Faceoff Factor

The History of the NHL Trade Deadline

Eric Politowski | Pittsburgh Penguins

Mar 3, 04:10 PM | Hype this story!

With the 2008-2009 NHL trade deadline approaching tomorrow, I decided to give everyone a little further insight on some of the past year’s deadline moves, focusing on major trades and/or Penguins-related deals.

2008-
Total Deadline Transactions: 25
Penguins Deadline Transactions: 2

Buffalo Sabres D Brian Campbell and a 7th round pick were dealt to the San Jose Sharks for F Steve Bernier and a 1st round pick. Neither of these players decided to remain with their respective teams as Campbell signed a long-term deal with the Chicago Blackhawks, and Bernier moved on to the Vancouver Canucks.

Current Pittsburgh Penguin, Matt Cooke was traded from Vancouver to the Washington Capitals for F Matt Pettinger, straight-up. Once again, neither of these players are on the team they were acquired to (Pettinger is playing for Tampa Bay).

The Penguins made two moves at last year’s trade deadline. The first was a deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs that sent Hal Gill our way, in exchange for a 2nd round pick in 2008, and a 5th round pick in 2009. But Ray Shero didn’t stop there. The biggest deal of the day was made right around 3:00 P.M. when he acquired elite winger Marian Hossa, and Pascal Dupuis for fan favorite Colby Armstrong, shootout-hero Erik Christensen, prospect Angelo Esposito, and a 1st round pick in 2008.

I wouldn’t expect the Penguins to be involved in the biggest blockbuster trade of the day, because it will most likely involve Florida defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, or Thrasher’s sniper Ilya Kovalchuk. Instead, Shero may very well assess the “first line winger” situation in free agency, and acquire a gritty veteran type such as Ian Laperriere, or Chris Neil.

2007-
Total Deadline Transactions: 30
Penguins Deadline Transactions: 4

The St. Louis Blues made one of the more notable trades two years ago, acquiring Brad Boyes (the best 40-goal scorer you’ve never heard of –Empty Netters) from the Boston Bruins for D Dennis Wideman.

Shero decided to ship agitator Daniel Carcillo and a 3rd round pick to Phoenix, in return for the heavyweight champ at the time, Georges Laraque. Pittsburgh also dealt forward Dominic Moore to the Minnesota Wild for a 3rd round draft pick.

Later in the day, Shero made two more deals. One of them was picking up Joel “The Answer” Kwiatkowski from the Panthers for a 4th rounder. The second was exchanging our 7th round pick to the San Jose Sharks for minor-league goaltender Nolan Schaefer.

2006-
Total Deadline Transactions: 28
Penguins Deadline Transactions: 4

The Carolina Hurricanes received Mark Recchi from the Penguins for forwards Niklas Nordgren, Krys Kolanos, and a 2nd round pick (later traded to Philadelphia who selected D Kevin Marshall).
Next is a rather comedic move. The Nashville Predators picked up D Brendan Witt from the Washington Capitals for Kris Beech and a 1st round draft choice.

The Pens also were handed Detroit’s 4th round pick for defenseman Cory Cross. In another deal, we sent Ric Jackman to Florida in exchange for Petr Taticek. Taticek only played in 3 NHL games that season and never made it up to Pittsburgh. To finalize the day, Pittsburgh claimed Andy Hilbert off of waivers from the Chicago Blackhawks.

2005-
Lockout

2004-
Total Deadline Transactions: 18
Penguins Deadline Transactions: 2

Pittsburgh traded D Marc Bergevin to Vancouver for a 7th-round pick.

Columbus traded LW Lasse Pirjeta to Pittsburgh for C Brian Holzinger.

2003-
Total Deadline Transactions: 24
Penguins Deadline Transactions: 5

Phoenix traded LW Ramzi Abid, D Dan Focht and LW Guillaume Lefebvre to Pittsburgh for C Jan Hrdina and D Francois Leroux.

Calgary traded D Micki DuPont and C Mathias Johansson to Pittsburgh for RW Shean Donovan.

Pittsburgh traded C Wayne Primeau to San Jose for RW Matt Bradley.

Pittsburgh traded D Marc Bergevin to Tampa Bay for C Brian Holzinger.

Pittsburgh traded D Ian Moran to Boston for a 4th-round pick.

2002-
Total Deadline Transactions: 19
Penguins Deadline Transactions: 2

Pittsburgh traded Stephane Richer to New Jersey for a conditional pick in the 2003 Entry Draft.

Colorado Avalanche acquired D Darius Kasparaitis from Pittsburgh for D Rick Berry and LW Ville Nieminen.

2001-
Total Deadline Transactions: 20
Penguins Deadline Transactions: 3

Edmonton traded LW Dan LaCouture to Pittsburgh for D Sven Butenschon.

Columbus traded D Frantisek Kucera to Pittsburgh a 6th-round pick.

Penguins acquire G Johan Hedberg and D Bobby Dollas from San Jose Sharks for D Jeff Norton.

2000-
Total Deadline Transactions: 14
Penguins Deadline Transactions: 5

Edmonton traded LW Josef Beranek to Pittsburgh for LW German Titov.

Calgary traded G Tyler Moss and LW Rene Corbet to Pittsburgh for D Brad Werenka.

Anaheim traded D Dan Trebil to Pittsburgh for a 5th-round pick in the 2000 Entry Draft.

Calgary traded G Tyler Moss and LW Rene Corbet to Pittsburgh for D Brad Werenka.

Ottawa Senators traded G Ron Tugnutt and D Janne Laukkanen to Pittsburgh Penguins for G Tom Barrasso.

As you can see, over the past nine years Pittsburgh has averaged about 3 moves at the deadline per season. Last year brought us only 2, but the infamous Hossa deal could go down as one of the best trades made in Penguins franchise history.

What will tomorrow’s deadline bring? Miroslav Satan and Bill Thomas were both waived to clear cap space, and possibly reduce roster spots. Shero isn’t done yet.