Changing Tides In The Atlantic?

Flyers latest addition Nick Boynton.

Now that the trade deadline has come and gone, has the anything changed inside the Atlantic Division? Lets start from the bottom and make our way to the top:

The Islanders didn't make any trades. None. They were not a threat to anyone in the Atlantic before the trade deadline, except maybe Mario Lemieux sanity, and they are not a threat to anyone after the deadline.

At the end of February, the Devils were by far the hottest team in the Atlantic, having won 17 out of 21 games. To bad for them that they waited to the mid point of the season to start winning games, but boy did they ever decide to start winning. The Devils were able to cut a 27 point deficit down to nine points, and thus causing them to think that they were not sellers at the deadline, and who can blame them? If the team is capable of playing this well, there is no need to get rid of any key components before next season, or this seasons playoffs.  The Devils' only move was to ship Jason Arnott to the Capitals in exchange for David Steckel. This trade really doesn't help the Devils chances of making the playoffs. They can only afford to lose four of their last 20 games, and trading away their fifth leading scorer and second line center for a third line center with half the offensive production isn't going to help. The Devils might pass a few more teams in the standings, but are still along shot to make the playoffs.

The Rangers made their big trade on Saturday, getting Bryan McCabe without losing anyone off their current roster. The problem for the Rangers is that they have lost a few key players off their roster due to injury. The Rangers' GM, Glen Sather, announced yesterday that Chris Drury will more than likely miss the remainder of the season after undergoing knee surgery. The Rangers other leading forward, Marian Gaborik, is currently sidelined with a concussion. The latest report was the he was having trouble sleeping through the night, but feeling better otherwise. Sather also announced that back-up goaltender Martin Biron broke his collarbone in practice. This forced the Rangers to recall Cam Talbot from the ECHL to act as Henrik Lundqvist's backup. Lundqvist is likely to start the last 18 games of the year, which would leave him only five starts shy of last years total starts. The Rangers signed Biron in an attempt to take starts away from Lundqvist and have him rested for the playoffs. Mission Failed. So even though the signing of McCabe will bring some much needed veteran leadership to the Rangers' blueline, I don't think it is enough to overcome all the injuries and make them a threat down the stretch. The Rangers hold their playoff destiny in their own hands, and I have a feeling the sequel of last years playoff push will have the same ending.

The Penguins picked up Alexei Kovalev, Matt Niskanen, and James Neal, too bad that doesn't come anywhere close to replacing Crosby and Malkin. The Pens were the greatest threat to the Flyers chances of winning the Atlantic, and injuries have destroyed their chances. The Pens should easily make the playoffs, and Crosby might return in time to help them out, but the Penguins have lost way too much talent to be considered a threat to win the Atlantic this season.

By simply not removing anyone from their line-up, the Flyers remain the best team in the Atlantic, and the addition of Chris Versteeg and Nick Boynton only make the Flyers stronger. Unless the Flyers have a monumental collapse over the last 20 games of the season, they should be able to easily secure home ice for the first two rounds of the playoffs. The Flyers might have a few threats that could overtake them for the top spot in the East, but that is different article. The passing of this trade deadline saw absolutely no shift of power in the Atlantic Division.

Trading DEADline

Tom Sestito

I think it was pretty widely accepted that the Flyers were not going to make a big splash as the hours to the trade deadline approached. Some were thinking the Flyers might add a top nine winger to replace the often dog housed Nikolay Zherdev. Others were hoping for a longshot trade for a more stable goaltender. Instead, the Flyers traded for a net driving, heavy forechecking, punch throwing power forward, who is currently playing in the AHL. On paper, and youtube, this 23 year old youngster looks like the kind of player that Flyers fans will love, the only question is when they will get to see him. I think that Sestito could bring a much needed spark to the big club, but I aslo think he is subject to waivers if the Flyers try to bring him up (if I got that wrong please let me know). In Tom's 13 NHL games, he has two goals, two assists, and 64 penalty minutes. All four of his points came in a nine game call up this year with the Blue Jackets.

I am fine with the Flyers not making any major moves yesterday. I think the current roster is very talented and has shown excellent chemistry on two lines throughout the year. The acquisition of Versteeg is meant to turn a third line into an offense threat, and the pick up of Boynton solidifies the defense in case of injuries. The Flyers have 20 games left to find their offensive groove before the playoffs start. I think if they can ramp up the physicality a little and bring a solid fore check back into the plans, this team will be set up nicely. The goaltending is still a question mark, but at this point I will jump on board with Holmgren and believe that the stellar defensive core that the Flyers have assembled will cover up the short comings of a you goaltending tandem.

Dumb and Dumber

Rusty Klesla

Coyotes GM Maloney trades team's leading goal scorer for banged up DMan.

Coyotes GM Don Maloney just couldn't help himself. In a very peculiar move, Maloney orchestrates a trade exchanging former first round picks, sending Scottie Upshall and Sami Lepisto to Columbus for the perennially injured Rusty Klesla and minor league nobody, Dane Byers. The big question in all of this is, how does this deal make the Coyotes - currently 4th in the West and very much alive for a top 3 seed - a better team for the stretch run and into the playoffs...you know, like uh, for now?? Simple answer? It doesn't. It hurts the Coyotes on several levels, actually. The Coyotes lose a player tied for the team lead in goal scoring without a having young prospect or player on the roster (or in San Antonio) who can likely fill his role. Both Upshall and Lepisto are on expiring deals, and Klesla is locked up for a few more seasons at 2.9. Theoretically, having Klesla beyond this season will give the Yotes a stay at home presence on their blueline they are short on. But most importantly, and certainly not to be lost in all this is, the fact that Upshall and Lepisto will come in and contribute immediately for Columbus while Klesla will watch from the pressbox (as he is currently dinged) and Byers will report to San Antonio. So in another words...subtraction by subtraction for your team that is in the hunt for a top seed in the Western Conference playoff race?? Nice move, Maloney. We are beginning to see just how much of Glen Sather's protege you really are.

Ancillary affect? Trade away one of the most wildly popular players with the fans in the midst of your franchise trying to rebuild it's image and woo back fans during an ownership change. Replace said fan favorite with a non descript Czech DMan who has been in the league for 10 years that no one in the desert has ever heard of because he's always hurt and played only full season healthy in his entire career. Again, brilliant.

The Wolski for Roszival deal was a strange one, but this one....this one is even worse...Dumb and Dumber, Maloney.