NHL Trade Grade: Ducks take home a haul for Hampus Lindholm

The Anaheim Ducks have reached a deal with the Boston Bruins which will include Hampus Lindholm, Vaakanainen, and multiple draft picks.

The Bruins were trade partners with the Ducks, bringing stability to their defense in an exciting weekend of trades. Hampus Lindholm is the main asset in this monstrous deal. The 6’4 216 pound lefty defenseman is an excellent piece for the Bruins but did they give up too much to get him?

The Bruins are giving up two former first-round picks by dealing Urho Vaakanainen and John Moore before the deadline. The Bruins will also be giving up three high draft picks. A first-round pick in 2022 and second-round picks in 2023 and 2024 will be part of the deal.

NHL Trade Grade: Boston Bruins

The Bruins are a strong competitor in their conference with the seventh-best record in the east. The team has only won three of the last eight games against playoff teams and has struggled to climb higher than a wildcard spot in the playoff race. In comes Lindholm to change that.

Hampus Lidholm has been a workhorse for the Ducks, averaging over 22 minutes of ice time for Anaheim this season. The star defensemen possess great intangibles and excellent discipline with only 40 penalty minutes in his 61 games.

The Bruins will pair Lindholm with Charlie Mcavoy as the first defensive pairing. Boston now has two elite defensemen to fuel their playoff run. Lindholm possesses size, discipline, and experience which will be crucial in May. The 28-year old has a lot of playoff experience with the Ducks. His team made the playoffs for five straight years from 2014 to 2018. Lindholm was a starter for two conference finals runs and produced 21 points in his playoff career. He should be a great fit in Boston this season.

Boston got a stud but it will come at a high price. The Ducks defenseman will cost the Bruins multiple draft picks and prospects. The least valuable piece in the trade package is John Moore. Moore is a veteran with good size. The 31-year old was a first-round pick in 2009 but has not seen much ice time this season for the Bruins. His absence will not greatly affect this team.

The real prospect given up in this deal was Urho Vaakanainen. Vaakanainen is a 23-year old defenseman who was taken 18th overall in 2017. He has shown potential but has only played 15 games this season for the Bruins.

The draft picks exchanged in this deal made up the bulk of the trade value. Boston gave up a first-round pick in 2022 and two second-round picks (2023 and 2024). The Bruins expected that Lindholm would come back to Boston despite his contract expiring this season. The Bruins have since extended Hampus Lindholm to an eight-year contract, solidifying his future in Boston.

Grade: B-

NHL Trade Grade: Anaheim Ducks

Anaheim came away with plenty of tools to revamp their roster through this trade deal. The Ducks were not likely to re-sign Linholm at the end of the season so the value for this trade is phenomenal.  The Ducks sit seven points behind the Golden Knights for a playoff spot in the west. Their chances of making the playoffs look slim, especially with the team’s current six-game losing streak. Acquiring prospects and draft picks was a great move for a quick rebuild.

Urho Vaakanainen was a great pickup for the Ducks but probably will not make an immediate impact on the team. The young prospect had limited NHL experience with the Bruins but has the potential to be an elite first-pair lineman in a few years.

The Ducks will also look forward to the draft with their two first-round draft picks. Anaheim could get three or more elite prospects through this trade deal to build up their roster. It could take a few years but Anaheim now possesses all the tools necessary to regain their perennial playoff form.

The Anaheim fanbase should be ecstatic about this team’s future after making this trade.

Grade: A+