The 2016 Trade Deadline lived up to its name this year: it was absolutely dead. With only 19 trades and 37 players moved, this was one of the quietest trade deadlines of all time. Let’s not be mistaken — the week prior to the deadline was filled with moves that saw several teams evidently bulking up their rosters for a deep playoff run and others rebuilding for the future. Let’s take a look at this year’s deadlines winners and losers.
Winners
In contention for another cup run, the Chicago Blackhawks made the biggest splash in the market prior to the Monday deadline, acquiring Andrew Ladd. Shockingly, after not having been offered a contract extension, the former captain of the Winnipeg Jets was quickly snatched up by the Blackhawks. The Maple Ridge native is no stranger to the Windy City; Ladd was a former Blackhawk himself, winning the stanley cup with them in 2010.
Being first in the Atlantic Division wasn’t enough for Florida Panthers General Manager Dale Tallon. He went out and picked up a veteran forward in Jiri Hudler from Calgary, Teddy Purcell from the Edmonton, and Detroit defenceman Jakub Kindl. These additions reinforce their position as a serious threat in the Atlantic division.
Another notable winner this trade deadline were the New York Rangers. Their acquisition of winger Eric Staal from the Hurricanes was one of the biggest trades the past week. This trade unites Eric with brother Marc, but also brings an experienced professional with a Stanley Cup under his belt, to a team that already has the potential of reaching the cup finals.
Losers
This year’s losers were a couple teams who were unable to deal their big players who were on the trading block. Those teams are the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Vancouver Canucks.
In a season where the playoffs are seemingly out of reach, the Vancouver Canucks were unable to flip the two expiring contracts on forward Radim Vrbata and defenceman Dan Hamhuis. These were hot commodities at this year’s deadline. Therefore the Canucks pass another season without acquiring any future assets to aid this young developing team, making them big losers at the deadline.
The other notable loser at this year’s trade deadline are the Tampa Bay Lightning. GM Steve Yzerman couldn’t find a deal to move Jonathan Drouin, and so the youngster remains a member of the Lightning. All of this after he requested a trade six weeks ago, and has been sitting out of the Lightning lineup ever since. This makes the Lightning the biggest losers on the trade deadline.
Ultimately, the 2016 trade deadline will be remembered as a quiet one. It was a trade deadline in which the deals that never fell through made bigger headlines than the ones that did.
