Trade Deadline Story Lines: The Trades So Far

We are still a little over a week away from one of my favorite days of the year, the NHL Trade Deadline. However there have already been a few moves that you could have missed. Today instead of speculating on rumors, we will talk about the moves that have already happened in the NHL.

Since February 16th there have been four notable trades, starting with a trade between the Dallas Stars and the Philadelphia Flyers. Dallas sent defenseman Nicklas Grossman up north for a second round pick in this year’s draft and a third round pick in next year’s draft. Grossman has played seven NHL seasons, all in Dallas. 2008-2009 was his best year point wise, scoring 2 goals and 10 assists. So far this season in 52 games he has 5 points, all assists. Grossman is no offensive powerhouse, but he’s a steady defenseman who should be a nice addition to the Philadelphia blue line.

Later that day two more teams got into the action with the movement of a player Sabres fans know well. The Tampa Bay Lightning traded forward Dominic Moore and a 7th round pick to the San Jose Sharks for a second round pick. As many probably remember the Sabres picked up Moore a few years back at the Trade Deadline from the Toronto Maple Leafs only to have him disappoint in Buffalo. Last season was his best year since the Toronto year that put him on the map. This season he hasn’t produced as much, but still has a decent point total. In 56 games Moore has 4 goals and 15 assists. The Sharks are Moore’s 9th team. He has played for the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadiens, and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The next day another trade was made, the first featuring more than one player. The Montreal Canadiens sent veteran defenseman Hal Gill to Nashville in exchange for Blake Geoffrion, Robert Slaney, and a 2nd round pick. Gill is playing in his 14th season in the NHL, and most know what kind of a player he is by now. Like Grossman, he’s not going to put up a ton of points. At 6’7” 241 lbs. he’s a menacing player to go up against. Many in Nashville fear this trade may mean moving either Suter or Weber, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Nashville is pushing for a playoff run, and Gill’s contract is up at the end of this year. Geoffrion is a 24 year old who has played in parts of two NHL seasons. In 42 total games he has scored 6 goals and 5 assists. He played 22 seasons in Nashville this year before being sent down to the Milwaukee Admirals.

On Saturday the deals were rounded out with the Flyers continuing to bolster their defense. The Flyers acquired defenseman Pavel Kubina from the Tampa Bay Lightning for forward Jon Kalinski, a second round pick, and a 4th round pick. Kubina has played two seasons with the Lightning and has disappointed in his point totals. In 52 games this season he has scored 3 goals and 8 assists. A far cry from his totals the three years before Tampa, where he had 40, 40, and 38 points. Before being traded Kubina had been sat by Guy Boucher, and it wasn’t a question of if but when he would be traded. Jon Kalinski has played the last three seasons in the AHL for the Phantoms. In 40 games this season in Adirondack Kalinski has scored 9 goals and 3 assists. He has 22 total NHL games in his career. He has scored 1 goal and 4 assist.

Is this a sign that there will be a lot of moves at this year’s deadline? Or is it a sign that most of the big moves will happen before deadline day? We will have to wait and see. If any trades happen remember to follow me on Twitter to hear my opinion. Some are saying that there are moves in the works that could happen as soon as today. What do you think is the most interesting move made so far? Comment below.