The 2007-08 NHL trade deadline not only brings a change in philosophy for NHL teams fighting for playoffs or lottery picks, but also for fantasy owners burdened with player movement. Here's a look at the players who'll most be affected by the change in sweaters, and how your fantasy roster will change with it:
Comment: Hossa is just under a point-per-game, and his -14 might not be the most appealing. But unless you've been living under a rock, you know the Atlanta Thrashers' porous defence had something to do with that. Pittsburgh did not heavily pay for Hossa to toil on the third line, so look for major minutes with Sidney Crosby and Evengi Malkin, both 5-on-5 and on the powerplay. As Pittsburgh's play continues to improve, so too will Hossa's numbers across the board. Look for a genuine spike in goals, as being away from Kovalchuk and alongside playmakers will give Hossa the chance to knock the puck in the net.
Comment: In what seems like a pity move for the aging, no longer superstar, Fedorov receives a chance to play with the next great Russian sniper in Alexander Ovechkin. Make no mistake: this move was not made for depth, but as a chance for Washington's young wonder kid to play with a Russian hero. Federov can't put up the huge numbers he used to, but look for his 28 points this season to increase steadily playing alongside the most dynamic player in hockey. The greatest spike will be while on the powerplay, where his loss in speed won't be an overall detriment to his point production.
Comment: Probably in the most need to get out of a bad situation, Richards was the result of Tampa Bay having nowhere to play him. He didn't get much opportunity to move the puck with Lecavalier, and his points suffered. And yeah, he's still got over 50 points. If he's available in lighter leagues, don't let the -25 fool you, as playing on the worst team in hockey always hurts the two-way game. Richards will see the most point production of any player moved at the deadline, and should get ample opportunity playing alongside captain Brendan Morrow and the surprising Dallas Stars.
Comment: Going the other way in the Richards trade was the quickly aging Mike Smith. Forever in the shadows of Dallas stalwart Marty Turco, the 26-year-old will get the opportunity to run away with the starting job with the Lightning. Don't count too highly on this kid for the rest of the 2007-08 season, but Tampa Bay will turn the corner with a lottery pick this summer and, coupled with Lecavalier, St. Louis and Boyle, make a run for the playoffs in 2008-09. For this season, Smith will get bombarded with shots as Tampa Bay's defence continues to show its many holes. But don't expect a lot of wins. Not yet.
Comment: A great pick up for Detroit. Stuart was buried in the woeful Los Angeles Kings organization, and his steady skills will come in handy with Detroit. His minus-16 will steadily rise on the solid Detroit squad, and with top guns Niklas Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski down with injuries, he'll get major minutes with the top scoring line. Look for a huge spike in powerplay production and assists.
Comment: The move out west to San Jose will be great for Campbell's career, as he now gets the opportunity to sign the big extension he wanted with the Sharks. His numbers, however, should remain relatively similar. He ran the powerplay unit in Buffalo, and will do the same in San Jose. If anything, Campbell's presence on the Sharks blueline will greatly increase the numbers of those around him. Look for Marleau and Michalek to enjoy the smart breakout pass for additional chances heading into the playoffs.
Comment: It was going to happen eventually. Though the Huet deal shocked everyone not named Gainey in Montreal, there wasn't a chance the Canadiens would have resigned him for next season with Carey Price waiting anxiously in the wings. Huet won't get many starts behind Capitals mainstay Olaf Kolzig, especially with Washington in the thick of a playoff hunt. What once was a great fantasy producer for save percentage and wins has now been reduced to a seldom used backup.
Comment: Though their numbers were astronomical, they did manage to play with two of the most dynamic players in Pittsburgh. Christensen was a good opportunity in a deep pool — a chance to feed off the super kids and get some decent numbers across the board — but now he'll be stuck in woeful Atlanta with King Ilya and his minions. Christensen may very well be a + / - disaster by the time the season is through, along with the rest of the Hossa-less Thrashers.
Comment: Fact: Playing with a guy named Lecavalier is good for your career. Fact: Playing with guys not named Lecavalier will show your weakness. Prospal has packed his 30 goals in a bag and is on his way to Philadelphia, hoping to cure the goal scoring woes of the Flyers before they eliminate themselves altogether from the playoff race. He'll get major minutes alongside Daniel Briere but, with Mike Richards down, Philadelphia is going nowhere fast, and Prospal is only dead weight for the fall down. His numbers, especially on the powerplay, will decrease across the board.
Comment: While in New York, Bergeron had the opportunity to run the powerplay. Coincidentally enough, the powerplay was the only thing keeping the Islanders afloat. Don't think for a second moving to Anaheim means replacing the top two guns of Chris Pronger and Scott Neidermayer. Bergeron will produce some numbers, yes, but a deadly No. 1 unit for the Ducks will keep the former Islander on the bench for most of the powerplay. 5-on-5, Bergeron is a liability and won't see much action as Anaheim makes another run at the top seed for the playoffs. Make no mistake, this move was made by GM Bryan Burke for insurance purposes only.
J.P. Del Monte is UPDATE! National Hockey League editor.
IMPROVEMENTS
MARIAN HOSSA
Pittsburgh Penguins, RWComment: Hossa is just under a point-per-game, and his -14 might not be the most appealing. But unless you've been living under a rock, you know the Atlanta Thrashers' porous defence had something to do with that. Pittsburgh did not heavily pay for Hossa to toil on the third line, so look for major minutes with Sidney Crosby and Evengi Malkin, both 5-on-5 and on the powerplay. As Pittsburgh's play continues to improve, so too will Hossa's numbers across the board. Look for a genuine spike in goals, as being away from Kovalchuk and alongside playmakers will give Hossa the chance to knock the puck in the net.
SERGEI FEDOROV
Washington Capitals, CComment: In what seems like a pity move for the aging, no longer superstar, Fedorov receives a chance to play with the next great Russian sniper in Alexander Ovechkin. Make no mistake: this move was not made for depth, but as a chance for Washington's young wonder kid to play with a Russian hero. Federov can't put up the huge numbers he used to, but look for his 28 points this season to increase steadily playing alongside the most dynamic player in hockey. The greatest spike will be while on the powerplay, where his loss in speed won't be an overall detriment to his point production.
BRAD RICHARDS
Dallas Stars, CComment: Probably in the most need to get out of a bad situation, Richards was the result of Tampa Bay having nowhere to play him. He didn't get much opportunity to move the puck with Lecavalier, and his points suffered. And yeah, he's still got over 50 points. If he's available in lighter leagues, don't let the -25 fool you, as playing on the worst team in hockey always hurts the two-way game. Richards will see the most point production of any player moved at the deadline, and should get ample opportunity playing alongside captain Brendan Morrow and the surprising Dallas Stars.
MIKE SMITH
Tampa Bay Lightning, GComment: Going the other way in the Richards trade was the quickly aging Mike Smith. Forever in the shadows of Dallas stalwart Marty Turco, the 26-year-old will get the opportunity to run away with the starting job with the Lightning. Don't count too highly on this kid for the rest of the 2007-08 season, but Tampa Bay will turn the corner with a lottery pick this summer and, coupled with Lecavalier, St. Louis and Boyle, make a run for the playoffs in 2008-09. For this season, Smith will get bombarded with shots as Tampa Bay's defence continues to show its many holes. But don't expect a lot of wins. Not yet.
BRAD STUART
Detroit Red Wings, DComment: A great pick up for Detroit. Stuart was buried in the woeful Los Angeles Kings organization, and his steady skills will come in handy with Detroit. His minus-16 will steadily rise on the solid Detroit squad, and with top guns Niklas Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski down with injuries, he'll get major minutes with the top scoring line. Look for a huge spike in powerplay production and assists.
EVEN MONEY
BRIAN CAMPBELL
San Jose Sharks, C Comment: The move out west to San Jose will be great for Campbell's career, as he now gets the opportunity to sign the big extension he wanted with the Sharks. His numbers, however, should remain relatively similar. He ran the powerplay unit in Buffalo, and will do the same in San Jose. If anything, Campbell's presence on the Sharks blueline will greatly increase the numbers of those around him. Look for Marleau and Michalek to enjoy the smart breakout pass for additional chances heading into the playoffs.
QUESTIONABLE CALL
CRISTOBAL HUET
Washington Capitals, GComment: It was going to happen eventually. Though the Huet deal shocked everyone not named Gainey in Montreal, there wasn't a chance the Canadiens would have resigned him for next season with Carey Price waiting anxiously in the wings. Huet won't get many starts behind Capitals mainstay Olaf Kolzig, especially with Washington in the thick of a playoff hunt. What once was a great fantasy producer for save percentage and wins has now been reduced to a seldom used backup.
ERIK CHRISTENSEN
Atlanta Thrashers, CComment: Though their numbers were astronomical, they did manage to play with two of the most dynamic players in Pittsburgh. Christensen was a good opportunity in a deep pool — a chance to feed off the super kids and get some decent numbers across the board — but now he'll be stuck in woeful Atlanta with King Ilya and his minions. Christensen may very well be a + / - disaster by the time the season is through, along with the rest of the Hossa-less Thrashers.
VACLAV PROSPAL
Philadelphia Flyers, CComment: Fact: Playing with a guy named Lecavalier is good for your career. Fact: Playing with guys not named Lecavalier will show your weakness. Prospal has packed his 30 goals in a bag and is on his way to Philadelphia, hoping to cure the goal scoring woes of the Flyers before they eliminate themselves altogether from the playoff race. He'll get major minutes alongside Daniel Briere but, with Mike Richards down, Philadelphia is going nowhere fast, and Prospal is only dead weight for the fall down. His numbers, especially on the powerplay, will decrease across the board.
MARC-ANDRE BERGERON
Anaheim Ducks, DComment: While in New York, Bergeron had the opportunity to run the powerplay. Coincidentally enough, the powerplay was the only thing keeping the Islanders afloat. Don't think for a second moving to Anaheim means replacing the top two guns of Chris Pronger and Scott Neidermayer. Bergeron will produce some numbers, yes, but a deadly No. 1 unit for the Ducks will keep the former Islander on the bench for most of the powerplay. 5-on-5, Bergeron is a liability and won't see much action as Anaheim makes another run at the top seed for the playoffs. Make no mistake, this move was made by GM Bryan Burke for insurance purposes only.
J.P. Del Monte is UPDATE! National Hockey League editor.