2012 TRADE DEADLINE RECAP & WEEKLY TV VIEWER GUIDE

Winger Dustin Penner is taking the Gretzky turnpike from Edmonton to Los Angeles...

  ...while Panthers GM Dale Tallon is trying to keep track of which player he just sent packing out the door

ANAHEIM: Acquired W Brad Winchester (STL), F Joel Perrault and a 3rd round pick in 2012 (VAN)
-A solid move by Bob Murray. The Blues get a serviceable forward to give them some depth beyond their top two lines. Perrault is a prospect.

ATLANTA: Acquired W Radek Dvorak and a 5th round pick in 2011 from Florida, claimed D Rob Schremp off of waivers (NYI), acquired D Brett Festerling (MON)
-The Thrashers already have a solid blueline, but it's mostly offensive. Festerling and Schremp gives them depth and a bit of grit. I really like the addition of Dvorak. It gives them some offensive punch up front, its an upgrade from the recently traded Freddy Modin, and Dvorak is plenty experienced. Rick Dudley did a nice job of acquiring pieces that could help without giving up a whole lot.

BOSTON: Acquired G Anton Khudobin (MIN)
-A prospect addition. The Bruins have made plenty of moves already.

CALGARY: Acquired W Freddy Modin (ATL), claimed D Brett Carson off of waivers (CAR)
-GM Jay Feaster wasn't in a position to do much, but he added quality depth up front with Modin. Modin is a streaky player but has a knack for scoring timely goals. The Flames have a good mix of wingers.

CAROLINA: Acquired D Bryan Allen (FLA)
-They had to give up Sergei Samsonov, but getting one more quality defenseman was more important than holding on to the streaky Samsonov (also, the Cory Stillman acquisition made Samsonov expendable). Jim Rutherford is great at making minor tweaks that go a long way, and this fits the mold.

CHICAGO: Acquired D Chris Campoli (OTT)
-Stan Bowman didn't have room to do much, but he's taken care of his blueline. Campoli brings a good balance of a steady defenseman that can also contribute at the other end of the rink. With rookie Corey Crawford having to be the guy for the defending champs, adding quality to the blueline was a big need.

COLUMBUS: Acquired W Scottie Upshall and D Sami Lepesto (PHX); F Greg Moore and F Michael Chaput (PHI)
-Upshall gives the Blue Jackets a good forechecker that can mix it up and produces in bursts. Lepesto is a young defenseman that is still coming along but has shown signs of being a solid rearguard. This isn't a move that will put Columbus over the top, but it will certainly help them a bit. The players from Philly are prospects. 

EDMONTON: Acquired D Kevin Montgomery (COL); D Colten Teubert, 1st round pick in 2011, and a conditional 3rd round pick in 2012.
-Montgomery was a young defenseman swap with Colorado for fellow D-Man Shawn Belle - nothing major of note there. As for the treasure chest they got for Dustin Penner...wow. Steve Tambillini knew that the Kings needed to add a big piece and got all he could for the big winger. Steve Tambillini is starting to get the the pieces he needs to build around 1st overall pick Taylor Hall.

FLORIDA: Acquired F Jake Hausworth and a 3rd round pick in 2011 (WAS); D Evan Oberg and 3rd round pick in 2013 (VAN); F Niclas Bergfors and F Patrick Rissmiller (ATL); W Sergei Samsonov (CAR)
-You don't see a team pull of three trades within the division in one day, but Dale Tallon pulled it off. The goal of the Panthers is to completely rebuild around the young talent they have coming up over the next couple of seasons, and they've accomplished that with new young talent and picks. Florida could be a powerhouse in 2-3 seasons. I was shocked that Tomas Vokoun wasn't dealt. Good luck to the Panthers TV and Radio PBP Voices while they learn a drastically new roster.

LOS ANGELES: Acquired W Dustin Penner (EDM)
-The Kings needed to make a big addition, and they did in multiple ways (6'1" - 245lbs, 39 points on the season). Penner uses his size to park himself in front of the crease and clean up the garbage. He also brings a Stanley Cup ring that he won with the Kings crosstown rivals back in 2007. Dean Lombardi got what he needed, but he definitely overpaid for Penner.

MINNESOTA: Acquired D Jeff Penner and F Mikko Lehtonen (BOS)
-Propsect additions.

MONTREAL: Acquired G Drew MacIntyre (ATL)
-After Carey Price, it's Alex Auld and Curis Sanford on the depth chart. Sanford got hurt, so MacIntyre gives them a goalie that the Hamilton Bulldogs can use down the stretch.

NEW JERSEY: Acquired F David Steckel and a 2nd round pick in 2012
-Lou Lamoriello has done it yet again. It's not a flashy move, but he gets a productive forward that fits right in to the Devils and a high draft pick.

NY RANGERS: Acquired F John Mitchell (TOR)
-The Rangers one glaring weakness is depth at Center. Mitchell probably won't get called up to Broadway anytime soon, but he'll get some quality time with the Connecticut Whale. Mitchell had been playing with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL.

OTTAWA: Acquired G Curtis McElhinney on waivers (TB); F Ryan Potulny and a conditional 7th round pick in 2011 (CHI)
-Potulny is a journeyman that has bounced back and forth between the AHL and NHL numerous times. Getting McElhinney will make for a nice back-up for Craig Anderson next season.

PHILADELPHIA: Acquired F Tom Sestito (CLB)
-Sestito is a tough guy that fits the Flyers mold perfectly. He'll spend a lot of time with Adirondack (AHL).

PHOENIX: Acquired D Rotislav Klesla and F Dane Byers (CLB)
-Klesla gives them more experience and depth on the blueline. Byers was a player that Don Maloney drafted back when he was the Rangers assistant GM. Byers will see more time next season. I don't like this move for Phoenix because as good as Klesla can be, losing Upshall and Lepisto was a steep price to pay.

ST. LOUIS: Acquired a 3rd round pick in 2012 (Anaheim)
-The Blues have given up for this season and are building towards next season. It's the right move for the team this year.

VANCOUVER: Acquired F Maxim Lapierre and F MacGregor Sharp (ANA); W Chris Higgins (FLA)
-The Canucks are officially stocked for a deep playoff run. Lapierre is a gritty winger that can score the occasional goal. Higgins is a playmaker with a scoring touch that will fit right in to Alain Vigneault's system. The only thing that can stop Vancouver is themselves right now. 

WASHINGTON: Acquired F Jason Arnott (NJ); D Dennis Wideman (F)
-Arnott provides the Capitals with veteran leadership that can produce and is a savvy playoff vet. Wideman is a well-rounded defenseman and can be pretty productive when he doesn't have one of his bad turnover spells. George McPhee did a good job of making upgrades without giving up too much.

^Brad Richards is staying put in Dallas. After all the hoopla about whether he'd stay or go, GM Joe Nieuwendyk was stuck with Richards suffering from concussion symptoms. Hopefully Richards can make it back in time to contribute for Dallas down the stretch.

**Contract extensions handed out to: Red Wings Goalie Jimmy Howard (2 years, $4.5 million - a fair deal for both sides); Kings winger Justin Williams (4 years - $14.6 million - when he's healthy, he's worth that. Let me know when he stays healthy for a full season)

WEEKLY TV VIEWER GUIDE - WEEK OF 2/28

9 Nationally Televised Games spread out over 7 days (highlighted by a classic Original 6 match-up between the Hawks and Leafs on Saturday night)...yeaaaaa for the NHL stretch run!

MONDAY
Blackhawks @ Wild - 8PM - Versus

This is their last meeting of the season. They split at the United Center and Chicago won in Minnesota back in October. The Blackhawks have won 4 in a row while Minnesota is 3-3-1 in their last seven. Both have with 72 points, but the Wild are in 7th place while the Hawks are down in 9th. A regulation win would mean a whole lot to either winner.

Red Wings @ Kings - 10:30PM - NHL Network
This could be shaping up to be a playoff preview. A great 2nd game in the Monday night doubleheader (these are the lone two games in the NHL tonight). The Kings have taken both meetings this season (winning 3-2 in OT at home and 5-0 at Joe Louis Arena) and .The Red Wings snapped a two game losing streak with a shootout win in Buffalo on Saturday night (they had won 5 in a row before the mini-skid). Los Angeles has won three in a row and this will be the third game of a six game stretch at the Staples Center.

TUESDAY
Sabres @ Rangers - 7PM - Versus
This is the beginning of a seven game road trip for Buffalo. The good news is that they only have five road games the rest of the way. Buffalo has had an up and down month but has managed to remain in playoff contention. The Rangers will be coming off a 2-1 loss to the Lightning at home and will be happy to see February go (4-7-1 for the month). It should be a great goalie showdown between Ryan Miller and Henrik Lundqvist. The Rangers have taken both meetings this year so far. Brad Boyes makes his Sabres debut in this game.

WEDNESDAY
Penguins @ Maple Leafs - 7PM - Versus

The Maple Leafs have earned at least a point in their last 7 games and won four of those games. Goalie James Reimer has been a nice find for Toronto and is the main reason the Leafs haven't fallen out of playoff contention. Toronto won the first meeting of the season, but Pittsburgh has won both since, including a wild 6-5 shootout win at the ACC on Saturday night. The Penguins injuries have finally caught up with them as of late, going 2-4-2 in their last eight.

THURSDAY
Blues @ Capitals - 7PM - NHL Network

The Blues have been a streaky team all season long. They've managed to keep themselves alive in the playoff race, but one more bad streak could leave them looking ahead to 2011-12. St. Louis comes home to play Calgary tomorrow to finish the home-and-home before heading to DC. The Capitals have won four of their past six and host the Islanders on Tuesday. The Caps won their lone meeting with the Blues 4-1 back on 12/1.

FRIDAY

Penguins @ Devils - 7PM - NHL Network

The Penguins get their 2nd nationally televised game of the week against one of the hottest teams in the NHL. The Devils are 17-2-2 in their last 21 and get a chance to avenge one of those regulation losses against Tampa Bay on Wednesday night. The Devils remain 9 points out of 8th in the East and can afford to only lose a couple of games down the stretch if they want to continue their miraculous run to the playoffs. Pittsburgh is 8-7-2 within the Atlantic this year while the Devils are 6-10.

SATURDAY
Blackhawks @ Maple Leafs - 7PM - NHL Network
No matter what the circumstances, Original 6 match-ups are always enjoyable. This is their only match-up of the season. Look for a battle between two of the best young goalies in the NHL between James Reimer (10-4-3 record with a 2.31 GAA and a .929 save percentage) and Corey Crawford (22-12-3 record with a 2.23 GAA and a .923 save percentage), but both teams are also capable of scoring goals quickly. 

SUNDAY
Flyers @ Rangers - 12:30PM - NBC
The NHL gives us our 2nd pseudo-doubleheader of the week, this time with NBC being the lead-in instead of Versus. While capturing the Atlantic Division lead from Philly is a dream that won't come true for the Rangers, a win against the Broad Street Bullies would give them a shot in the arm. The Flyers are 4-0 against the Rangers this year and this will be their last meeting in MSG for the regular season. This will be the third game in four days for Philadelphia.

Capitals @ Panthers - 5PM - NHL Network

This will only be the 4th meeting of the season between these two Southeast Division rivals. Washington has gone 1-1-1 so far against Florida this season. Florida has lost five of their past seven and will play @ Carolina, vs. Montreal, and @ Atlanta before this game. Both teams have played well inside the division this year (Washington is 10-6-2, Florida is 9-6-2). This will be Caps D Dennis Wideman's first game against his old team.