The biggest losers and winners of the 2021 NHL Trade Deadline
The 2021 NHL Trade Deadline has now passed, and as the dust settles on the chaos, let’s examine which teams improved, and which teams made moves that immediately raised eyebrows.
The Winners
Detroit Red Wings
It’s hard to start with any team other than the Detroit Red Wings. Not only did they acquire Jakub Vrana for Anthony Mantha, but Steve Yzerman and his staff managed to convince the Washington Capitals to throw in a first and second-round pick as well.
This was a tidy piece of deadline work for a club that has its sights firmly set on the future, and is arguably the best trade any club has made this season.
Boston Bruins
Sure, the deal was technically made a day before the actual trade deadline, but acquiring Taylor Hall and Curtis Lazar for just Anders Bjork and a second-round pick is a massive win for the Boston Bruins.
Hall will likely make his Bruins’ debut tomorrow when they take on his former club, the Buffalo Sabres. He’s going to play in Boston’s top six, and could find success not seen since his Hart Trophy win back in 2018.
The Bruins also added defenceman Mike Reilly, and that certainly doesn’t hurt their chances at playoff success.
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets dealt Riley Nash to the Toronto Maple Leafs for an extra seventh-round pick while simultaneously freeing up cap space. They weren’t done there, as they also were part of a three-team deal that eventually saw David Savard end up in Tampa Bay.
The real value of the day that firmly places Columbus in the “winners” category is the Nick Foligno trade. Another three-team deal, this trade saw the Jackets walk away with the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 2021 first-round pick, along with a 2021 fourth-round pick as well.
This was a smart time for the Blue Jackets to be “sellers”, as they managed to mine exceptional value from their assets when all was said and done.
Calgary Flames
The Flames likely weren’t going to make the playoffs, and have firmly hitched their wagon to Jacob Markstrom. Picking up any sort of draft capital — let alone a third from the Maple Leafs — in return for David Rittich is good business for the club, full stop.
Rittich was set to become an unrestricted free agent and wasn’t likely to re-sign with the Flames this offseason. With a bit of an easier schedule from here on out, the Flames simply weren’t going to need a solid backup goalie as much as they did earlier in the season. Look for head coach Darryl Sutter to ride with Markstrom from here on out.
Losers
Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres’ hands were certainly tied thanks to Taylor Hall’s NMC, but giving up both Hall and Curtis Lazar while only having Anders Bjork and a second-round pick to show for it is less than ideal for the club.
As expected, the Bruins are in the “winners” category, while the Sabres find themselves in the “losers” category.
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers gave up a conditional 2022 fourth-round pick for Dmitry Kulikov, and Oilers fans were certainly hoping for more. The team currently sits third in the North Division, and should have used the deadline to gear up to make a strong playoff push.
Kulikov isn’t likely to move the needle much or put them in a much better position to succeed in the postseason.