This article is part of our Neutral Zone Wrap series.
The excitement is over. All the confetti has been swept up. The noisemakers have been stored for another season. Yes, the NHL trade deadline has passed.
And what a painful day that was. Everything went so sloooooow. The on-air commentators reviewing the proceedings looked as bored as someone watching another person watching paint dry. But eventually – and most of it after the 3 p.m. EST finish line – we heard a bunch of names announced and wondered why we wasted several hours in front of the TV. But enough about the Oscars…
We've looked at all the deals completed in the last month, a.k.a. the post-Dion Phaneuf period, and placed the best candidates into three fantasy categories. Of everyone involved, who can be of service to you now? Who will be helpful in a year or so? And who should you avoid with a 10-billion-foot pole?
Forwards
Now: Mikkel Boedker, Colorado
The Divine Dane has struggled of late (six points, minus-14 in 19 games), but he can still do damage when necessary. For the Avs, Boedker will slot in the spot vacated by Alex Tanguay on the second line alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog. Pretty sweet.
(Honorable mentions: Andrew Ladd, Chicago; Lee Stempniak, Boston)
Soon: Aleksi Saarela, Carolina
Only 19, but already a steady performer at the pro (31 in 46) and junior (seven in seven at the WJHC) levels. The Rangers probably didn't want to give up the Finn but that's
The excitement is over. All the confetti has been swept up. The noisemakers have been stored for another season. Yes, the NHL trade deadline has passed.
And what a painful day that was. Everything went so sloooooow. The on-air commentators reviewing the proceedings looked as bored as someone watching another person watching paint dry. But eventually – and most of it after the 3 p.m. EST finish line – we heard a bunch of names announced and wondered why we wasted several hours in front of the TV. But enough about the Oscars…
We've looked at all the deals completed in the last month, a.k.a. the post-Dion Phaneuf period, and placed the best candidates into three fantasy categories. Of everyone involved, who can be of service to you now? Who will be helpful in a year or so? And who should you avoid with a 10-billion-foot pole?
Forwards
Now: Mikkel Boedker, Colorado
The Divine Dane has struggled of late (six points, minus-14 in 19 games), but he can still do damage when necessary. For the Avs, Boedker will slot in the spot vacated by Alex Tanguay on the second line alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog. Pretty sweet.
(Honorable mentions: Andrew Ladd, Chicago; Lee Stempniak, Boston)
Soon: Aleksi Saarela, Carolina
Only 19, but already a steady performer at the pro (31 in 46) and junior (seven in seven at the WJHC) levels. The Rangers probably didn't want to give up the Finn but that's the price of getting Eric Staal. Saarela will finish the season at home but will undoubtedly be lured across the Atlantic to prove himself on the bigger stage.
(Honorable mentions: Marko Dano, Winnipeg; Valentin Zykov, Carolina)
Never: Raffi Torres, Toronto
Waste of space. No other words required.
(Honorable mentions: Tomas Fleischmann, Chicago; Brooks Laich, Toronto)
Defense
Now: Kris Russell, Dallas
A blueliner (four goals, 11 assists) with a tendency to jump up too much on the attack joins a club where that's the norm. Sounds like a perfect fit. Or at least a better one than the continued logjam in Calgary.
(Honorable mention: Justin Schultz, Pittsburgh)
Soon: Kyle Wood, Arizona
A towering teen at 6-foot-5 whose offensive game is developing nicely in the OHL (35 in 40), Wood still requires a bit of work to be ready for the show, but he has huge upside if he continues to progress as planned.
(Honorable mention: Connor Carrick, Toronto)
Never: John-Michael Liles, Boston
Despite his moderate success in Carolina (15 points, averaging over 20 minutes), the veteran is bound to take a hit in Boston. Liles may receive some power-play action, but probably won't see enough ice time to be fantasy worthy.
(Honorable mention: Rob Scuderi, Los Angeles)
Goalies
Now: James Reimer, San Jose
Of the legitimate choices available, Reimer (2.49 GAA, .918 save mark) has the best shot of unseating the regular starter. That's not to say Martin Jones (2.32, .917, 31 wins, five shutouts) will lose out, but at least there's no questioning whether the former Leaf will give it his best shot.
(Honorable mention: Anders Nilsson, St. Louis)
Soon: Alex Stalock, Toronto
With the mess that's surrounded Toronto's goaltending situation the last decade or so, anyone has a chance of coming in and winning the top job. So why not someone who's actually performed decently in the NHL (2.37, .911 in 62 career appearances)?
(Honorable mention: Niklas Lundstrom, Edmonton)
Never: Drew MacIntyre, Chicago
He's 32 and set to join his 15th different team since turning pro. Chicago probably took him on out of pity.
(Honorable mention: Niklas Backstrom, Calgary)
Key Matchups
A couple teams have dropped out of contention, but that shouldn't decrease the game quality or intensity. This week's feature encounters:
Wednesday/Sunday: Chicago vs. Detroit. A double-dip of the old Norris Division rivalry. Can't wait to see Denis Savard do his spin-o-rama on Greg Stefan.
Thursday: Florida at Colorado. A rematch of the lopsided '96 Cup Finals. But, more importantly, a battle between two rising powers in their respective conferences.
Saturday: Ottawa at Tor—just kidding! Anaheim at Los Angeles. Another chapter in the struggle for SoCal supremacy. And if this one is even half as intense as last Sunday, it should be worth your while.
Sunday: NY Islanders at NY Rangers. With "New York" in each team's name, you know it's going to be good. Wait, they're also rivals?!
