In the end, yesterday’s NHL trade deadline was about the building block instead of the bombshell.
Of the 30 trades of 53 players and 25 draft picks yesterday, the biggest names to be moved were Ryan Whitney (to Edmonton), Lubomir Visnovsky (to Anaheim), Mathieu Schneider (to Phoenix), Wojtek Wolski (to Phoenix) and Peter Mueller (to Colorado). Presumed big names on the block Ray Whitney and Rod Brind’Amour (Carolina), Sheldon Souray (Edmonton), and Tim Thomas (Boston) stayed put.
To ascribe ‘winning’ and ‘losing’ labels after yesterday’s activities is an exercise in futility. There are countless variables that have yet to play themselves out. That said, Washington and Phoenix appeared to strengthen themselves for the playoffs while Toronto and Carolina made trades with the future in mind.
GM Don Maloney added across-the-board depth for the surprising fifth-in-the-West Coyotes by dealing for defensemen Derek Morris and Schneider, and forwards Wolski, Lee Stempniak, Alexandre Picard and Petteri Nokelainen.
Washington GM George McPhee bolstered the league’s best team by bringing in defensemen Joe Corvo and Milan Jurcina, along with grinding forward Eric Belanger and Scott Walker.
Toronto landed a fifth round pick in June’s draft from the Devils for defenseman Martin Skoula. The deal marked the second time in less than 24 hours that the veteran Czechoslovakian defenseman was traded. Pittsburgh traded Skoula and forward Luca Caputi to Toronto for Alexei Ponikarovsky Monday night. Burke stockpiled four draft picks and defenseman Chris Peluso in four deals for Stempniak, MacDonald, Skoula and a sixth round pick.
“I want to thank Poni for a job well done,” Leafs GM Brian Burke said in a Tuesday afternoon press conference to announce the trades of Stempniak and Joey MacDonald.
Burke also touched on the rumors swirling around Tomas Kaberle. There had been speculation leading up to the deadline that the Leafs may try to deal their No.1 defenseman in an effort to speed up the rebuilding process.
“Tomas Kaberle has a no-trade clause. It was given to him in good faith. I think organizations are bound by them. We did not ask Tomas Kaberle to waive his no-trade clause. We did not ask him to give us a list of team,” said Burke.
Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford acquired six draft picks, goaltender Justin Pogge, defenseman Brian Pothier and forwards Cedric Lalonde-McNicoll and Oskar Ogala in four deals with Colorado, Washington (twice) and Anaheim.
The Tri-State area’s NHL franchises were mostly silent yesterday. The Islanders did not trade goaltenders Dwayne Roloson or Martin Biron, most likely due to the report that Rick DiPietro right knee is bothering him again, while the Devils traded for Skoula. The Rangers dealt prospect forward Jordan Owens to Detroit for Kris Newbury, then shipped Miika Wiikman and a 2011 seventh round pick to Phoenix for defenseman Anders Eriksson.
In 757 NHL games with Colorado, Anaheim, Dallas, Minnesota and Pittsburgh, Skoula has scored 193 points. Skoula had recorded three goals and eight points in 33 games this season.
“Martin Skoula is a defenseman who has played more than 750 games in the NHL. He gives us additional depth at the defense position, while adding size and experience to our lineup,” Devils GM Lou Lamoriello said in a statement released by the organization.
Newbury has played 48 games over four years with Toronto and the Red Wings, totaling four goals, seven points and 64 penalty minutes. Newbury skated in four games with the Wings this season and scored a goal.
A 12-year-veteran, Eriksson has totaled 174 points and 242 penalty minutes in 564 NHL games with the Red Wings, Blackhawks, Panthers, Maple Leafs, Blue Jackets, Flames and Coyotes.
Glen Sather reportedly was in talks with St. Louis for 35-year-old left wing Paul Kariya, but nothing developed. Kariya skated in 57 games for the 12th-in-the-West Blues, tallying 12 goals and 31 points.
The blockbuster deals had been made prior to the Olympics. Toronto traded Ian White, Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman and Jamal Mayers to Calgary for Dion Phaneuf, Fredrik Sjostrom and Keith Aulie. The Leafs also traded Jason Blake and Vesa Toskala to Anaheim for J.S. Giguere. New Jersey landed Ilya Kovalchuk, while the Rangers added Olli Jokinen, Brandon Prust and Jody Shelley.
Most coastal city-dwellers who are familiar with the grittier, busier side of life, relationships and indie-rock bands will love “Going the Distance”; the rest of America, not so much. 
