It’s been a week since the NHL’s trade deadline has passed, and in most cases of traded players, we’ve seen a decent sample size to judge how well or poorly they might be doing with their new team.
Let’s focus on eight traded players and examine their performance after the deadline:
Mikko Rantanen, RW, Dallas Stars
As the biggest name moved at the deadline, Rantanen had major pressure right off the hop in his time as a Star. And in his first three games with Dallas, Rantanen has looked comfortable and productive, posting two goals and three points while averaging 19:50 of ice time – nearly the exact same amount of minutes (19:49) he had with Carolina.
Rantanen is going to be crucial to the Stars’ Stanley Cup playoff hopes, so it’s encouraging to see him hit the ground running with Dallas and contributing right away. He’s going to be the Stars’ highest-paid player next season, and at the moment, he’s showing why Dallas GM Jim Nill made a long-term commitment to him.
Dylan Cozens, C, Ottawa Senators
As the centerpiece of Ottawa’s trade that sent center Josh Norris to Buffalo, Cozens has been in the spotlight immediately – and he’s delivered exactly as Sens management had hoped, generating one point in each of his first four games with the Senators. And most impressively, Cozens has produced that offense while averaging just 15:34 per-game.
That total is nearly two minutes less per game than the 17:13 Cozens was averaging as a Sabre, so Ottawa fans have to be impressed with him thus far. If the Sens are going to make the playoffs, Cozens will have to have a major impact – and he’s under contract for another five seasons after this year – so it’s a huge relief for Senators fans to see him doing so well immediately after the trade.
Brock Nelson, C, Colorado Avalanche
Nelson was one of the highest-profile players on the trade block, and the Avalanche gave up quite a bit of talent and draft capital to the New York Islanders to get him. But after four games in a Colorado uniform, Nelson is still looking for his first goal, and he has just one assist in that span. Clearly, the Avs are looking for more out of Nelson.
However, on an Avalanche team that is far deeper than Nelson’s former Isles team, Nelson is averaging just 17:15 of ice time – more than two minutes fewer than the 19:21 he was averaging on Long Island. Colorado coach Jared Bednar is going to be patient with Nelson, but as the Avs battle to continue climbing up the Central Division, Bednar is going to go with the hot hand when he’s handing out minutes. Thus, Nelson has to make the most of his opportunities, or continue being utilized less than he was with the Islanders.
Seth Jones, D, Florida Panthers
Jones was the most notable defenseman available before the deadline, and he happily joined the defending Stanley Cup-champion Panthers. But in five games, he’s put up only one assist, which is far less productive than the 20 assists and 27 points he had in 42 games with Chicago this season.
Jones’ minutes are down slightly with Florida, as he’s averaging 23:57 of ice time, a reduction of 33 seconds-per-game from the 24:30 he was averaging with the Blackhawks. But Jones has otherwise been solid with the Panthers – and a godsend of sorts with Florida blueliner Aaron Ekblad serving a 20-game suspension. Jones can continue to be a big minute-muncher, and when Ekblad returns in the playoffs, Jones will give the Panthers even more-impressive blueline depth.
Brandon Carlo, D, Toronto Maple Leafs
Carlo wasn’t acquired by the Maple Leafs from Boston to post all kinds of points, so his point total of zero as a Leaf isn’t a surprise or disappointment. But Carlo has struggled a bit from a positional-defense standpoint in Toronto, and Leafs coach Craig Berube has cut down Carlo’s minutes. For example, in his first game as a Leaf, Carlo had 22:04 of ice time, in his second game, he had 19:58 of ice time and in his most recent game, Carlo had 17:34 of ice time.
That reduction in minutes isn’t a punishment from Berube. Rather, it has to do with the return to action of veteran Leafs blueliner Chris Tanev. And now, Carlo – who is being paired with D-man Morgan Rielly – can settle in with the knowledge he doesn’t have to be on the ice nearly as much as he was in Tanev’s absence. For that reason, we’re expecting Carlo’s performance to be better from this point on.
Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning
When the Lightning landed Bjorkstrand along with center Yanni Gourde from Seattle, the Bolts weren’t relying on Bjorkstrand to be a difference-maker. Rather, Bjorkstrand was brought in as veteran depth. And at this early point in his Lightning career, Bjorkstrand is still trying to hit his stride, as he has produced only one goal and one point in four games.
Some of that lack of production can be attributed to Bjorkstrand’s considerable reduction in minutes. In Seattle, he was averaging 15:28, but in Tampa Bay, he’s averaging only 14:17. But if the Bolts encounter injuries or slumps from their top-six forwards group, Bjorkstrand’s opportunities could increase. And if he contributes a clutch goal or two in the post-season, the assets the Lightning gave up for him will be worth it.
Brandon Tanev, LW, Winnipeg Jets
Tanev wasn’t acquired by the Jets from Seattle to be anything more than a complementary component, so Winnipeg fans shouldn’t be alarmed to see him averaging only 10:42 of ice time in his first four games with the Jets post-deadline. Winnipeg has one of the deepest collections of forwards in the league, so Tanev will probably get more games like the one he had March 11, when he was on the ice for only 9:44.
Tanev’s role as a fourth-line depth forward is only going to change if the Jets have injuries. Otherwise, he’s going to be asked to play sound defense and occasionally contribute a goal or an assist here or there on the fourth line. It took him four games to register a point in his second go-around with the Jets, and that average of .25 points-per-game is probably going to remain the same for Tanev the rest of the way this season.
Cody Glass, C, New Jersey Devils
The injury-ravaged Devils need help on offense wherever they can get it, and picking up Glass from the Pittsburgh Penguins is looking like a savvy move from New Jersey GM Tom Fitzgerald. Glass has posted a goal and three points in three games as a Devil, and he’s doing it while averaging just 14:25 of ice time.
In 51 games as a Penguin this year, Glass had only four goals and 15 points, so he’s off to a far better start in New Jersey. And Devils coach Sheldon Keefe is utilizing Glass a full minute more per game – 14:25, which is an improvement on the 13:25 he averaged in Pittsburgh. Glass doesn’t have to be anything other than a bottom-six contributor – and even then, if he does nothing other than play on the fourth line, Glass will be a success if he continues to chip in a decent amount of offense.
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