2018 MRFHL Trade Deadline Recap

So, the Trade Deadline left me sleeping at my desk from boredom, but now that I have awoken in a puddle of my own drool and having noticed the keyboard imprints in my cheek, I see that there are some actual trades to critique!  Lets go, shall we?

To Edmonton: G Tyler Parsons, F Tomas Nosek and a 2018 3rd Round Pick
To Chicago: F Kirill Kaprizov

I know I have already voiced my valued opinion on this trade already, but I feel as if I need to expand on it.  Kaprizov is signed to the KHL till 2020, and is still not a lock to jump the pond to North America.  Now, we all know that Todd has more depth than a coversation about the meaning of life, so he can afford it, but if Kaprizov doesn't cross over he's left empty handed.  It's high-risk, high-reward.  For Edmonton, the gem of the package is Tyler Parsons, a potentially clutch goalie who will make a difference...in 4-5 years.  Nosek is a fringe guy who will sputter out and pack his bags back to Europe in the coming years and the 3rd is, well, a 3rd. 

Judgement: Thumbs up to Toddy-boy for a ballsy move, but from a hockey perspective, Edmonton gets the edge.

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To Carolina: G Carey Price, F Jimmy Vesey
To Ottawa: G Cory Schnieder, D Ville Pokka, F Robert Thomas

So let me get this straight, Ottawa goes out, lands Patrick Kane earlier this year and watches him become apart of one of the best offensive duos in the MRFHL this season with Nicklas Backstrom (aside from David Krejci and James Neal of course).  The team begins to rise in the standings based on the play of their top stars up front and by having the best goaltender in the league in their crease.  But then they trade that goalie away, allowing them to be potentially left on the outside of the playoffs, looking in at the other teams and wishing that they had kept Carey Price.  Now, not saying that Cory Schnieder is a bad goaltender, he's not, it's just he's not Carey Price.  Carolina also gets an overhyped Jimmy Vesey in the deal as well which adds some depth up front for them. Going the other way, along with Schnieder, we have Ville Pokka, a defenceman that will probably top out as a #4 guy, and the lead singer of Matchbox 20.  Thomas has increased his stock over the past year and will be a solid player one day.

Judgement: The deal isn't a terrible deal for either club, but they often say that the team getting the best player in the deal usually wins it.  Based on that, I'll tip my hat to Carolina on this one.

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To Carolina: F Matt Cullen, F Tyler Graovac
To Detroit: F Brendan Leipsic, 2019 5th Round Pick

Well done to Detroit to rid themselves of the fossil we call Matt Cullen before he prances off into retirement.   Could a push for the playoffs be in the plans for Carolina this year?  Cullen is still a servicable bottom 6 guy while he still plays, and this move, if Carolina goes deep into the playoffs, will be an underrated one.  Leipsic is still a mostly unknown entity, and who knows what will be available in the 5th round.

Judgement: Edge goes to Carolina just for the fact that Cullen makes them better immediatley.

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To Florida: D Pernell-Karl Subban
To Ottawa: D Alexander Pietrangelo

As sideways a move as you could make regarding superstar defencemen for both teams.  Lets be honest here, this move was done just to give the fans something to talk about.  Neither team gained or lost from it.  Good on the GM's for creating buzz without changing anything, good on you.

Judgement: As much as I want to pick Florida as the winner here just because of the swagger that Subban brings, the real winner is the fans.

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To Florida: F Sam Gagner, 2018 3rd Round Pick
To Edmonton: F Patrick Eaves

Overhyped for overhyped.  Eaves had a wonderful NHL season last year, but lets be honest, it was his career year and he'll never do that again.  Same with Sam Gagner.  Still unsure how drunk Dylan got Tanner for him to throw in a 3rd rounder, but credit gets given where credit is due.

Judgement: Florida wins this by a country mile just on getting a 3rd for free.

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To Edmonton: 2019 4th Round Pick
To Los Angeles: F Bryan Flynn

Judgement: The fact that a 4th round pick has more of a chance to regularily play in the MRFHL than Bryan Flynn tells me that Edmonton wins this deal and shows you how much this deal really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of this league.

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To Detroit: D Deryk Engelland
To Los Angeles: D Christian Ehrhoff and only half his paycheque

Judgement: Both teams win?  Both teams lose?  Does anyone care about this trade outside of the GM's making it?  Nope?  Me either.  Flip a coin, if its heads, LA wins.  It's tails.  Good job Detroit.

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To Chicago: F Denis Guryanov, 2019 5th Round Pick
To Detroit: F Kevin Roy, 2018 3rd Round Pick, 2018 5th Round Pick

I am now of firm belief that Russia is now meddling in the trade operations of the Chicago Blackhawks.  First Kaprizov, now Guryanov, who's next?  The former first round pick is the centerpiece of this deal, and though he can't seem to gain too much traction in North America, he is still 21 and has the talent.  Chicago paid fairly for a struggling asset in a B-list prospect and a couple picks.

Judgement: I wish that Todd would stop making fair deals so I can side with one team.

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To Florida: F Jonah Gadjovich, F Max Gildon
To Boston: F Evgeny Svechnikov

Finally a trade we all can sink our teeth into!  Here's what I think Ric Flair's plan is: Trade for one Svechnikov, and draft the other.  We all know that Boston has a sweet spot for brotherly love, and I don't think that fondness has faded over the years.  Going the other way Gadjovich is a beast of a player and might develop into a premier power forward, and Gildon should be a middle six player.  Still, the Big Bad Bruins are going all mushy on us if my theory is correct, and if that's the case, should Gadjovich and Gildon mature as projected, Florida could be the winner in this deal by pulling the right heartstrings.

Judgement: Boston should have thrown in some Hershey's Kisses to finalize the deal, unless a promise was made to send each other sparkly Valentine Cards that sing.  Either way, winnner is Florida.

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To Montreal: D Alexei Emelin, F Kyle Flanagan
To Detroit: D Ryan Murphy, F Andreas Martinsen

Judgement: All I have to say is Kyle Flanagan's name sounds like a bad car salesman, not a hockey player.  Emelin provides immediate help to the Habs blueline, so they get the win.

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To Vancouver: D Nicklas Grossman, F John Kurtz, F Mike Sislo, D Jonathan Diaby
To Detroit: G J-F Berube

Judgement: Here goes Rino again, hoarding crappy AHLers again at the deadline.  Grossman, who isnt even playing in the NHL anymore, is the only player worth anything in this deal, so Detroit wins this one, even if the condition for the 5th gets applied.

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To Nashville: F Matt Calvert
To Vancouver: G Anders Lindback

Judgement: Calvert is a capable 4th liner who will fill a spot on Nashvilles roster. An empty net will stop more pucks than Lindback, who will never get any playing time in Vancouver.  The winner is obvious: Nashville.

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To Nashville: F Vince Hinostroza, D Cameron Gaunce
To Detroit: D William Lockwood, 2018 5th Round Pick, 2019 2nd Round Pick

Judgement: I don't know what type of dirt Austin has on Corey, but this trade has to be a result of blackmail.  How in the hell does a 2nd round pick move for these guys alone, never mind other assets?  This trade is highway robbery at worst and the Predators are on the short end of it.

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To Chicago: F Mihkail Vorobyov
To Detroit: F Martin Hanzal

Martin Hanzal at 25% of his original salary is a good deal.  Martin Hanzal for Vorobyov is a good deal.  Both of these actually happening is a great deal!  For everything else, there's Mastercard.  Now I know that Todd has been trying to ship the big Czech center for a while now, but he probably could have had better success by not advertising him as Michal Handzus.

Judgement: No one wins here, it's a Chicago deal!  However both teams come out ahead in different ways.  Chicago frees up some cash and a roster spot while Detroit lands a deluxe shutdown center that enhances their forward corps.  

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To Ottawa: D Andrew Wellinski, F Devin Sideroff
To Detroit: 2019 2nd Round Pick

Judgement: A 2nd rounder seems steep here for these two, but perhaps Anthony has looked into his crystal ball and seen the future and Sideroff is the next Johnny Gaudreau.  Or maybe not.  Either way, he doesn't have a 2nd rounder and that sucks.