The NHL trade deadline has come and gone. At this point, we know how teams will look for the final month and a half of the regular season. More importantly, we know how teams will look as we enter the playoffs.
In 2020, the Tampa Bay Lightning acquired Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow. Those two played a pivotal role in the Lightning winning back-to-back Stanley Cups. Will any trade deadline acquisitions this year have a similar impact on their new teams?
The trade deadline winners
The following teams have seen their Stanley Cup odds improve at BetMGM over the course of the past week:
Florida Panthers: The Florida Panthers were among the Stanley Cup favorites prior to the trade deadline, but they now have the second best odds in the league behind only the Colorado Avalanche. Florida has the second best record in the league and acquired two of the biggest names that were moved this past week.
Claude Giroux was acquired from Philadelphia and he is a bonafide top-six forward that can play a secondary role behind Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov on his new team. He improves what was already the best offense in the league. The Ben Chariot acquisition from Montreal gives Florida a top-4 option on defense, and this is particularly important with Aaron Ekblad missing the rest of the regular season with an injury. Ekblad should return for the playoffs, which is all the Panthers care about at this point. Florida is currently +550 to win the Stanley Cup.
Calgary Flames: Calgary has the second best record in the Western Conference, and made some solid moves over the past few weeks to improve an already very good team. A few weeks ago, the Flames acquired Tyler Toffoli to improve their scoring prowess. This week, Calgary acquired Calle Jarnkrok and Ryan Carpenter to improve its forward depth. The Flames are currently +900 to win it all, the second best odds in the West and the fourth best odds in the league.
New York Rangers: The Rangers are one of the more surprising teams in the league this season, but a lot of people have questioned just how good they really are. Igor Shesterkin is having a historic season between the pipes, but is this team actually good outside of that? The Rangers made some moves over the past few days to bolster their line-up. New York has acquired Frank Vatrano, Andrew Copp, Justin Braun and Tyler Motte to improve its depth. None of these names move the needle terribly, but depth is very important come playoff time. The Rangers are currently 18-to-1 to win the Stanley Cup.
St. Louis Blues: The Blues acquired Nick Leddy at the trade deadline from the Detroit Red Wings. Leddy is a second-pairing defenseman that has plenty of playoff experience with the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Islanders over his career. St. Louis has gone from 28-to-1 to 25-to-1 to win the Cup over the last week.
Boston Bruins: The Boston Bruins acquired arguably the best defenseman who moved at this year’s trade deadline in Hampus Lindholm. Boston immediately gave Lindholm a massive contract extension and he’s a needed part for a Bruins defense that needed bolstering. The Bruins are also red-hot, getting points in 13 of their last 15 games. Boston is 16-to-1 to win the Cup.
Trade deadline losers
These teams have seen their odds drop after the trade deadline:
Vegas Golden Knights: The Golden Knights have been ravaged by injuries to key players all season long and there’s a chance they miss the playoffs for the first time in the franchise’s history. Robin Lehner has been dealing with injuries over the past few months, turning goaltending into a massive issue. Reportedly, Lehner should return soon but the Golden Knights did not improve the depth behind him in net. Also, Vegas attempted to make a trade to clear cap room by sending Evgeni Dadonov to Anaheim. However, that trade is being held up by the league to determine if it was a legally permitted trade due to Dadonov’s trade protection in his contract. If that trade doesn’t end up going through, Vegas remains in salary cap hell and will need to continue to manipulate long term injured reserve rather than icing its ideal lineup for a playoff push. The Golden Knights are 14-to-1 to win the Cup.
Toronto Maple Leafs: The Toronto Maple Leafs did acquire Mark Giordano at the deadline, which is a big acquisition to bolster their defense. However, if you’ve been following the Leafs over the past few weeks, you’d realize that the issue there is goaltending. Toronto attempted to sign Harri Sateri from Finland to improve their crease, but Arizona claimed him off waivers, foiling that. Toronto did nothing else to address its goaltending issues, so it’ll need to rely on Petr Mrazek, Erik Kallgren and the currently-injured Jack Campbell. Toronto is currently 12-to-1 to win the Cup.
The non-movers
These teams’ odds didn’t move after the trade deadline, for one reason or another:
Colorado Avalanche: Colorado is the best team in the league, and it was certainly active at the deadline. The Avs added Josh Manson, Nico Sturm, Andrew Cogliano and Artturi Lehkonen over the past few weeks. Despite bolstering an already strong lineup, the Avalanche are still +400 to win the Cup. The remain the favorite, but their odds did not improve at the deadline.
Edmonton Oilers: A lot of people expected the Oilers to add a goalie at this year’s deadline, but they did not do that. They added Brett Kulak from Montreal, but that’s not the move many expected from this team. Edmonton remains a Stanley Cup long shot at 30-to-1 despite having arguably the two best players in the league.
Minnesota Wild: Minnesota made one of the major moves at the trade deadline when it acquired Marc-Andre Fleury from the Chicago Blackhawks. Fleury improves probably the weakest link on a very solid team, but their Stanley Cup odds did not improve after the trade. I’m personally a little surprised by that. Minnesota is 20-to-1 to win the Cup.
