New York Rangers: Grading the Eastern Conference playoff contenders deadline trades

Their rivals

The Rangers playoff rivals were very busy.  The Blueshirts still need to leapfrog at least two teams ahead of them to make the wild card and most of those teams made moves to improve.  There were no blockbuster trades, but the Rangers’ road to the playoffs did not get any easier.

The Islanders and Hurricanes improved substantially while the Blue Jackets did not help themselves at all.  The irony is that in trading Brady Skjei to Carolina, they might have given one of the teams they will have to beat a piece that will make that task even harder.

In looking at Eastern Conference rivals, we are going to take the top two teams in the Atlantic Division (Boston and Tampa) and Metropolitan Division (Washington and Pittsburgh) out of the equation as they are pretty much guaranteed a playoff spot barring a total collapse.  Here’s what the Rangers’ remaining playoff rivals did on deadline day.

Metropolitan Division

CAROLINA HURRICANES –  Grade A :  The Hurricanes needed defense help and they got it in Sami Vatanen and Brady Skjei.    Vatanen and Skjei replace Dougie Hamilton and Brett Pesce so they filled all of their needs. Theoretically, they upgraded their offense by replacing Wallmark and Haula with Trocheck who has a better upside, but those two have combined for 23 goals  and 45 points while Trocheck has 10 goals and 26 points.  Trocheck is outstanding on faceoffs and is built for a playoff run…if they make it.

Trade 1: The Hurricanes acquire center Vincent Trocheck for Lucas Wallmark, pending UFA Erik Haula and two prospects.

Analysis:  At first it looked like the Hurricanes would flip Trocheck for some help on the blueline, but they have declared they are very happy with him so he will be sticking around.  He’s under contract and he’s two years away from a 31 goal season.

Trade 2:  Sami Vatanen from the New Jersey Devils for forward Janne Kuokkanen and a 2020 second round pick.

Analysis:  Vatanen was the best available rental on defense and the Hurricanes got him. Kuokkanen is a decent prospect who is playing center in Charlotte and the Canes had two second rounders (one from the Rangers in the Adam Fox deal).

Trade 3: Brady Skjei from the New York Rangers for a first round draft pick.

This is a win-win for both teams.  For more analysis look at Blue Line Station’s story abotu the deal:

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS –  Grade D: The Jackets didn’t do much to help their playoff push.  Devin Shore isn’t going to the much of a replacement for the boatload of injuries the Jackets have suffered.  John Tortorella will continue to work his magic behind the bench, but Columbus didn’t do enough to improve and are ripe to be overtaken.

Trade 1: Devin Shore is acquired from the Anaheim Ducks for Sonny Milano.

Analysis:  Shore is a 25 year old center who scored 13 goals a few years ago for Dallas. Sonny Milano is a former first round pick who never lived up to his potential.  With Shore they get a restricted free agent with an upside, but this is really nothing more than a change of scenery transaction.

Trade:  The Jackets get a 2020  seventh round pick for forward Markus Hannikainen.

Analysis:  Columbus needs to replenish their supply of picks, this is a start.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS –  Grade B plus : The Islanders needed offense and they got it in J.G. Pageau and he then signed with the Isles for six more years.  The key question is whether the Isles got the guy who has scored 24 goals this season or the player who scored 18 goals the last two years combined. If it’s the latter, they gave up an awful lot and will be stuck with him until he is 33 years old.

Trade 1:  The Isles get center Jean-Gabriel Pageau in exchange for a 2020 lottery protected first round pick, a 2020 second round pick and a 2022 third round pick if the Islanders win the 2020 Stanley Cup.

Analysis:   For the rebuilding Senators, it is a nice haul of draft picks for the player many considered the second best pending UFA forward out there.  The Islanders needed offense, especially with Derick Brassard out with a fractured cheek and Pageau will help them.  Pageau has agreed to a six year contract at $5 million per year.

Trade 2: The Islanders got defenseman Jordan Schmaltz from the Maple Leafs for Matt Lorito.

Analysis:  Schmaltz is a former first round pick of the St. Louis Blues in 2012 who was traded to the Leafs in the off-season.  He played 20 games for the Blues last season, but has been in the AHL all season and is a depth forward for the Islanders.

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – Grade B :  The Flyers must think that they are a lock for the playoffs as their two acquisitions are depth pickups.   Both players are  pure rental as Grant and Thompson will be UFA’s after the season.  Thompson will be the more valuable of the pair with his faceoff ability and experience.

Trade 1:  Center Derek Grant from Anaheim for a 2020 fourth round draft pick

Analysis:  The Flyers are loading up for the rest of the season and the playoffs and they get a solid depth center in Derek Grant who has scored 14 goals this season, a career high.  Not much of a return for the Ducks as Criscuolo is a career AHL player and the pick is in the 4th round.

Trade 2:  Center Nate Thompson for a 2021 fifth round pick.

Analysis:  It’s a good pick up for the Flyers.  Thompson is 35 years old and has a career 52% faceoff winning percentage.    It’s useful depth for the rest of the season and the playoffs.

Trade 3:  Forward Nathan Noel from the Blackhawks for defenseman T.J. Brennan.

Analysis:  Who?  Noel was assigned to the ECHL and Brennan plays in the AHL.