Trade Deadline Day.

It was not as big a day as last year in terms of the number or names, but there is still enough activity this day in the NHL to make it worth a poolies while to understand any fantasy implications of the moves conducted today. So let’s get to it.

Calgary – in perhaps the biggest trade of the day, Phoenix moved Olli Jokinen to Calgary for Matthew Lombardi, Brandon Prust and a 1st round draft pick. This has been Jokinen’s worst year statistically and fantasy wise in X. It was pretty apparent that he wasn’t going to fit into the long term plans of the ‘Yotes and his move to Calgary should reinvigorate him and his fantasy value. He’s not the best fit to play with Iginla and Cammallerri, but he does provide excellent depth on the 2nd line playing with Moss and Bertuzzi. Jokinen is a better scorer than playmaker, and allowing Bertuzzi to play the role of set-up man should prove beneficial for both players. The fact that he’s going to play in the playoffs for the first time in his career will be a strong motivator as well. For Phoenix, Lombardi will get the chance to perhaps learn from the best player ever how to maximize his considerable talents. He should see his playing time remain about the same with a small bump in value as most players do when they are dealt. If he can actually gel with the ‘Yotes young guns in Mueller, Turris, Boedeker, he may finally realize more fantasy value.. The Flames were not done there, after getting Jokinen, they then turned to the Avalanche and picked up the oft injured Jordan Leopold for Lawrence Nycholat, Ryan Wilson and a second-round pick in 2009. Leopold has never developed into a fantasy relevant player and he’s not going to now.

Edmonton – after watching provincial rival Calgary acquire Jokinen, the Oilers shipped Erik Cole back to Carolina in a 4 team swap that saw Justin Williams go from the ‘Canes to the Kings, the Kings shipped Patrick O’Sullivan to Edmonton, the Sabres shipped Ales Kotalik to the Oilers and the Sabres received a 2nd round pick from the Oilers. All season Erik Cole has looked like a fish out of water and just not comfortable in Edmonton. His move back to Carolina should be a welcome addition to the team and to Cole’s confidence. The Kings get former 30+ goal scorer in Williams, who has not looked like the same player since coming back from achilles tendon surgery earlier this year. Williams’ talent has not abandoned him but it’s apparent that a change of scenery may be a good tonic to restart his game. Patrick O’Sullivan joins an Oilers team and becomes yet another smallish center for the team; but his talent is under-rated.. Kotalik is a former 20+ goal guy, that is not small but sometimes plays that way. Ultimately, the Oilers didn’t want to lose Cole for nothing, and O'Sullivan and Kotalik should help their offense if they get the ice-time and right team-mates.

Pittsburgh – after placing an ex-Islander in Miro Satan on waivers, the fact that the Pens went and acquired another one in Bill Guerin is confusing. Guerin is not as talented as Satan, but he is grittier and does add an element of toughness to a team of forwards that needs someone for them to lead by example. Guerin’s best days are behind him, but if he can click with either Crosby or Malkin he’d be worth a waiver pick of the next 20 odd games. It’s a low risk, high reward situation for the Pens and for you the poolie.

New York (Rangers) – the Rangers were active this trade deadline as they acquired Derek Morris from Phoenix for Dmitri Kalinin, Nigel Dawes and Petr Prucha. They then turn around and acquired Nik Antropov from Toronto for a 2nd round pick, and a conditional draft pick. From a poolies perspective, the Morris move seems to be a lot to give up for a guy that used to be a decent two-way defencemen, but is no longer an offensive threat. He’s a better puck mover than Kalinin, but not enough to part also with Dawes and Prucha. Anticipate a slight bump in Morris’s fantasy value, but not a lot. For Phoenix, the key to this deal is acquiring a steady defenceman and a diminutive, yet talented scorer (at least in junior) in Dawes. Dawes will need top 6 forward minutes to produce, but he another low risk – high reward guy that may blossom with the added ice time. In Antropov, the Rangers get another big bodied forward that has some offensive upside and may be relieved to be out of the fish bowl that is Toronto. Someone is going to place a lot fantasy value on him right now, and he’d be a guy that we’d move for a surer thing.

Boston – the Bruins have had a very good season and have played above most pundits expectations. As a result, they tinkered with their line-up by adding veteran Mark Recchi and Steve Montador at the deadline for a group of young prospects that were not going to be unseating any of the young guns on the Bruins any time soon. Recchi should likely play on the 2nd line with Krejci and Lucic. He’s a much better playmaker now than he is a goal scorer but that’s just what those young guys will be looking for. He’s also likely to see 2nd duty on the PP. He likely to be decent for the next two weeks and a good filler for another guy that might be injured.

Ottawa – in a move to try and shore up the team goaltending, the Sens acquired Pascal Leclaire and a 2nd round pick from the Blue Jackets for consistently inconsistent Antoine Vermette. Leclaire has been injured a lot this season and when healthy, he has not looked like the same goaltender from last year. Expect him to be back sometime in April, but he’ll be the team’s #1 guy come next season. Vermette gets a change in zip code, and the new start should be helpful. He’s better than what he’s displayed this season, but one has to wonder how he’ll flourish under even tougher coach Ken Hitchcock?