Three trades today includuing two Blockbusters that feature Giroux and Lindholm

Three trades happened today including two Blockbusters

With the trade deadline looming I will try to keep up with all the moves over the next few days and they were three today so first up this deal.

Anaheim                                    Minnesota 

2023 3RD (MIN)                             Nicolas Deslauriers

Analysis: This is a smaller trade compared to the other two today but just as significant in my opinion. For Minnesota who looks playoff bound they are getting a cheap physical forward who is that kind of gritty forward one has on a fourth line in the playoffs. There is no commitment for Minnesota as Deslauriers is a Pending UFA at a cheap cap hit of $1 Million and while never produces much offensively having 5 goals and 10 points in 61 games this I believe that he will be placed on the fourth line and be a great energy guy in the playoffs for Minnesota. And for Anaheim they wind up getting a 2023 3RD pick and I thought they would get a mid round pick in the form of a fourth rounder so not shocked about the return but a tad surprised and I definitely thought he would be moved as he is a pending UFA, so I will say that this is a good trade for both sides as Minnesota bulks up in the bottom 6 for the playoffs and Anaheim gets a decent 3RD pick in next years deep draft for someone who wasn't coming back but I would like to hear some of your thoughts on the deal. 

More to come on the other two trades

Blockbuster deal between Anaheim and Boston 

Anaheim                                         Boston

John Moore                                   Hampus Lindholm (50% retained)
UrhoVaakanainen                                    Kodie Curran
2022 1RD (BOS)
2023 2RD (BOS)
2024 2RD (BOS)

Analysis: This is a major move for both teams and could have still more news from this deal. To start with we are looking at Boston. They get Curran who is basically a minor league player that is a pending UFA at a $1 Million dollar cap hit and my guess would be that the Bruins keep him in the minors for the rest of the year and don't resign him as he has only had 16 points in 37 AHL games. The major component of this deal is Hampus Lindholm who was sent to Boston. Lindholm in my eyes and probably other people see Lindholm as a D partner for McAvoy on the Bruins top pairing and even though he has had a bit of a down year this season only producing 5 goals and 22 points in 61 games I still think he is one of the top UFAs and a couple more points on that is that Anaheim retained 50% of Lindholm’s contract so the money to Boston is only $2.603 Million for the rest of this year and their have been reports that Boston and Lindholm could be nearing a 8 year contract extension worth $6.5 Million per year and when Anaheim wanted to extend him they said they wouldn't go long term which is the main reason he got dealt. And for the Ducks they get a major haul for for him. First with the three draft picks they acquired they were all high picks as they will get the Bruins 1Rd pick this year which will probably be in the late 20s, a 2RD pick next year which is a deeper draft then this year and the second 2RD pick in next years draft they got this week (they also got Colorado‘a), and they also got 2rd pick in 2024 so they draft capital heavily increases, they also get John Moore who is a veteran defensemen of 544 games but is on a bad contract and has played mostly in the minors this year. He has this year and next on his contract at $2.75 Million and will be a veteran presence for Anaheim but I think he will spend majority in the minors, but one of the center pieces in this deal is Urho Vaakanainen. The former 2017 1RD pick  has had 8 points in 23 AHL games and 4 assists in 15 NHL games this year and is a RFA at the end of the year. Now he is a good prospect and I really his game and now that he is out of Boston I am sure he will get more chance to play but I am not sure he will play to Lindholm’s level I do think he will be a valuable top 4 D in the future. So this deal is basically the Bruins getting a top 4 D-Men for now and maybe the future, with the Ducks getting three draft picks over the next few years and a potential top 4 D-Men.

And the last deal of the day is a big one. 

Florida                                                           Philadelphia

Claude Giroux (50% retained)                                      Owen Tippett 
Connor Bunnaman                                                       2023 3RD (FLO)
German Rubstov                                                      2024 CON 1RD (FLO)
2024 5RD (PHI)

Analysis: in a blockbuster deal just as many suspected the Panthers acquire Claude Giroux. Giroux is a long time member of the Flyers playing his 1000th game with Philly before being traded but as much as he liked Philly he has a chance to chase a cup with Florida. Philly retained 50% of his contract so it’s only $4.18 Million going to Florida and he has put up 18 goals and 42 points in 57 games this season with Philly. Now he had a NMC so he had to waive to be moved to Florida and must have liked it there and I believe he will play right wing in the top 6 either with Huberdeau or Barkov and have a chance to be more of a producer then he was with Philly this year bur all in all the Panthers depth has just shot out of the sky. The Panthers also get two young forwards in the deal with Bunnaman and Rubstov who were both drafted in 2016. Rubstov has only played 4 NHL games in his career and has only 6 points in the AHL this year so at best I would predict he grows into a depth player for Florida but not more then that, while Bunnaman has played parts of the last three seasons in the NHL having no points in 15 NHL games this year and 11 points in 41 AHL games and I believe with a bit more time in the Minors he could become a fourth line Center for Florida, and the other piece was a 5RD pick 3 drafts from now so all i can say about that is the Panthers were able to get some draft capital but this is a good deal for them. And for Philly they got a top 10 protected 1RD pick in 2024 which I am not sure how it will turn out for a few years but they at least got a first round pick even if it is a couple years away, and a 3RD pick in 2023 so that will be a deep draft and even a third round pick will definitely help the Flyers future. And the star piece of this deal is Owen Tippett, he is a Pending RFA and has spilt between the NHL and AHL this year and has done good getting 14 points in 42 NHL games and 18 points in 12 AHL games and I think that Tippett is on of the best young players in the league but he hasn't had a solid opportunity to play a full time role so with Philly I think he is a top 6 forward that has 30 goals as his ceiling but I really like this move by Philly. So to recap Florida gets a veteran top 6 forward on a expiring deal, two AHL forwards and a late round pick for a 1st and 3rd round pick plus a young prospect who has top 6 potential and this is a done deal.


Keep posted as I will start a 24 hour deadline blog with the latest Trade news and rumord plus any other big things that happen.

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