The best moves at the trade deadline

Here’s a look at some of the best trades at the deadline involving players who had an immediate impact on their new team.

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Butch Goring, Los Angeles Kings to New York Islanders, March 10, 1980

Goring was acquired by the Islanders for forward Billy Harris and defenseman Dave Lewis in a trade that changed the face of the franchise. The forward had 11 points in 12 regular season games to help the Islanders go 8-0 and four ties down the stretch before posting 19 points in 21 playoff games. New York thus won the first of four consecutive championships in which Goring proved to be an important element.

« They want me to play my style here and with the talent we have, no matter who I play with, the line I’m going to play on has the potential to take the pressure off of (Bryan) Trottier’s, Goring had said after the transaction. I honestly think we can win the Cup this year. »

Ron Francis, Hartford Whalers to Pittsburgh Penguins, March 4, 1991

Francis was in the midst of his 10th consecutive season of at least 20 goals when he was traded in a six-player trade along with defensemen Grant Jennings and Ulf Samuelsson for forwards John Cullen and Jeff Parker and defenseman Zarley Zalapski . Francis, a future Hall of Famer, had 11 points in 14 regular season games before helping the Penguins win the Stanley Cup. He had 17 points in 24 playoff games and scored four game-winning goals, a Penguins high, tied with Kevin Stevens. Francis had 27 playoff points the following year and the Penguins were crowned champions again.

Stéphane Matteau and Brian Noonan, Chicago Blackhawks to New York Rangers, March 21, 1994

Matteau had seven points in 12 games after the trade and scored two crucial playoff goals: one in second overtime in Game 3 and another in second overtime in Game 7 against the New Jersey Devils in the Finals association to help the Rangers reach the Stanley Cup Finals, where New York ended a 54-year drought without a title. Noonan scored four goals, including three game-winners, and also had a say in the playoffs. In return, in that trade, the Blackhawks got their hands on forward Tony Amonte, who went on to record six consecutive seasons of at least 30 goals.

Rob Blake, Los Angeles Kings at Colorado Avalanche, February 21, 2001

The acquisition of Blake, one of the greatest defensemen of all time, helped the Avalanche reach the top. Blake had 10 points in 13 regular season games and 19 points in 23 playoff games. His 29:26 ice time average was the fourth most in the playoffs and Colorado won the Stanley Cup. The trade came a season after the Avalanche acquired Raymond Bourque from the Boston Bruins. Bourque recorded 52 points in 2000-01 at age 40 and retired after lifting the Cup. Colorado also received forward Steve Reinprecht in the trade, which sent three players and two first-round picks to the Kings for Blake.

“We had one of the best teams you could put together (with Bourque Hall of Famers Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg and Patrick Roy), Blake said in 2015. It’s hard to put together such a team. »

Dwayne Roloson, Minnesota Wild to Edmonton Oilers, March 8, 2006

Struggling with problems in net, the Oilers moved before the deadline to acquire Roloson in exchange for two draft picks. Roloson got the start in 19 of the last 20 regular season games, going 8-7-4 with a 2.43 goals-against average and .905 save percentage to help Edmonton qualify just for the playoffs (8th in the West). He then helped the Oilers reach the Finals for the first time since 1990 with a 12-5 record, 2.33 GAA and .927 save percentage. Roloson, however, was injured in Game 1 against the Carolina Hurricanes, who won the Cup in seven games.

Mark Recchi, Pittsburgh Penguins at Carolina Hurricanes, March 9, 2006

Recchi was acquired in return for forwards Niklas Nordgren and Krys Kolanos and a second-round pick. The 38-year-old forward, who won the Cup with the Penguins in 1991, had seven points in 20 games with the Hurricanes before making even more impact in the playoffs. Recchi had 16 points and two game-winning goals in 25 games, including the one that took the Hurricanes to a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven series against the Oilers.

Marian Hossa, Atlanta Thrashers at Pittsburgh Penguins, February 26, 2008

Hossa was the biggest name to be traded before the 2008 trade deadline; he and forward Pascal Dupuis were sent to Pittsburgh in return for forwards Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen and Angelo Esposito and a first-round pick. The trade paid off: Hossa had 12 points in 10 regular season games and then led the Penguins with 12 goals and 26 points in 20 playoff games. Pittsburgh, however, lost in six games in the final against the Detroit Red Wings.

Bill Guerin, New York Islanders at Pittsburgh Penguins, March 4, 2009

When the Islanders captain was traded to the Penguins for a conditional draft pick, the 38-year-old forward looked younger. Guerin, a 17-year NHL veteran who had 36 points in 61 games prior to the trade, had 12 points in 17 games and immediately developed great chemistry with Sidney Crosby. He scored seven goals (including two winners) and recorded 15 points in 24 playoff games to help the Penguins defeat the Red Wings in seven games in the Stanley Cup Final.

 » [Jouer avec les Penguins] was one of the most positive experiences of my life, Guerin said after retiring in 2010. They were great to bring me here. My family and I have bonded with this team and this community. Fortunately, we were able to win the Stanley Cup together. It was amazing. »

Jeff CarterColumbus Blue Jackets to Los Angeles Kings, Feb. 23, 2012

The Kings were chasing a playoff spot and acquiring Carter helped them achieve their goal. Los Angeles, which sent the defender back Jack Johnson and a first-round pick at Columbus, won 29 of his next 41 games and went 16-4 in the playoffs. Carter was the best sniper in the playoffs (tied with six other players) with eight goals and three game-winning goals, including the differencer in Game 6 of the 2012 Finals against the Devils, when the Kings signed the first title in their history. Carter also helped the Kings win the Cup in 2014.

Martin St-Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning to New York Rangers, March 5, 2014

After 13 seasons with the Lightning, St. Louis was traded to the Rangers for forward Ryan Callahan and three draft picks (including two first-round picks). St. Louis, which had won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s leading scorer the previous season, was still playing excellent hockey before the trade with 61 points in 62 games. He had eight points in 19 regular season meetings with the Rangers, before recording eight goals (three winners) and 15 points in 25 playoff games to help New York reach the Stanley Cup Finals, where the team s lost in five games against the Kings.

“I was lucky to be part of an excellent organization [à New York] for two years, supported Saint-Louis after retiring on July 2, 2015. The opportunity to play for the Cup and be one victory away from repeating the feat (in 2014-15) […] it is an experience that I will never forget. »

justin schultzEdmonton Oilers to Pittsburgh Penguins, Feb. 27, 2016

The defenseman had 10 points in 45 games and was having the worst season of his career when he was traded for a third-round pick. Although he didn’t perform miracles with eight points in 18 regular season games and four assists in 15 playoff games, Schultz added depth on the blue line and Pittsburgh won the Stanley Cup. The following season, Schultz bounced back with his career-best offensive output, scoring 51 points in 78 games and 13 points in 21 playoff games to help the Penguins lift the Cup again.

Blake ColemanNew Jersey Devils to Tampa Bay Lightning, Feb. 16, 2020

Lightning paid top dollar for Coleman, giving up forward prospect Nolan Foote and a first-round pick. Coleman, who we wanted for his aggressiveness, collected one assist and accumulated 16 penalty minutes in nine regular season games. The forward added five goals and 13 points, in addition to 31 penalty minutes, in the playoffs. He notably scored the insurance goal in Game 6 of the Finals when the Lightning defeated the Dallas Stars 2-0. The following season, Coleman had 31 points (14 goals, 17 assists) in 55 regular season games and 11 points in 23 playoff games, and Tampa Bay won the Stanley Cup for the second consecutive season.

“Coleman will fit in well with our squad,” Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said after the trade. I believe in this team, and I think we are even better with the acquisition of Blake Coleman. Not only will he make us a more competitive team this season, but he will also make us a more competitive team next season. »