NHL Trade Deadline Grades Part II: Bruins, Panthers Earn High Marks

The NHL trade deadline has passed and grades are being handed out. Who fared well and who missed the mark in 2022?

The NHL trade deadline is officially in the rearview mirror and grades are being handed out.

Buyers looking for the final pieces that could improve their chances to win the Stanley Cup and sellers looking to accumulate as many assets as possible for players with expiring contracts made 33 trades involving 54 players leading up to the March 21st trade deadline.

Here is a look at the deals and an evaluation of how both sides fared.

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Montreal trades Ben Chiarot to Florida for prospect Ty Smilanic, a 2023 first-round pick and a 2022 fourth-round pick.

Habs Grade – A+
Panthers Grade – B-

Panthers GM Bill Zito got a tough veteran blueliner with playoff experience in Chiarot but vastly overpaid for him because of the bidding war for the 30-year-old. The deal was the biggest overpayment in the defensive trade market but was necessary due to the injury to Aaron Ekblad. Montreal gets a promising college prospect in Smilanic and a first-rounder.

Seattle trades forward Calle Jarnkrok to Calgary for a 2022 second-round pick, a 2023 third-round pick, and a 2024 seventh-round pick.

Kraken Grade – A
Flames Grade – B-

A trade with two teams with different agendas. Kraken GM Ron Francis made up for what some criticized as a poor expansion draft. Getting three picks for a quality depth forward in Jarnkrok was a good haul for Seattle and a price that Calgary GM Brad Treliving was willing to pay since the Flames are a Cup contender.

Chicago trades Brandon Hagel and two fourth-round picks (2022 and 2024) to Tampa Bay for Taylor Raddysh, Boris Katchouk, and two first-round picks (2023 and 2024).

Hawks Grade – A
Lightning Grade – A-

Hagel is having a career year (21 goals) with the Hawks and has two more years at a low salary ($1.5 million), which is perfect for the cap-strapped Lightning. GM Julien Brisebois paid a hefty price in dealing two young forwards and a pair of first-rounders but took a big step in replacing the forward depth he lost last summer.

Anaheim trades forward Nicolas Deslauriers to Minnesota for a 2023 third-round pick.

Ducks Grade – A-
Wild Grade – A

The Wild picked up a veteran tough forward in Deslauriers who can play on the fourth line and as a penalty killer and the Ducks got fair value for a rental.

Anaheim trades defensemen Hampus Lindholm and Kodie Curran to Boston for defensemen John Moore and Urho Vaakanainen, a 2022 first-round pick and two second-round picks (2023 and 2024)

Ducks Grade – A
Bruins Grade – A-

The Ducks tried and failed to get Lindholm signed to an extension and GM Pat Verbeek quickly shifted into to trade mode and got a good package in former Bruins first-rounder Vaakanainen and a package of picks. Boston paid a hefty price but made it worthwhile by signing Lindholm to an eight-year extension at an economical cap hit ($6.5 million AAV)

Hampus Lindholm is happy to be a Bruin.#NHLBruins #NHL #HockeyTwitter pic.twitter.com/itYl2movcV

— Full Press Hockey (@FullPressNHL) March 20, 2022

Philadelphia trades forwards Claude Giroux, German Rubtsov, Connor Bunnaman, and a 2024 fifth-round pick to Florida for forward Owen Tippett, a 2023 third-round pick, and 2024 first-round pick.

Flyers Grade – C+
Panthers Grade – A

Although GM Chuck Fletcher was hamstrung by Giroux’s apparent preference to go only to Florida, his inability to generate a market or convince the veteran forward to open up his options limited what he could get out of the Panthers. In the end, the return of a former first-rounder who has yet to establish himself in the NHL and two picks is underwhelming. Florida in adding Giroux gives an already powerhouse offense another weapon.

Buffalo trades defenseman Robert Hagg to Florida for a 2022 sixth-round pick.

Sabres Grade – C+
Panthers Grade – A-

Hagg is a useful depth defenseman who will help fill the void for the injured Ekblad, and a sixth-rounder is a poor return for the rebuilding Sabres, who need every asset that they can get their hands on.

Vancouver trades defenseman Travis Hamonic to Ottawa for a 2022 third-round pick.

Canucks Grade – A
Senators Grade – B+

A pure salary dump for the Canucks, clearing $3 million off their payroll for next season. This was an odd move for the Sens, who are not any closer to being a playoff contender but may think that Hamonic can help shore up their blueline.

Travis Hamonic trade details:#GoSensGo #Canucks #NHL #NHLTradeDeadline pic.twitter.com/JL7m2ma2C5

— Full Press Hockey (@FullPressNHL) March 20, 2022

Detroit trades Troy Stecher to Los Angele4s for a 2022 seventh-round pick.

Wings Grade – B
Kings Grade – B

Depth move for the Kings, who have concerns on defense after Drew Doughty was injured over the weekend.

Toronto trades two second-round picks (2022 and 2023) and a 2024 third-round pick to Seattle for defenseman Mark Giordano and forward Colin Blackwell.

Toronto also trades defenseman Travis Dermott to Vancouver for a 2022 third-round pick.

Leafs Grade – A
Kraken Grade – A-
Canucks Grade – B+

Leafs GM Kyle Dubas accomplished his goal of adding a veteran defenseman and depth forward without giving up any of his top prospects or first-round picks. Dermott was not getting in the lineup regularly and it was clear that he needed a change of scenery. Giordano will fit nicely in Toronto’s top-four and Blackwell is a feisty forward that will provide energy to the Leafs fourth line. The Kraken got another package of high draft picks that will help them stock their shelves.

Ottawa trades forward Nick Paul to Tampa Bay for forward Mathieu Joseph and a 2024 fourth-round pick.

Senators Grade – B+
Lightning Grade – A

The Sens tried to get Paul to extend until the eleventh hour and get a young forward in Joseph and a pick in return. The Lightning were likely not going to qualify Joseph and would lose him in free agency this summer. Brisebois in turn adds another big depth forward without breaking the bank.

Arizona trades Scott Wedgewood to Dallas for a 2023 fourth-round pick.

Coyotes Grade – A
Stars Grade – B

Dallas needed a depth goalie with Anton Khudobin out for the season and Braden Holtby on LTIR and the Coyotes converted a waiver claim into a fourth-round pick.

Seattle trades defenseman Jeremy Lauzon to Nashville for a 2022 second-round pick and forward Mason Appleton to Winnipeg for a 2023 fourth-round pick.

Kraken Grade – A
Predators Grade – A-
Jets Grade – A-

The stockpiling continues for the Kraken, as they get a pair of draft picks for a young depth defenseman (Lauzon) and sending Appleton back to Winnipeg to fill a hole created by the trade of Andrew Copp to New York.