Fantasy Hockey: NHL Trade Deadline Fantasy Winners and Losers

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The NHL Trade Deadline has come and gone and fantasy hockey owners don’t necessarily care as much about who went where, as much as they care about how their fantasy team will be impacted by the trades that went down, or in some cases didn’t go down.

Mar 5, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers right wing

(26) during a break in action against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

A change of scenery can often increase a player’s fantasy value, but in some cases said change can have a negative impact not only on himself, but those around him.

With that being said, let’s take a look at the deadline’s fantasy winners and losers.

Winner: Martin St. Louis, New York Rangers

St. Louis wanted out of Tampa Bay and only wanted to go to the Rangers. He got his wish.

The Rangers rank 19th in the NHL in scoring at 2.55 goals per game. They needed a proven goal scorer and got one as St. Louis. The Rangers are quietly closing the gap on Boston and Pittsburgh, and St. Louis brings with him a ton of experience and skill.

St. Louis has scored 29 goals on the season and has 61 points in 63 games. He will be playing alongside Brad Richards, which should work out nicely and he is in a place he wants to be. I expect a big finish to the season for both the Rangers and St. Louis.

Winner: Thomas Vanek, Montreal Canadiens

Vanek was just what the Habs needed and they got him for a steal.

Montreal ranks 22nd in the NHL in even strength scoring, and Vanek has scored 15 of his 21 goals this season at even strength.

More importantly, Vanek is out of New York. Could you imagine the lacksidasical effort he would have given the rest of the season had he still been forced to sport an Islanders sweater?

Vanek is a nine-time 20-goal scorer with 53 points in 60 games this season, He could make the Habs a true contender in the Eastern Conference.

Loser: Ryan Callahan, Tampa Bay Lightning

Feb 4, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers right wing

(24) acknowledges the crowd after being names the star of the game against the Colorado Avalanche at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Callahan has made it know he is looking for a six-year deal following this season. He’s not going to get that.

He may found out quickly that he is not as valuable to the Lightning, or other teams if he hits the open market, as he was to the Rangers.

Callahan is a solid, gritty player but can’t possibly replace the offense of St. Louis.

There will be high expectations on Callahan in Tampa the rest of the season and I highly doubt that he can live up to them.

Winner: Matt Moulson, Minnesota Wild

The Wild had a pair of glaring concerns heading into the home stretch—goaltending and scoring—and general manager Chuck Fletcher addressed both.

Minnesota has the he 25th-ranked offense in the NHL and Moulson should help in that area. He’s a three-time 30-goal scorer and has 17 goals in 55 games with the Sabres and Islanders this season.

I expect him to have a very nice finish to the season.

Loser: Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning

No, Stamkos wasn’t dealt, but he ends up a loser in all of this for fantasy owners nonetheless.

Stamkos is set to return to the Lightning lineup on Thursday and while I have recommended in the past to snatch him off on the waiver wire if he was mistakenly dropped, the St. Louis trade impacts Stamkos’ value.

While he is still a natural goal scorer, maybe the most natural goal scorer in the NHL, you have to like Stamkos a lot better with a proven playmaker like St. Louis next to him rather than a player like Callahan.

He will still score you some goals down the stretch, but maybe not at the high rate he may have if St. Louis wasn’t shipped to New York.

Winner: Lee Stempniak, Pittsburgh Penguins

Jan 24, 2014; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames right wing

(22) skates during the warmup period against the Nashville Predators at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Stempniak didn’t have much fantasy value in his previous situation as he had only eight goals and 15 assists in 52 games in Calgary.

I would keep my eye on Stempniak’s role as while he will likely be a third or fourth line player, there’s a chance he could end up on the Pens’ top line playing with Sidney Crosby.

If that is the case, we could see some decent production from Stempniak down the stretch. He’s currently available in over 86 percent of ESPN leagues.

Loser: Ryan Kesler

Kessler wanted to be dealt and preferably to Pittsburgh.

Had he been, his fantasy value would be through the roof.

Because he wasn’t, he could end up a disgruntled player and that could impact his production. He is still a guy with 21 goals and 18 assists on the season, but I would keep an eye on Kessler as a slump could be in his near future.

Winner: Ryan Miller: St. Louis Blues

Miller could be the biggest winner of all at the deadline, going from the lowly Buffalo Sabres to the Stanley Cup contending Blues.

Miller was only a slight upgrade over Jaroslav Halak statistically, but he now enters a situation with a team built to win now and has an outstanding defensive core playing in front of him. He’s a goaltender accustomed to winning close and tight games and I expect him to do plenty of that down the stretch.

Loser: Marian Gaborik, Los Angeles Kings

Dec 21, 2013; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing

(10) controls the puck during the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers at Nationwide Arena. Columbus defeated Philadelphia 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

The Kings needed a scorer in the worst way as they ranked 27th in the NHL at 2.32 goals per game.

They got one in Gaborik, but they also got a guy who won’t likely fit into their system very well.

Gaborik didn’t last under defense-minded coach John Tortorella with the Rangers and now joins defense-minded coach Darryl Sutter in L.A.

He has six goals and 14 points in 22 games this season and has missed time with a knee injury and broken collarbone. But while he’s a bona-fide goal scorer who can help in a big way if he stays healthy, I just don’t see Los Angeles as being a great fit.

Winner: David Legwand, Detroit Red Wings

Legwand is declining. But he still can play a strong defensive game and will have to fill in as the No. 1 center for a while with all of the injuries currently in Detroit.

Because of the injuries, Legwand suddenly becomes an important factor in extending the Wings’ formidable playoff streak.

He’s a guy with 10 goals and 30 assists on the season and could see a nice spike in production in the short term, playing on Detroit’s top line.

Loser Tim Thomas, Dallas Stars

Thomas didn’t want to play second fiddle to Roberto Luongo in Florida and ultimately got shipped to Dallas where he may have to play second fiddle to Dallas starter Kari Lehtonen, who has been pretty terrific for a Stars team looking to end a five-year playoff drought?

He reportedly wasn’t happy about the deal and fantasy owners shouldn’t be happy as Thomas likely has very little value in Dallas.

Winner: Jaroslav Halak, Washington Capitals

Halak’s value may not be what it was as a member of the Blues, but it is much better as a member of the Capitals than it was during his brief stint in Buffalo.

The Capitals were in a tough spot, but they acquired a No. 1 goaltender in Halak.

Halak is now back in a playoff chase as his addition could be enough to get the Caps into the postseason.