There are trade deadline pickups, and there is Marian Gaborik.
The Tennessean's Adam Vingan tweeted an interesting list Wednesday, looking at the most productive players acquired by teams on deadline day itself, going back to 1980.
The last four decades are represented above, but Peter Mueller, drafted eighth overall in 2006 by the Arizona Coyotes, proved to be - with respect to points - the best last-minute buy. Now playing in Switzerland, the man Mueller was traded for is also on that list: Wojtek Wolski. He was a point-per-game player for the Coyotes after the trade.
The flashiest name on the list, though, is Marian Gaborik, who the Los Angeles Kings acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2014. Gaborik had five goals and 16 points in 19 regular-season games after the trade, but he exploded in the playoffs. He scored 14 goals in 26 postseason games as the Kings won the Stanley Cup. Eleven of those 14 were scored at even strength, and he added eight assists.
Gaborik has 12 goals in 54 games this season. He's likely out until the playoffs. Two years is a long time ago.
Deadline day 2016
Two unrestricted free agents ahead of this year's deadline are on the list: Lee Stempniak and Brian Campbell.
Stempniak, arguably the face of the trade deadline, is the New Jersey Devils' leading scorer, but he and his 41 points could reportedly be had at the right price. He's making pennies, and he's been through the deadline-day ringer before.
Campbell's in the final season of a contract paying him $7.14 million (carrying the same cap hit), but with the Florida Panthers looking towards the playoffs, there's no indication he's available. The defenseman has 24 points and is playing almost 22 minutes a game.
Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney is apparently doing his due diligence ahead of Monday's trade deadline.
Sweeney has been very active speaking with other teams to try and gauge the trade market, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.
Though much of the trade speculation coming out of Boston has revolved around pending unrestricted free agent Loui Eriksson, according to LeBrun the team has also been inquiring about adding pieces, "particularly on defense."
The Bruins hold down the eighth-worst goals against average this season, while giving up an average of 30.5 shots per game.
When it comes to Eriksson, LeBrun also believes the club has prepared for all three possible scenarios - either trading him, keeping him for a potential Stanley Cup run, or signing him to an extension - going into the deadline.
Boston currently holds the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
NEW YORK, - Forward Ryan Reaves of the St. Louis Blues was suspended Wednesday for three games without pay by the NHL for a boarding incident.
Reaves hit defenceman Matt Tennyson of the San Jose Sharks during a game Monday night. He received ...
Mike Babcock wants to make one thing clear: the Toronto Maple Leafs aren't intentionally losing games.
“If you think that I’m not trying to get these guys to play as hard as they can possibly play, you’re missing the boat,” Babcock told reporters after practice Wednesday, according to Terry Koshan of The Toronto Sun.
“They give me a group and I do everything I can to help that team win. We go through how are we going to win."
The Leafs have lost four straight games, and seven of their last eight. Only the Edmonton Oilers have a worse record, and both teams have a league-low 50 points.
"We know what we’re doing, we know what our plan is, we know what we are trying to do long term, and I think we have been diligent about doing that," Babcock said. "We are working hard to try to get players better.”
Babcock believes the transaction involving his former captain will ultimately benefit both teams.
"Were we a better team when we had Dion Phaneuf? Yes," he said. "Is it a good trade for Ottawa right now? Yes. Is it going to be a good trade for the Leafs? Yes. That’s what a trade is. It’s good for both of you. Trading (Polak) - is that a good trade for the Leafs? Absolutely. Do we miss (him)? For sure.
"That’s black and white. There is no grey area. You don’t have to surmise anything. That’s the plan.”
That plan is seemingly focused on the future, no matter how hard the current players and their head coach work to win now.
Reaves received a five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct Monday after nailing Tennyson face-first into the boards.
Tennyson appeared unconscious as his head slammed onto the ice, and is dealing with concussion-like symptoms.
The NHL Department of Player Safety cites the fact Tennyson was "never eligible to be checked" on the play as a primary reason for the supplemental discipline.
It's the first time Reaves has been suspended in 324 career NHL games. The 29-year-old has two goals in 49 games this season.
The ruling means the prosecution won't move forward with the case, though the charges can be brought back within one year, the CBC reports.
Richards was arrested in June and charged with possession of a controlled substance after Canadian border authorities found him in possession of oxycodone. The arrest led the Los Angeles Kings to terminate his contract, though he reached a settlement with the team after filing an NHLPA grievance.
The 31-year-old has one goal in 15 games since signing with the Capitals on Jan. 6.
TORONTO - William Nylander and Zach Hyman scored first-period goals to carry the Toronto Marlies to a 3-1 win over the Binghamton Senators in AHL action Monday afternoon.
Nylander tied the score at 1-1 at 9:59 of the first before Hyman put To...
The team sits within striking distance of punching its first ticket to the playoffs since the 2008-09 season, but faces uncertainty regarding captain Eric Staal's future.
The 31-year-old's best days may be behind him, but Staal remains an ample body up front who can provide offense, leadership, and skill to a lineup.
The Hurricanes could potentially lose their franchise cornerstone when he becomes a unrestricted free agent this summer. With no signs that an extension is coming, it would be in the club's best interest to deal Staal and further stock the cupboards for the future.
If the Hurricanes truly have that mindset, their most logical trade partner is the Chicago Blackhawks.
Here's three reasons why Staal to the Blackhawks makes sense:
Blackhawks 'aggressively' seeking top-line winger
Last week, TSN's Bob McKenzie reported that the Blackhawks are "very aggressively" looking to add a top-line left winger. The team has been satisfied with bruiser-turned-scorer Andrew Shaw, but would still like to add a more accomplished scorer to its top trio.
Next to Shaw and rookie sensation Artemi Panarin - who occupies the second contingent alongside Patrick Kane and Artem Anisimov, arguably the most productive threesome in the league - the left side is thin for the Blackhawks.
Andrew Desjardins and Bradon Mashinter currently occupy the third- and fourth-line duties, and have combined for just 10 goals and 12 points this season.
Staal is among a handful of names who are believed to be in play approaching the deadline, alongside Loui Eriksson, Andrew Ladd, and Mikkel Boedker. However, with Staal historically being the bigger producer in the playoffs, he seems like an ideal fit as a rental.
Of course, Staal is a natural centerman and would have to move to the wing. But on a roster such as Chicago's, and with the potential to play alongside Jonathan Toews on the top line, sliding over shouldn't be a problem.
Bowman's experience juggling the cap
This isn't Stan Bowman's first rodeo. And who better to pull off a coup for Staal than Chicago's GM?
Bowman has proved to be a wizard when it comes to playing within the boundaries of the salary cap, never letting it stop him from acquiring assets. Last season saw him trade for two-way forward Antoine Vermette and veteran defenseman Kimmo Timonen, who provided balance and depth to the eventual Cup-winning squad.
Even as Kane's and Toews' matching eight-year contract extensions kicked in this season, each with an average cap hit of $10.5 million, Bowman has been able to wheel and deal, icing a roster with the third-highest point total through 62 games.
The Blackhawks are expected to have just under $4.8 million in cap space on deadline day, according to General Fanager, so Bowman may have to pull another rabbit out of his hat.
It might be hard to bring on Staal's $8.25-million cap hit, but if there is a general manager who can create the room, it's Bowman.
Staal not the center of attention
Also making Chicago a fitting environment for Staal is the fact that he'd become part of the supporting cast, easing the pressure on him to produce consistently.
Staal for too long has been the lone notable star in Carolina. In Chicago, with a core built around the likes of Toews, Kane, Marian Hossa, Duncan Keith, and Brent Seabrook, Staal would serve as an added boost to the league's seventh-most potent offense.
While Staal is on pace for his least productive season since his rookie campaign, he would be surrounded with more offensive talent than he's been accustomed to with the Hurricanes.
There appears to be a changing of the guard in Carolina. The club's young talent has begun shouldering the bulk of responsibility and more of the production.
Staal sits fifth on the team in scoring and it might be time for the Hurricanes to swap him for prospects and youngsters. In turn, Staal could have a real shot at another Cup in Chicago.
