The Impact of Players Acquired at the Trade Deadline

[Down by the River]

It seemed to me like few of the players traded at the deadline had made much of an impact. Although it is early, and their true value will be determined in the playoffs, it is interesting to note that only one forward (Hemsky) has averaged over a point per game. Many of the big name acquisitions (Vanek, Moulson, St Louis, Gaborik, Callahan) have done relatively squat. Sign of things to come in the playoffs, or just players getting used to playing with new teammates?

The only player to make a major impact has been Ryan Miller.

Skater Format: GP Goals Assists Points PIMS

Wingers:

Lee Stempniak (Pittsburgh): 6 0 3 3 2

Matt Moulson (Minnesota): 5 1 1 2 0

Thomas Vanek (Montreal): 5 0 1 1 0

Marian Gaborik (Los Angeles): 5 1 1 2 2

Ales Hemsky (Ottawa): 5 1 6 7 2

Martin Erat (Phoenix): 4 1 0 1 4

Dustin Penner (Washington): 7 0 1 1 0

Marty St Louis (New York) 7 0 2 2 2

Ryan Callahan (Tampa Bay) 5 1 2 3 0

Centres:

David Legwand (Detroit): 6 1 3 4 2

Tuomo Ruutu (New Jersey): 5 1 3 4 6

Marcel Goc (Pittsburgh): 6 0 1 1 2

*Steve Ott (St. Louis) 9 0 2 2 7

Defence:

Rostislav Klesla (Buffalo): 0 0 0 0 0 (Refused to report)

Andrej Meszaros (Boston): 3 1 0 1 2

Andrew MacDonald (Philadelphia): 5 0 1 1 2

Stephane Robidas (Anaheim): 0 0 0 0 0 (Injured?)

Goalie Format: GP Wins Losses OT/SO GAA Save %

Goalies:

Jaroslav Halak (Washington): 5; 3; 2; 0; 2.42; 0.924

Michael Neuvirth (Buffalo): 2; 0; 2; 2.56; 0.949

Tim Thomas (Dallas): 4; 2; 1; 1; 3.31; 0.892

Roberto Luongo (Florida): 5; 2; 2; 1; 2.57; 0.916

*Ryan Miller (St Louis): 8; 7; 0; 1; 1.61; 0.933

________________

*Traded before the deadline

[Baka]

Depends on what you are expecting of them. While many on that list are not posting monster numbers they have maintained the numbers they were already producing. For example Halak's save percentage is higher, Legwand is producing the same pace, Ruutu is producing more than he was, Callahan's points are higher, don't see the Sabres complaining about Neuvirth's .949 save percentage. Defense is harder to judge on numbers. MacD has played well for Philly but his role is reduced and he doesn't see 26 minutes a game now he sees 19.

Most have basically done what was expected. The others could be adjusting to a new system and new line mates. Also possibly restarting a rhythm with a new team. Some of those transitions involved very different style teams.

[Drouin]

Stempniak = 0 goals, 0 assists, 3 points.

[Where's Wellwood]

Lu was traded the day before deadline day.

Stempniak = 0 goals, 0 assists, 3 points.

That is impressive.

[UFCanuck]

Callahan - 4pts in 6 games

He's a winger not a C.

[Alex Burrows 14]

They were all traded before the deadline

[Darkstar]

They've only been on their teams for a few games. Give them some more time and most of them will start putting up better numbers. Look back on this after the playoffs are done.

[Azzy Mahmood]

And to think, most of us assumed Hemsky to Ottawa wouldn't be that successful.

[D-Money]

Who of those players were producing a point-per-game on their old teams?

[D-Money]

And to think, most of us assumed Hemsky to Ottawa wouldn't be that successful.

I suggested numerous times at the last two deadlines to trade for Hemsky. He seemed to me the epitome of a skilled player who needed a change of scenery. We certainly could have used his offensive abilities the last couple of playoffs.

I figured whoever ended up with him would be happy. Good for him, and Ottawa.

[Azzy Mahmood]

I suggested numerous times at the last two deadlines to trade for Hemsky. He seemed to me the epitome of a skilled player who needed a change of scenery. We certainly could have used his offensive abilities the last couple of playoffs.

I figured whoever ended up with him would be happy. Good for him, and Ottawa.

Indeed. Playing with a better calibre of linemate has done him the world of good it seems.

[swflyers28]

Stempniak = 0 goals, 0 assists, 3 points.

He got introduced to the battle of Pennsylvania this weekend:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjwuuzMXgCI

[TOMapleLaughs]

And to think, most of us assumed Hemsky to Ottawa wouldn't be that successful.

It hasn't been. They're still losing.

[TOMapleLaughs]

Kinda figured Vanek would be redundant in Mtl. That was a 'why?' trade, but at least they didn't give up much.

[Monty]

The point of acquiring players at the deadline, generally, is to give the team a little more come playoff time. For example, Montreal didn't need Vanek to make the playoffs. However, he gives them one extra punch come playoff time. Will he light it up? Who knows. But at the very least, he takes attention away from other scorers (Galchenyuk, Gionta, Plekanec, Subban, etc). St Louis didn't need Steve Ott, but he brings added grit and some scoring ability, drawing attention away from other 3rd and 4th liners.

[elvis15]

You forgot our fantastic addition of trading some guy named Alex for another named Burrows. He's had 9 points (5g 4a) in 7 games and is +3.

The point of acquiring players at the deadline, generally, is to give the team a little more come playoff time. For example, Montreal didn't need Vanek to make the playoffs. However, he gives them one extra punch come playoff time. Will he light it up? Who knows. But at the very least, he takes attention away from other scorers (Galchenyuk, Gionta, Plekanec, Subban, etc). St Louis didn't need Steve Ott, but he brings added grit and some scoring ability, drawing attention away from other 3rd and 4th liners.

I felt that way about the Sundin deal a bit when it happened. If he'd joined us at the start of the season that might have been good too, but instead joined late and ended up being PPG in the playoffs.

[TOMapleLaughs]

I honestly don't think Vanek will do much at all in the playoffs. He's not a fit. Just a feeling though.

[Baka]

He got introduced to the battle of Pennsylvania this weekend:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjwuuzMXgCI

I am sure his heart just wasn't in the game when he saw the effort Crosby put into standing up for him.

[Down by the River]

6-7 games is not a lot of time to judge a player. However, within any period of 6-7 games you should see outliers on either side of productivity. For example, as elvis mentioned, the newly acquired Burrows isn't going to continue scoring at a pace of almost two points per game). The fact is that in this case, we are only seeing outliers on the lack of productivity side.

Vinny Prospal recently said that had he been invited to the Canucks training camp, he would had attended. He didn't want to join a team halfway through a season.

It could be the case that deadline acquisitions are riskier than perceived. If MSL s struggles are due to adjusting to a new system, and yet this system is one that almost everyone said was tailored more towards his style, what could that tell us about other players' abilities to adapt. The playoffs will be a better test (obviously), but if this type of trend continues, it may be a sign that landing the UFA in the summer is a lot better than trying to acquire a superstar rental at the trade deadline.

[Dogbyte]

They were commenting on this on Hockey Central at Noon today. The specualtion is that it's going to be more difficult for scorers to adapt ... or to actually start scoring on their new teams until they get acclimated. Most goal scorers are the go to players on their respective teams and they have the green light to hog the puck a bit and play an individual game. The last thing a good player/goal scorer wants to do is come into a new team and try to take control of the game. So what happens is that is usually takes a player the amount of time until he gets into a run of games where the team is having trouble scoring but not figuring it out. Then these types of players feel less conflicted about taking matters into their own hands and finding their role.