New York Rangers getting most out of deadline trades followed by Panthers and Bruins
Anthony Scultore
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A week has passed since the NHL Trade Deadline with some significant players changing jerseys.
Well over 30 transactions were made leading up to and at the deadline on March 21. While it’s only fair to let many of the moves take hold and be evaluated over time, let’s look at which teams have gotten an immediate bump from their new acquisitions.
New York Rangers trade deadline bump
Andrew Copp: 3 GP, 1 G – 4A, 5 POINTS
Frank Vatrano: 6 GP, 4G – 0A, 4 POINTS
The New York Rangers made several trades that started by acquiring Frank Vatrano from the Florida Panthers on March 16 for a fourth-round pick. They followed that up with several other deadline day acquisitions including Tyler Motte, Justin Braun, and Andrew Copp.
Copp, was the biggest move which garnered the Winnipeg Jets two conditional second-round picks with one that can become a first-round selection if the Rangers get into the Conference Final and he plays 50% of the games. The Rangers also sent prospect Morgan Barron and fifth-round pick away in the deal.
Of all the players traded at the deadline, Copp has been the most productive points wise with 5 in 3 games. Vatrano has played more games at 6 than most acquired at this time of year, but his 4 goals clearly leads the pack.
Florida Panthers trade deadline bump
Claude Giroux: 3 GP, 0G – 4A, 4 POINTS
The Florida Panthers went after the big fish in the pond by acquiring Claude Giroux and Ben Chiarot. They also added Robert Hagg after losing Aaron Ekblad to injury.
Both Giroux and Chiarot were considered the top forward and defenseman moved at the deadline and it cost the Panthers a ton.
Chiarot came at the expense of forward Tyler Smilanic, a 1st-round pick in 2023 and a 4th-round pick in 2022. Giroux was obtained with Connor Bunnaman, German Rubtsov, and a 5th-round pick in 2024 for Owen Tippett, a 1st-round pick 2024, and a 3rd-round pick 2023. Both players had 50% of their salary retained.
So far, Chiarot has been good with 1 assist in 3 games, but also has a -2 rating. Giroux on the other hand has looked great playing with the Aleksander Barkov on the top line and first PP unit. He currently has 4 assists in his 3 games played and is living up to the hype that proceeded his trade.
Boston Bruins trade deadline bump
Hampus Lindholm: 2 GP, 0G – 1A, 1 POINT, +3, TOI – 22:02
The Boston Bruins did not make a lot of moves at the trade deadline but they did add Hampus Lindholm from the Anaheim Ducks. They then gave him an 8-year extension with an AAV of $6.5 million dollars quickly removing the rental tag from his name.
Boston paid a steep price shipping defensemen Urho Vaakanainen and John Moore to the Ducks, along with a first-round draft pick in 2022 and second-round picks in 2023 and 2024. Anaheim is retaining 50% of his current cap hit for the season.
Lindholm has quickly acclimated himself with the Bruins and is already playing top pair minutes. So far, the Bruins have won both games he’s suited up for and he’ll play a key role in their stretch drive and playoff run.
Honorable mention goes to the Minnesota Wild in landing Marc-Andre Fleury. He played just one game since the deadline deal but won in OT, giving up just 2 goals and posting a .920 SV%.
