NHL Trade Deadline Grades Part IV: Penguins, Avalanche Improve

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 NHL trade deadline deals and an evaluation of how both sides fared.

Winnipeg trades center Andrew Copp and a 2023 sixth-round pick to New York for center Morgan Barron, two conditional 2022 second-round picks, and a 2023 fifth-round pick.

Jets Grade – A
Rangers Grade – B+

New York was rumored to be interested in Tomas Hertl before he re-upped with San Jose and may have been in on Rickard Rakell before he went to Pittsburgh but got a capable two-way center in Copp. The price they paid was prohibitive, in a big-bodied center prospect in Barron and a conditional pick that could end up being a first if the Rangers advance to the Conference Final.

Ottawa trades forward Zach Sanford to Winnipeg for a 2022 fifth-round pick.

Senators Grade – B
Jets Grade – A-

The Jets sold their rentals at the deadline, but also added depth forwards to stay in the Western Conference wildcard race. Sanford is a tough forward who won a Stanley Cup with St. Louis in 2019 and a good pickup for a fifth-round pick.

The #GoSensGo have traded Zach Sanford to the #GoJetsGo, per @DarrenDreger #NHL #NHLTradeDeadline pic.twitter.com/mmRZWpR5JP

— Full Press Hockey (@FullPressNHL) March 21, 2022

Anaheim trades forward Rickard Rakell to Pittsburgh for forwards Dominik Simon, Zach Aston-Reese, goaltender Calle Clang, and a 2022 second-round pick.

Ducks Grade – B+
Penguins Grade – A-

It may be the last kick of the can for Pittsburgh’s core group, and GM Ron Hextall made a deft move to add Rakell (who can play wing or center in the top-six). The Ducks got a promising goaltending prospect in Clang and a second-rounder, but Simon and Aston-Reese are both expiring contracts and appear to be salary dumps to fit in Rakell’s cap hit.

Montreal trades defenseman Brett Kulak to Edmonton for defenseman William Lagesson, a 2022 second-round pick and 2024 seventh-round pick.

Philadelphia trades forward Derick Brassard to Edmonton for a 2023 fourth-round pick.

Canadiens Grade – A
Oilers Grade – B
Flyers Grade – B+

Oilers GM Ken Holland chose not to address his club’s subpar goaltending and instead attempted to plug a hole on their average defense by adding Edmonton native Kulak (who played mostly a bottom pair role for the Canadiens during their Cup run last season) and veteran forward Brassard for a mid-round pick. Giving up a second-round pick for the 28-year-old was a bit of an overpayment.

Detroit trades forward Vladislav Namestnikov to Dallas for a 2024 fourth-round pick.

Wings Grade – B+
Stars Grade – A-

GM Steve Yzerman got what he could for a versatile rental forward in Namestnikov, with it widely speculated that he will re-sign in Detroit in the summer. The Stars are in the thick of a race for a wildcard spot and with a great deal of age in their forward corps, adding someone who can move into the top-six when needed and play multiple positions is valuable.

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San Jose trades forward Andrew Cogliano to Colorado for a 2024 fifth-round pick.

Avs Grade – A-
Sharks Grade – B+

Adding a player with 15 years, 1122 games, and 100 playoff games of NHL experience for a fifth-round pick three years from now is a no-brainer for a club with Stanley Cup aspirations.

Chicago trades forward Ryan Carpenter to Calgary for a 2024 fifth-round pick.

Hawks Grade – B+
Flames Grade – B+

Calgary lost depth forward Brad Richardson on waivers on deadline day and quickly replaced him with Carpenter, who played on the Golden Knights Cup final club in 2018.

Vancouver trades forward Tyler Motte to New York for a 2023 fourth-round pick.

Canucks Grade – B+
Rangers Grade – B+

GM Chris Drury put a cap on his deadline day after trading for veterans Justin Braun and Andrew Copp with the addition of Motte, who gives head coach Gerard Gallant options on the Rangers fourth line.

Columbus trades forward Max Domi to Carolina through Florida. The Blue Jackets get defenseman Aidan Hreschuk, the Panthers get a 2022 sixth-round pick and forward Yegor Korshkov, and the Hurricanes get Domi and defenseman Tyler Inamoto.

Panthers Grade – B
Blue Jackets Grade – B+
Hurricanes Grade – B+

The Jackets were limited to what they could get back for Domi by his $5.3 million salary and had to retain 50% and wash 25% of his cap hit through the Panthers to get 19-year-old Hreschuk (a freshman blueliner at Boston College) in the deal. Carolina was looking for someone to provide secondary offense and Domi can still do that.