To Racers (GM Ed Swan):
Gary Roberts
To Whalers (GM Riger Gorbet):
Alexei Morozov
Jiri Slegr
Assestment:
GM Gorbet did not dance around the bush when he decided that his team was in dire strights and needed to rebuild and rebuild fast! They got back 2 youngsters that could be nice fits for future teams, but nothing to build around. Slegr could even be ready to step into a pro spot now. The Racers, on the other hand, seem to be making a push to win now as they picked up the fiesty vetren, for what they considered fairly cheap. Roberts is a good 2nd line winger, that can also step into the top line role from tiem to time.
Winner:
I'm gunna have to give the nod to the Racers on this as Roberts isnt terribly old, and is under contract for 2 more years still.
To Sharks (GM Kris Green):
Sergei Fedorov
Mike Knuble
1998 DET 3rd
To Red Wings (GM Bryan Lodewyks):
Olli Jokinen
Glen Murray
1998 LA 1st
Assesment:
The Sharks have soem pieces to make a run now, but there are soem hoels to fill. This deal filled one of those holes and gave then a true #1 centre. Feds can scoer, pass, play the PK, almost anything. Through in a nice prospect and low pick and this deal is looking pretty good. The Wings, who definatly have the pieces to win now seem to want to go in the opposit direction and build for the future. This is a good start for that as they pick up a 1st round pick in a deep draft, and 2 great young players that could step in now, may need to be grown more, but can also step in now if need be.
Winner:
Seems like a good even trade, but if we look at adressing needs, the Sharks take this round.
To Jets:
Doug Brown
To Red Wings:
Rick Toccett
Assesment:
This can only be descirbed as a finacial move for the Jets, or else this deal would not make sense at all. After signing Mario Lemieux to a $11mil contract, they could no longer aford the servises of Toccet who was making $4mil+ a season. The Wings jumped on this deal and pretty much stole one of the top wingers in the league.
Winner:
Though I understand why the Jets had to make such a move, the clear winner is Detroit.
To Flyers:
1998 DET 2nd
1999 DET 3rd
$100,000
To Red Wings:
Luke Richardson
Assesment:
One can only assume once again that the FLyers were looking to dump Richardson's 2.5mil a season salary to give them some more cap space. Richardson is a solid stay at home defender, and in any other situation would probubly go for more than 2 low picks and cash.
Winner:
Red Wings, even though this deal does bring them razor thin to the cap.
To Flyers:
"Lucky" Luc Robitaille
1998 LA 2nd
2000 LA 3rd
To Sharks:
Danius Zubrus
1999 PHI 1st
1999 PHI 3rd
$100,000
Assesment:
The Sharks start their new re-building ways by dealing one of the best goal scorers in history. The Flyer, gearing up for a cup run, gave up what they thought was peanuts to hey Lucky Luc. But at closer expection, teh Sharls to gain a1st round in a decent draft, Zubrus who is the best yung defsneive forward in the game and a 3rd reounder to boot. Nice Job.
Winner:
Flyers, not only did they pick up Luc, the also picked up what will be a decent pick in an extremly deep draft.
To Canadians:
Jamie Langenbrunner
Marc Savard
Emmanuel Fernandez
1998 HOU 1st
To Aeros:
Mark Recchi
Vladimir Malakhov
Assesment:
The Aeros are looking to becoem the class of the WHA and this deal brings them closer to this goal. They gain 2 super studs in Recchi and Malakohov who are both international calaber players. The Canadians seem to want to go on a rebuilding spree, picking up a VERYT good youngster in langenbrunner, a future 2nd liner in Savard and potential starting goalie in Fernandez and a 1st in a VERY deep draft.
Winner:
Though Montreal did get soem good stuff back, the Aeros take the cake in this one.
To Saints:
Ron Hextall
Trent Klatt
Alex Daigle
1999 PHI 2nd
To Flyers:
Kelly Hrudy
Mike Ricci
Tony Granato
1998 MIN 2nd
1998 MIN 3rd