherford saying, “Don’t hate the player—hate the game!” but here we are.
Deadline effect? While Bovada isn’t bullish on the Penguins, I think it’s between them and the Capitals for the Stanley Cup, so long as all of Pittsburgh’s key players are healthy.
3. Minnesota Wild (11-2)
What did the GM do? Chuck Fletcher wanted another center and he paid a hefty price for him. Without question, Martin Hanzal makes the Wild deeper and stronger down the middle, but is that enough to beat Chicago and/or San Jose? Maybe not, but Minnesota would have no chance against either possible opponent without him.
Give Fletcher credit, as this deal shows he recognizes his team has been riding Devan Dubnyk hard all season, and that the players in front of him needed to get better. The West is as wide-open as it’s ever been, and the Wild are now just as good as anyone.
Deadline effect? The Wild are legitimate Cup contenders with three strong lines, a very good defense corps, and the best goaltender in the league. Outside of Shattenkirk, getting Hanzal (and Ryan White has been good so far) was the most emphatic move at the deadline.
2. Chicago Blackhawks (11-2)
What did the GM do? Stan Bowman continued to use the blackmail he has on other GMs around the league to make them give him helpful players for nearly nothing. He added Johnny Oduya and Tomas Jurco for a song—and not even a good song, like a Carly Rae Jepsen song, more like a Train song—and now the stupid, annoying, won’t-go-away Blackhawks are in prime position to go deep in the playoffs yet again.
Oduya won’t be asked to be part of the four-man defensemen rotation that carried the Blackhawks over the final two rounds of 2015, but he will help. And don’t you just know that Jurco, who has zero goals this year, will score at least two big goals in the playoffs?
Deadline effect? I still think the Blackhawks aren’t nearly as good as they were two years ago, or even last year. But again, the West is up for grabs. If Corey Crawford, whose save percentage is .902 in his past 17 starts, gets hot or the Blackhawks go to better option Scott Darling, they’ll move into “so you’re telling me there’s a chance” territory.
1. Washington Capitals (5-1)
What did the GM do? Brian MacLellan took the best player available and added him to the best team in the league. That’s such a rarity in the NHL, which values “chemistry” and “the room” the way parents value their children’s lives. MacLellan made the Capitals so much better than everyone else that there will be no excuses if they fall short of a title.
Then again, by acquiring Shattenkirk, MacLellan heaped a lot of pressure on a team that hasn’t ever responded well to it. Still, he made a great deal for a team that is primed to win it all this year, and didn’t give up a lot to do it.
Deadline effect? If the Capitals screw this up, maybe build a new arena somewhere else, because the only explanation for another playoff failure is that the Verizon Center is haunted. Probably by that guy who left the company to shill for Sprint.
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