-Have to think the biggest offensive impact from any player dealt last week will have to be Jeff Carter in Los Angeles. Carter effectively played his way out of Columbus, exhibiting nothing but professionalism upon being jettisoned from Philadelphia. Carter snagged a hat trick in his last appearance with Columbus last Tuesday and you have to wonder how a reunion with drinking buddy Mike Richards (surely, the LA bars are better than Philadelphia), former coaches John Stevens and Ron Hextall will affect Carter. Will he find the form that makes him a lock for 35 goals that he left in Philadelphia or was his play in Columbus simply emblematic of his wanting out of that city.

Carter?s ability to be a force up the middle is not a question, but just his maturity. The Kings need an offensive upgrade in the worst way and paid the price of a quality defender to acquire Carter?s services, giving them two potentially great centers in Richards and Carter and a legit star in Anze Kopitar. If, for some reason, Carter is available in your league, grab him and take the risk. He?ll definitely generate shots on goal and offensive chances, while hopefully clearing up space for his teammates to get open. With 20 games left, 7-10 goals are likely from the center.

-Nashville's acquisitions of Andrei Kostitsyn and Hal Gill from Montreal should address some issues both with the top-6 forwards and with the defense. One of the day's more talked about deals was announced around the 3 PM Eastern deadline with Paul Gaustad heading from Buffalo to Nashville courtesy of a first-round pick. Gaustad won't do much offensively, but he's a nice addition to an already sound defensive team.

The benefits for owners the season's final six weeks will come for those that own Pekka Rinne thanks to Gill and Gaustad tightening up the defense. Offensively, you have to believe that Andrei Kostitsyn will produce more than the 24 points he did with Montreal. It can only help Nashville's attack, as their forwards' numbers are largely indistinguishable. Have to think Kostitsyn will play alongside either Fisher or Legwand and it doesn't hurt to have Shea Weber and Ryan Suter firing outlet passes. If Kostitsyn doesn't work out, Nashville only paid a second-round pick next season and a conditional 2013 fifth-round pick. You could do worse than picking up the elder Kostitsyn in deeper leagues.

Another deal that could, in hindsight, look like a steal was San Jose acquiring T.J. Galiardi from the Avs along with Daniel Winnik, a solid checking forward. Galiardi is intriguing because he obviously fell behind other young talents in Denver like Ryan O'Reilly and Matt Duchene, but the kid still 23 years old and posted 39 points two seasons ago. Denver Post writer Adrian Dater noted that Galiardi had lost some of his confidence playing in Denver, but he could be worth a look if he sees some offensive opportunity with the Sharks. The Sharks gave up Mike Connolly, prospect Michael Sgarbossa and slick-handed Jamie McGinn in the trade, but the trade they didn't make was even better.

According to numerous reports the Sharks again discussed Rick Nash with Columbus, but held firm on not trading away Logan Couture. -Dan Pennucci @DVNucci42