Trade Wars:The Finale
Who won?
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Players acquired by hf101 and the Western Conference
Blues: Milan Jurcina
Red Wings: Johnny Oduya and Chris Mason
Blue Jackets: Clarke MacArthur, Tyler Bozak and a 2012 1st round pick
Predators: Paul Martin and Tyler Kennedy
Blackhawks: Paul Gaustad, Patrick Kaleta, Andrej Sekera and a 2012 2nd round pick
Stars: Dainius Zubrus
Ducks: Filip Kuba
Kings: James Van Riemsdyke, Jody Shelley, Marc-Andre Bourdon and a 2012 2nd round draft pick
Coyotes: Thomas Plekanec
Sharks: 3rd round pick in the 2012 draft
Oilers: Jeff Schultz, Mike Knuble, Braden Holtby, and a 2012 1st round pick (Colorado)
Avalanche: Tuomo Ruutu and Bryan Allen
Wild: Teddy Purcell and Carter Aston
Canucks: Scott Clemmenson, Rasmus Bengtsson, Nick Bjugstad and Florida's 1st round pick in 2012
Flames: Wojtek Wolski, Artem Anisimov, Dan Girardi and a conditional 2012 1st round pick
(if the Rangers make it to the Eastern Conference Finals)
The trades I made that were most significant to the Western Conference include the acquisition of Dan Girardi and Artem Anisimov to the Flames, Johnny Oduya and Chris Mason to Detroit, and the young Jeff Schultz and Braden Holtby to the Oilers. The Stars, Blues, Blackhawks and Coyotes strengthened their teams with veteran players as they prepare for the playoffs. A total of 4 first round picks were obtained which will help the teams such as the Blue Jackets, Flames, and Oilers as they continue to rebuild for the future.
This has been a fun and challenging attempt at impersonating the trials of a GM in their quest to build the best team possible for the needs of now and in the future. We are definitely planning to next years Trade Wars II however we plan to start much sooner so we can finish before the real trade deadline. Thank you for reading and please don't forget to comment and VOTE. Now Habsguy will try to convince you why his team is better.
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Players acquired by habsguy26 and the Eastern Conference
Bruins: Brad Winchester
Sabres: Brandon Pirri, Kyle Beach, Nick Leddy and Andrew Shaw
Canadiens: Brandon Gormley and a 2012 1st round pick (Phoenix)
Senators: Jason Blake
Maple Leafs: Jeff Carter
Capitals: Ales Hemsky, Magnus Paargarvi-Svensson and Cam Barker
Hurricanes: Joey Hishon, Cameron Gaunce and Tyson Barrie
Jets: Petr Mrazek, Landon Ferraro and a 2012 3rd round pick
Lightning: Josh Harding
Panthers: Robert Luongo
Penguins: Ryan Suter and Chet Pickard
Flyers: Jack Johnson, Trent Hunter and Thomas Hickey
Devils: Radek Dvorak and Brett Richie
Rangers: Jarome Iginla
Islanders: Kris Russel and Jori Lehtera
Hey you guys, it's Habsguy. What a great series. It was really fun and I look forward to doing it next year. Let me start with the impact players I acquired for my Eastern conference teams. Starting with the North East, the only big impact player acquired was Jeff Cater by the Maple Leafs. He would bring a fast, scoring center to a team that desperately needs it. Carter would drastically increase Toronto's chances at making the play offs.
Big moves were made in the South East, too. Ales Hemsky gives Ovechkin and Backstrom a world class line mate and Hemsky would excel. If Hemsky played for Washington he'd easily score 80 points. No doubt. Paargarvi is having a bad year, but I think a ticket out of Edmonton is just what he needs. Cam Barker has been a bust since being drafted 3rd overall by Chicago. This would be his 4th team in 4 years, but maybe he could find a permanent home in Washington.... or Hershey. Moving on to Tampa, they acquire a goalie who could push them over the top in Josh Harding. He is one of the best back ups in the NHL and can be a starter. If Tampa had traded for Harding this off season they would be winning the division right now. Then we get to Florida, who re-acquired goalie Roberto Luongo. Florida has been a surprise team this year and is perhaps a goalie away from making a big push, and with Luongo fresh off a Game 7 loss in the Cup finals, he would be the goaltender to trade for. Luongo gives Florida some star power and would improve their play off push immediately.
Moves for defencemen were big in the Atlantic division. The Penguins traded to get Ryan Suter, one of the biggest names on the Free Agent market this year. He would make them a Stanley Cup favourite, in my opinion. Trading Martin and Kennedy also give them the cap space to resign him this June, too. Chet Pickard is a strong goalie prospect that could eventually push M.A Fluery for his job one day, similar to the situation in Vancouver. This was probably the best move this entire series. For all you Flyers' fans, I went out and traded JVR (and Shelley) in order to acquire a defenceman that would not replace Chris Pronger, but would definitely make things a lot easier then they are without him in Jack Johnson. He is a big, mobile defender who can hit. They also got Trent Hunter who is a solid 3rd line guy, and the 4th overall pick in the 2007 draft, Thomas Hickey. Finally, the last deal of significance made in the Atlantic was Jarome Iginla to the Rangers. This gives the Rangers a LETHAL offence. Although we lost Girardi, we still have King Henrik tending the crease and with Staal, Del Zotto and McDonagh patrolling the blue line, I'm not too worried. Imagine a line of Iginla - Richards - Gaborik coming up against you. You couldn't look me in the eye and tell me that wouldn't be scary. This trade would make the Rangers Cup contenders.
I also think I got a quality amount of prospects and role players, too. Starting again with the North East, Brad Winchester gives the Bruins a quality bottom 6. Perfect guy for that team. The Buffalo Sabres got 4 of Chicago's best prospects. Brandon Pirri is going to be a solid second line center in the NHL some day. Kyle Beach is a former 11th overall pick and he plays a similar style of Boston's Milan Lucic. Andrew Shaw is a brilliant grinder and he can score too, filling the hole the Kassian-Hodgson trade left. And Nick Leddy, who is already a great NHL player, is a powerplay guy who will be able to put up points from the blue line and is a 1st pairing defenceman. My Habs did well too, acquiring a 1st rounder and THN's 10th ranked prospect in the entire NHL, Brandon Gormley. He lacks flash and flare, but is a reliable defender. He will have an NHL roster spot next season. He was named the top defenceman at this year's World Juniors, too. He is big and very strong with a big shot from the point. Going to Ottawa will be the vet Jason Blake, who will give Ottawa good depth scoring which they will need in this year's play offs.
The Carolina Hurricanes, who appeared to be sellers, got 3 very good prospects from Colorado. Joey Hishon is ranked 65th overall by THN in their Future Watch, and for good reason. The young center had 255 points in 215 games with Owen Sound in the OHL. Tyson Barrie has been compared to J.M Liles because of his small frame and offensive talents. But the 20 year old defender is a very strong skater, has a wicked wrist shot, has great vision of the ice and can throw his fists too. He is a quality defender who can QB a 1st PP unit. Cameron Gaunce is comparable to Edmonton Oilers' denfeceman Ladislav Smid. He is 6-1, and blocks ALOT of shots. Moving on to the Winnipeg Jets, the acquired Petr Mrazek, an unorthodox goalie who plays similar to Dominik Hasek. Though I doubt he will obtain legendary status like the Dominator, Mrazek will have a good NHL career. He showed he could play with elite talent and excel at this past World Juniors. Landon Ferraro, as said in previous blogs, is slated to become a second line center who can score.
And FINALLY, we move on to the Atlantic. Radek Dvorak gives the Devils some depth on the wing and a quality presence in the locker room. Also, New Jersey acquires Brett Richie from Dallas. Richie big at 6-3, 200 pounds and very fast. He is supposed to be one of the fastest skating prospects out there. He also has a wicked, NHL ready shot. Good of the Devils to get him in this deal. And the last trade to talk about, is Kris Russel and Jori Lehtera to the Islanders. Though I do not know much of Russel's game, I do know he is a mobile defenceman who can skate. He is a 5-6 defenceman at his best. Jori Lehtera though is different. This big Fin is big and fast, who also has an NHL ready shot. He could be a 2nd line center by the time he's fully developed.
Okay guys so there it is. Sorry for such a long analysis, I just really want to win this thing. Please don't forget to vote on who won. Thank you for reading the series and see you next year.
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