If you have the chance to win the Stanley Cup, you pay whatever price that you must and worry about the future later. If you are buried at the bottom of the standings while awaiting your lottery selection number, you clear out salary to make room for a rebuild. In both cases the future is now.
The Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Blackhawks, and New York Rangers have been among the most successful teams in recent years because they are well run operations. Well run operations go all-in for the Stanley Cup, even if they bet all the chips on cards that are not quite aces. This salary cap era has a way of closing Cup windows for teams. That’s why you worry about tomorrow when tomorrow arrives and focus like a laser beam on now.
Ranger Blockbuster
The New York Rangers traded defenseman John Moore, forward Anthony Duclair, a second round 2015 draft pick and a first round 2016 draft pick to the Arizona Coyotes for defensemen Keith Yandle and Chris Summers, along with a 2015 fourth round draft pick.
Arizona general manager Dan Maloney is making an absolute haul of top draft choices which will bode well for the future. At the same time Rangers president Glen Sather correctly overpaid for a defenseman in Yandle that the entire league has coveted for years, despite his poor plus/minus ratings and propensity for turnovers. It is believed that Yandle will improve if surrounded by the much stronger supporting cast in New York. Yandle had four goals and 37 assists in 63 games with Arizona this year.
Blackhawks try and fill Kane Void
With Patrick Kane out until perhaps the third round of the playoffs, the Chicago Blackhawks are trying to acquire enough scoring depth to stay alive for his return. The Blackhawks acquired Antoine Vermette from the Arizona Coyotes for a 2015 first round draft pick and defenseman Klas Dahlbeck. It is a steep price that Chicago general manager Stan Bowman paid for Vermette but the Blackhawks will likely be losing key players such as Patrick Sharp and Johnny Oduya due to the Salary Cap and may not have enough depth to make a credible run next year. Vermette was the Coyotes second leading scorer with 13 goals and 22 assists in 63 games.
In Dean We Trust
The Los Angeles Kings fans have blind faith in their guru general manager Dean Lombardi, and rightfully so after two Stanley Cups that sandwiched a Conference Final berth the past three seasons. Lombardi engineered the trade of the deadline last year when he acquired finishing score Marian Gaborik from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
This time Lombardi addressed his thin blue line by acquiring defenseman Andrej Sekera from the Carolina Hurricanes for a 2015 first round draft choice and defenseman Roland McKeown. Sekera is an eight year veteran that will reunite with former Sabre teammate and defenseman Rockin’ Robyn Regehr. He has been a plus player for most of his career and can competently make plays as evidenced by his 11 goals and 33 assists last season. Sekera fills the void of Slava Voynov, who is out facing domestic violence charges.
Lombardi no doubt overpaid, but the Kings are looking to get the maximum out of their opportunities while their Stanley Cup window is still open. The Kings will be facing tough decisions on the Salary Cap in the next two years that may cost them valuable depth and role players such as center Jarret Stoll. The future is now for the Kings and Lombardi has signaled to his oft-tired team that they will be making another Stanley Cup run.
Jagr Adds Gravitas for Panthers Playoff Drive
The Florida Panthers are desperate for offense and acquired two aging veteran forwards to address their inability to light the lamp. Dany Heatley arrives from the Anaheim Ducks for winger Thomas Fleischmann and Jaromir Jagr arrives from the New Jersey Devils for a 2015 second round draft pick and a conditional third round pick for 2016.
Heatley’s wheels came off long ago as he was a plodding skater even in his best days but it is hoped that perhaps he can help on the power play. He will start in San Antonio of the American League and try and work his way up.
Jagr is 43 years old but brings an impeccable work ethic and the gravitas of having been a former Stanley Cup champion and a future Hall of Famer. Jagr is not going to score 30 goals but he will provide much needed leadership and the know how to get to the post season.
Trade Bruin in Boston? Boston general manager Peter Chiarelli is on the hottest seat in the NHL as Florida is tracking the Bruins down for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. Chiarelli is desperate to find scoring depth. Is he desperate enough to bring Toronto’s Phil Kessel back to Boston? Chiarelli had better land something as Bruins nation is in revolt.
We’ll have a trade analysis wrap up for you Tuesday morning.
