Here are the big winners and losers of the NHL trade deadline of 2022. If you’re a die-hard hockey fan, you’ve no doubt gleaned your favorites from this article. Let’s get started with the winners: Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, Anaheim Ducks, and Carolina Hurricanes. Which of these teams will you choose?
Colorado Avalanche – winners
This year’s NHL Trade Deadline was a busy one, and while many teams made big moves, the Avalanche came out on top. However, the Panthers, the New York Rangers, and the San Jose Sharks were hardly the biggest winners. Some of the best players were traded away, and others were left unmoved. Even though this was a busy deadline, there are still some positives to take away from this year’s event.
The Avalanche did not receive a first-round pick, and lost out on Claude Giroux in the process. On the other hand, the Flames picked up Jarnkrok and Carpenter. Even though the Avalanche didn’t get a first-round pick, the move was highly beneficial. It also allowed them to get Josh Manson, who is a solid two-way middle-six winger. The Avalanche have great depth at every position.
Florida Panthers – winners
With a cap of nearly $5.5 million, Florida could become the third team traded at the 2022 NHL trade deadline. Often, teams offload contracts in order to make their math work, and the Panthers can serve as a landing spot for those contracts. In addition to bolstering their defense, the Panthers could also gain draft picks. Whether or not the Panthers get one of those picks will depend on the Panthers’ needs.
The Florida Panthers acquired Claude Giroux, who is still on the team, during the 2022 NHL trade deadline. The team had been seeking a left-shooting defenseman, but the Panthers could have used a left-shooting defenseman instead. Although the Panthers were unable to acquire a defenseman to complement Giroux, they could be on the lookout for a right-handed goaltender or a defensive player, and the Panthers were willing to pay a premium for one.
Anaheim Ducks – winners
After the last few months of the season, it’s time to look back at the recent NHL trade deadline. The Ducks leaned into the selling side, trading away four pending free agents for a first-round pick, seven second-round picks, three third-round selections, and prospects. They received six players back, which is good, but what if they had not traded away one of those four players? Would the Ducks have been better served by gaining draft capital and prospects instead of moving away a first-round pick?
While it is rare to have a complete overhaul of a team, the Ducks are certainly in the position to make major moves if the right players are available. While they will still be missing some core players, they are already positioned to make significant moves this summer. However, they will also be dealing with expiring contracts. As a result, they will need to trade their top players to free up cap space to spend on other projects.
Carolina Hurricanes – loser
The Carolina Hurricanes have been a perennial contender in the Eastern Conference, and they could use some reinforcements at the trade deadline. The Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Boston Bruins all made notable deals, but the Carolina Hurricanes did not. The Hurricanes, however, are not exactly lacking in talent and could use a depth defenseman. In addition, an injury to Jordan Martinook would free up $1.8 million in cap space.
The Carolina Hurricanes also added Artturi Lehkonen, a player who was a top candidate to be traded by the NHL’s trade deadline. But in exchange for Lehkonen, the Senators got a player worth more than their current cap situation. In return, they added depth to their blue line, and lost Gabriel Landeskog in the process. As for the future, the Hurricanes may look to trade away one of their top players, but they did not do it.
Verdict
While the Montreal Canadiens and Vancouver Canucks were the two biggest winners, the New York Rangers were the clear losers in this year’s NHL trade deadline. Both teams had a great deadline, but only one ended up with a winner. The Vancouver Canadiens made an outstanding deadline acquisition in Mats Zuccarello, but the team was unable to replace the injured center because of a trade clause. Likewise, the Vancouver Canucks were able to add Oscar Fantenberg and a second line center to their roster. Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Jets acquired a top-four defenseman in the form of Kevin Hayes, while maintaining their first-round picks.
The Chicago Blackhawks failed to add a major piece, which would have helped the team’s playoff push. But the Stars didn’t send the message that they were giving up on the postseason. They might face the Avalanche or Flames in the first round of the playoffs, but they did not make a big trade. The San Jose Sharks did not make any significant additions.
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