Monday’s NHL Trade Deadline for 2021 was quieter than usual. There were 17 transactions, the least since 17 in 2013, with 26 players, the least since 23 in 2000.
“It was a different year,” said Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings general manager. “Yesterday I was sitting here going, ‘Jeez, nobody is calling’, and I heard that was quite common in the Bond.”
But this trade deadline came amid the coronavirus pandemic with a flat NHL salary cap and quarantine requirements, plus protection issues ahead of the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft for the Seattle Kraken.
And if you look at the past three weeks, not just deadline day, Stanley Cup contenders have still found ways to add pieces. Rebuilding teams has still added assets for the future. Some were creatively maneuvering below the limit by retaining pay or using cap space to broker deals.
Eric Staal went to the Montreal Canadiens, Kyle Palmieri to the New York Islanders, David Savard to the Tampa Bay Lightning, Nick Foligno to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Jeff Carter to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Taylor Hall to the Boston Bruins, Sam Bennett to the Florida Panthers, Anthony Mantha to Washington capitals and more.
“Quite a few had been done, and people were busy with their business, and we’ll see now,” said Panthers GM Bill Zito. ‘Certainly, with visas and international travel that will be a problem. But we’ll get through it and move on. ‘
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In short, the pandemic has not dampened competition. In some ways, it has even increased it.
When the deadline arrived at 3 p.m. ET on Monday, the top six teams in the NHL were separated by two points, the top nine teams by four points. The division races had a unique dynamic.
The NHL has been temporarily realigned this season due to travel restrictions during the pandemic. Teams play in the regular competition within their division. The top four teams in each division qualify for the playoffs and the teams play the first two rounds within their division.
“There are a lot of teams in the mix,” said Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill. “With the new format that we play in, you can go up and down the standings very quickly because of this COVID season. You play head-to-head every night. Those things really affect the deadline.”
In the MassMutual East with eight teams, the three best teams were separated by two points. The capitals added Mantha and onward Michael Raffl, and the Islanders added Palmieri, ahead Travis rabbit and defender Braydon CoburnThe Penguins added Carter, a 36-year-old attacker who won the cup twice with the Los Angeles Kings (2012, 2014) and can go after it again with Sidney Crosby
“I think the quote was, ‘I’m all in. I can’t wait to get there,’” said Penguins GM Ron Hextall.
Fourth place Bruins, Hall added, forward Curtis Lazar and defender Mike ReillyHall is arguably the most interesting asset anywhere. He scored 93 points (39 goals, 54 assists) in 76 games with the New Jersey Devils and won the Hart Trophy voted as NHL MVP in 2017-18, but scored 19 points (two goals, 17 assists) in 37 games with the Buffalo . Sabers this season. Can he bounce back with a better team?
Video: break down which teams improved before the deadline
In the eight-member Discover Central, the three best teams were also separated by two points. While the Carolina Hurricanes were right, the Lightning added Savard to bolster their blue line. The Panthers traded up front and for Bennett Brandon Montour at defender, and drew forward Nikita Gusev as an unrestricted free agent. Fourth place Nashville Predators added defender Erik Gudbranson
In the eight-headed Honda West, the Colorado Avalanche added depth in the middle (Carl Soderberg), on the backside (Patrik Nemeth ) and in net (Devan Dubnyk The second place Vegas Golden Knights came up Mattias Janmark, giving them speed on the wing in their middle six. The Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues were quiet, but for the Blues it was big. A week ago they were on a seven game skid (0-6-1) looking like salesmen. Now they have a winning streak of three games and are back in a playoff spot.
“Each trade deadline has its own uniqueness, but this one has certainly, with the shortened season, our fluctuation in the game, led our minds in different directions,” said Blues GM Doug Armstrong. “Sure, the game of the last three games and the fact that I was in a playoff spot today was one [reason for] really decide to knock with this group. “
The Maple Leafs in first place were the story in seven-headed Scotia North, adding depth to the front (Foligno, Riley Nash), on the backside (Ben Hutton ) and in net (David Rittich No Canadian-based team has won the cup since the Canadiens in 1993. Toronto has not won a playoff series since 2004. Because of this season’s set-up, a Canada-based team will make it to the last four, and the Maple Leafs have the biggest lead in any of the divisions, six points ahead of second-place Winnipeg Jets.
“We were delighted to be able to add, in our opinion, the pieces that will continue to improve our ability to be as competitive as possible as we go into the playoffs,” said Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas, “and from there to roll on. “
NHL.com staff writers Tom Gulitti and Tracey Myers, and independent correspondents Wes Crosby and Louie Korac contributed to this report