HFNHL Lightning Surging Towards Playoffs - Trade Deadline Recap

Canuck09

Registered User
Jul 4, 2004
2,040
197
Vancouver
After a flurry of trades this season the Lightning roster is completely revamped, and for the first time in GM Jeff Kirk's tenure with the team, challenging for a playoff spot. Before we dive into a review of the trades made, lets rewind a year and take a look at the roster the team finished the 2016-17 season with...

THEN 2016-17
Tyler Toffoli - Victor Rask - Brendan Gallagher
Matt Moulson - Calle Jarnkrok - Joffrey Lupul
RJ Umberger - Matt Stajan - Steve Bernier
Brandon Prust - Dave Bolland - Ryan White

Seth Jones - Adam Larsson
Simon Despres - Trevor van Riemsdyk
John Scott - Nate Prosser

Kari Ramo
Andrei Vasilevskiy

This rag-tag roster managed to play competitive hockey throughout the season finishing in 11th with 81 points, only 7 points out of a playoff spot. The offseason brought a few FA signings, including captain Henrik Zetterberg and top prospects Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine and Ivan Provorov, giving the team some much needed hope for the future. A variety of trades, both big and small, leave the team looking extremely different at this point as they sit 1st in the Atlantic and have already surpassed last seasons point total with 84.

The Trades - Summer/Pre-Season
TRADE : From Ducks to Lightning : Kyle Brodziak (62)
TRADE : From Lightning to Ducks : Henrik Tommernes (P), $700,000


A depth acquisition in the summer, Brodziak played a prominent role on the 4th line and PK to start the season, before being traded shortly before the deadline.

TRADE : From Lightning to Devils : Y:2018-RND:2-TAM
TRADE : From Devils to Lightning : Mark Pysyk (58)


Not a true trade but Pysyk was signed to a RFA Offer Sheet in the summer and the Devils decided not to match. After several years of early picks the Devils may have been hoping for a good one with the TAM 2 received as compensation but the Lightning targeted Pysyk as a younger player that could fill an immediate need on the 3rd pair. A near best case scenario would be that 2nd turning into a useful NHL D so this was an easy move for GM Jeff Kirk to make.

TRADE : From Lightning to Golden Knights : Matt Moulson (68), Blake Siebenaler (P)
TRADE : From Golden Knights to Lightning : Luke Glendening (69)


A small move to bolster the PK again, Glendening offered multi position flexibility at a reasonable salary. Looks to be a fixture on the 4th line for the foreseeable future.

TRADE : From Senators to Lightning : Dan Hamhuis (74), Matt Beleskey (66)
TRADE : From Lightning to Senators : Mason Geertsen (P), Y:2018-RND:4-TAM


The team still lacked some depth on D so veteran Dan Hamhuis was brought on to be a #4-5. He's played up and down the lineup all season as injuries have been a problem. Taking Matt Beleskey in this deal seemed to be a real mistake as time went on but he was moved in a subsequent trade.

The Trades - In Season Building
TRADE : From Lightning to Ducks : Jesse Puljujarvi (P), Y:2018-RND:1-TAM, Y:2018-RND:2-MTL, Y:2018-RND:4-COL, Y:2018-RND:4-NYI
TRADE : From Ducks to Lightning : Jakub Voracek (77), Taylor Raddysh (P), Y:2019-RND:5-PHI


The first really big move to shift the direction of the team came with the acquisition of Jakub Voracek. The price was high as top prospect Jesse Puljujarvi went the other way. Speculation is management was growing tired of his slow progression relative to fellow top picks Matthews & Laine so the decision was made to acquire a top line player having a strong NHL season. Taylor Raddysh was added to the deal at the last second to keep a quality prospect in the pipeline rather than waiting on picks to develop.

TRADE : From Lightning to Devils : Sam Bennett (68), Teuvo Teravainen (70), Ryan Pulock (P), $2,000,000
TRADE : From Devils to Lightning : Jonathan Huberdeau (73), Kevin Hayes (74), Y:2018-RND:2-CGY, Y:2018-RND:3-NJD


A month later came another surprising trade as the team packaged more of it's young depth for the emerging Jonathan Huberdeau and strong sim player Kevin Hayes. Another frustrating young player in Sam Bennett was sent out along with a favorite of GM Kirk in Ryan Pulock. In Huberdeau the team landed a young player on the rise that can anchor the 2nd line for years to come. The picks added gave the team more ammo for future trades.

TRADE : From Lightning to Ducks : Jake Gardiner (74), Y:2018-RND:4-ANA, Y:2018-RND:5-TAM
TRADE : From Ducks to Lightning : Justin Braun (75), Y:2018-RND:2-CHI, Y:2019-RND:2-BOS


The Ducks were trade partners again in a somewhat surprising trade sending super skilled Jake Gardiner out for steady Justin Braun and draft picks. This was more a change in direction than anything as Gardiner's abilities didn't seem to be as needed on a team quickly improving it's skill level up front. The more defensively focused Braun seemed to be a better fit and the earlier picks acquired went a long way.

The Trades - Deadline Deals
TRADE : From Panthers to Lightning : Eric Staal (79), Mike Fisher (Rights), Y:2019-RND:4-FLA
TRADE : From Lightning to Panthers : Matt Beleskey (65), Y:2018-RND:2-CHI, Y:2018-RND:2-WAS, Y:2018-RND:3-FLA


As it became clear the team was a real playoff contender GM Kirk decided to go all-in and add some veteran leaders to really fill the roster out. Eric Staal comes with a hefty contract but has great all-around ratings and will be a key player in 2018-19 as well if the team is able to extend his contract. Mike Fisher has yet to return to the NHL, but when he does, will give the team incredible depth down the middle. Moving the Matt Beleskey contract here was a small victory saving a buyout next season.

TRADE : From Kings to Lightning : Y:2018-RND:4-LOS
TRADE : From Lightning to Kings : Kyle Brodziak (69), Y:2019-RND:7-TAM
TRADE : From Oilers to Lightning : Y:2018-RND:3-OTT
TRADE : From Lightning to Oilers : Matt Stajan (70), Y:2018-RND:3-TAM


After all the additions Brodziak and Stajan lost spots on the team and were shipped out for draft picks.

TRADE : From Lightning to Golden Knights : Markus Granlund (71), $500,000 (Money), Y:2019-RND:3-TAM
TRADE : From Golden Knights to Lightning : Paul Martin (73), Rick Nash (74)


This one was in talks for a while and didn't come together until the night before the deadline after a pivotal Vegas loss. Adding Rick Nash gives the team a top end scorer on 3 lines and yet another veteran presence. Paul Martin will play in the #6/7 role giving the team some depth in case of injuries. Both players are rentals that will not be signed prior to next season, so even though the cost to acquire looks good on paper, losing a quality young bottom 6 player in Markus Granlund wasn't great.

TRADE : From Lightning to Ducks : Victor Rask (72), Y:2018-RND:3-WPJ
TRADE : From Ducks to Lightning : Jordan Eberle (72), Y:2019-RND:5-LAS


More of a trade for next season, the final deal of the year was to send slumping Victor Rask to Anaheim for Jordan Eberle. Rask has been playing better of late and the team wasn't looking to force a trade but the opportunity to add a slightly more productive winger to set the team up for next season was too good to pass on.

Aftermath
When the dust settled on the trade deadline the team looks incredibly different on paper and should be poised to really challenge in the playoffs. We'll see whether timing of all these moves was right as the team didn't improve in goal and only has a couple middling rated players, but with the core now established, this team has a 3 year window to really compete before big raises are due to the star young players.

NOW - 2017-18
Patrik Laine - Henrik Zetterberg - Jakub Voracek
Eric Staal - Auston Matthews - Jonathan Huberdeau
Rick Nash - Mike Fisher - Tyler Toffoli
Kevin Hayes - Luke Glendening - Jordan Eberle
Scratches: Brendan Gallagher, Calle Jarnkrok

Seth Jones - Ivan Provorov
Adam Larsson - Justin Braun
Dan Hamhuis - Paul Martin
Mark Pysyk

Andrei Vasilevskiy
Jonathan Bernier
 

HFNHLOilers

Registered User
Dec 13, 2008
1,237
119
Brampton
Ill admit being guilty of hoping Pulijuavri will bust lol doesnt look like he will even if its just a mediocre player
 

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