NHL Trade Deadline: What The Hawks and Jets Did

That was a quick turnaround! Note, the cool mask stays, for now.

 

The Winnipeg Jets were active on trade deadline day, while the Blackhawks dealt the biggest name to the Wild. After the dust settled, including some deals announced after the 3:00 pm EST deadline, these are the trades involving the Blackhawks and Winnipeg Jets:

Blackhawks traded:

• Marc Andre Fleury- (Minnesota Wild): The biggest name and potentially the most impactful player traded was the Fleury who went to the divisional rival, Minnesota Wild. No surprise, we pretty much knew he was going somewhere at the deadline and St. Paul is a short distance from Chicago, so Fleury's family can stay in Chicago. Return: conditional first round pick (2nd unless Minnesota make it to conference finals and Fleury wins at least 4 games) I hate conditionals, this means we have to hope the Wild go far in the playoffs, sucks!

• Ryan Carpenter (Calgary Flames): Doesn't get much in return, but gives the vet an opportunity with a contender. Good move by the Flames. Return: fifth round pick in 2024 

Jets traded:

• Andrew Copp (New York Rangers) and a sixth round pick: The impending UFA's trade was announced minutes before the close of the deadline and he will be a big loss for the Jets. They made a few moves earlier in the day to try to fill his spot, but his versatility will be especially missed. Return: conditional first round pick (2nd unless the Rangers win 2 rounds and Copp plays 50% of the games), conditional 22/23 second round, 2023 fifth round and Morgan Barron.

• Nathan Beaulieu (Pittsburgh Penguins): No room on the roster for the scrappy Beaulieu. I think he's injured again. Return: 2022 conditional seventh round pick.
• Bryan Little's contract & Nathan Smith's signing rights (Arizona Coyotes): Bryan Little's playing career is probably done, now the Coyotes can pay him (aka: salary dump). Smith was drafted in 2018 and is currently playing college, but he's unsigned. If the Yotes can't sign him, he'll become a free agent. Return: 2022 fourth round pick
• Nelson Nogier (Los Angeles Kings): In a swap of minor league players that won't affect the present Jets lineup. Return: Markus Phillips (Moose-bound)
  

Jets added:

• Mason Appleton (from Seattle): Familiar to the Jets already as Appleton was unprotected and taken by Seattle during the entry draft. Appleton probably thought he would have an expanded role on the Kraken and not be a bottom 6 player. Didn't happen, so he's better off playing on a better team. Brought in to help fill the hole a departing Copp will leave. Gave up: fourth round pick in 2023.
• Zach Sanford (from Ottawa): Generic winger who becomes a UFA after the season. He has 9 goals and 8 assists this season. Will also fill a hole in the third or fourth line. Gave up: 2022 fifth round pick.

So, the Hawks end up not trading DeHaan and Kubalik, but trade Fleury, Carpenter and Hagel. In the process they acquired draft picks, including 2 first rounders (with the potential of a third) and a couple of decent young players from the Lightning. Not a bad outing by rookie GM, Kyle Davidson.

The Jets had to trade Copp, he didn't want to extend, so they got what they could. I don't know much about Barron and the picks could be iffy, so similar to Fleury, we may have to cheer on the Rangers at least for two playoff rounds. As the old saying goes, "the team that gets the best player will win the trade". Appleton and Sanford are uneventful, so these moves will hurt more than it helps. And why didn't they trade Stastny??!

Up next: Jets play at home against Vegas (again!) on Tuesday and the Hawks don't play until Wednesday for a late one against the Ducks.

Goaltending Is Everything!

The Winnipeg Jets continued their quest in pursuit of a playoff spot and helped themselves by blitzing the hapless, Vegas Golden Knights. I say hapless because Vegas is truly trending downward and may play themselves out of a playoff spot with their spotty play and weak goaltending. The Jets meanwhile scored seven goals and are starting to heat up at the right time. They've won four of their last five games and won two in a row against teams higher in the standings. Are the Jets rounding the corner?

Meanwhile, the Chicago Blackhawks played a rematch against the Boston Bruins with both of those games decided by a single goal with the Bruins winning. Instead of losing the game in the last minute, the Hawks took the Bruins to overtime to at least get a point (not that it matters anymore), but still lost. 

Quick takeaways:

• Goalies are important: It's no secret that in the playoffs you have to be riding a hot goaltender. I can't think of a team that went deep without an outstanding performance from their goalie(s). Approaching the trade deadline I'm positive there will be some goalie movement. As witnessed at the Jets game, the Knights were done in by inadequate netminding. Former Jet, Laurent Brossoit and Logan Thompson were brutal last night (they faced 23 shots between them) and without starter, Robin Lehner this team is in big trouble. In Chicago, though well out of the playoff race, Marc Andre Fleury faced 46 shots and he was outstanding only allowing two goals in regulation and OT. The Hawks were out-shot 46-20 and this was definitely a goalie earned point. Whether Fleury will be dealt to a contender before the deadline is a mystery, but I'm sure GM Kyle Davidson is receiving plenty of calls. The Knight on the other hand must be regretting dumping Fleury in the off-season, ignoring the fact Lehner has not been durable and injury-free for much of his career. The Maple Leafs have suffered inconsistent goaltending all season, but last night, rookie, Erik Kallgren recorded a shutout in his first NHL start...more false hope for the Leafs?
• Gordie Howe Hat-trick: After the Jets, Logan Stanley got into a scrap and assisted on Kyle Connor's goal in the first period, I jokingly said, "If he scores he can get a Gordie Howe hat-trick!", as unlikely as that could be. Low and behold, Stanley turned the trick and scored his FIRST goal of the season mid-way through the second. He was even first star! Lol!
  

Trust me, the puck did go in the net. See that bulge on the top of the net.

• Hot scorers: Kyle Connor notched his 38th goal of the season and has scored in five straight games. He's now fourth in the league in goals and only trails Matthews, Draisaitl and Kreider. The Cat didn't score for the Hawks (he sits at 34), but Brandon Hagel scored his career high 21st goal and has scored in four straight games and a five game point streak.

Up next: With the trade deadline just around the corner, as in next Monday, I'll be watching for possible action (if any) there could be with the Hawks (sellers) and Jets (sellers?/buyers?). Stay tuned!