Puck Soup - Trade Deadline Big Pictures

Episode Date: March 10, 2026

Sean and Ryan look at all the teams that were active at the trade deadline. Sponsored by Raycon (buyraycon.com/puck) and Mint Mobile (mintmobile.com/puck)

I'm Ryan Lambert from Elite Prospects. I'm Sean McAnew from The Athletic. And I don't know if you guys know this. All the folks listening at home on the radio dials. There was a trade deadline recently. Didn't get a lot of coverage, but it happened, you know. And I figure we're a few days out. So we're going to kind of go more big, not break down trade by trade or whatever,

but more big picture what do these trades mean for the teams and the stretch run here, the last 18, 20 games, whatever it is for every team. And I figured we would start somewhere besides the Central. Every place that you're hearing this is like, let's start with the Central Division.

That's where it's all happening. Sure. But let's start in the Pacific Division first. Because I think there were a couple, a couple trades that really were like, whoa, okay, all right. in that division, and also there's just like, who knows what's going to happen in that division, right? The Central is pretty locked down.

We know who's probably coming out of that. It's one of three teams, let's be honest. But the Pacific, who knows, right? And I- I think we all predicted that there would be a big trade in the Pacific and would be the first-place team that made it. That's right. Yeah, of course. The Anaheim Ducks go out and get a, what is he, 47-year-old defenseman?

He's got to be, man, man, oh, man. He's got to be right around there, huh? Still pretty good, this year at least. Yeah, absolutely. So John Carlson, to the Ducks, first-round pick, et cetera. What were your, what was your reaction to that one? They needed to improve on defense, and I think they did. I don't, the amount they gave up for them was like, whatever, I think it was a first and a second, right?

And it's like, yeah, I mean, I guess that's worth the first and a second. You know what I mean? Like, I don't think it's crazy to pay that for them. Given the other defensemen that were out there, maybe that's not who I'm really fired up to be. Yeah. And I think that the price is reason. because I don't think the capitals aren't trading this guy for a so-so package, right? And I don't know if you want to get into the Washington side of it now or when we get to the Atlantic.

But I think that part is fascinating. But just the duck side of it, I guess the question is, are they there yet where they should be trading first round picks for rentals? And, like, timeline trajectory-wise, they're not. But also, you look at that division this year. I think that's the right way to look at it for sure. The door is, is the door going to be more open than this for them in the future? I kind of don't think so. Yeah, that's, that's the question.

So I'll be honest, when I first heard about this, I mean, my first thought was, holy crap, the capital's trade of John Carlson. Sure. My second thought was, oh, Anaheim. I don't know, man. That's like, and I love the ducks. People know I, earlier, like at the beginning of the season, they were my Dark Horse playoff pick,

and I'm thrilled that they're making me look smart. I didn't pick them to finish first place or anywhere close to it, but I'll take it. I don't get a lot right. I'll take this one. I'm happy to see them succeed. I think they're a fun team. But also, I don't know.

I don't know if, moving a first round pick this early in the process makes sense. And I've slowly been talking myself into it, but I'm not sure if I'm there yet. Yeah, I mean, I maybe, it's funny because I go normally in a situation like this, you go maybe, maybe you feel better if you sign the player at the end of the season. He likes it in Anaheim, it turns out, that kind of thing. I wonder if they would feel that way,

just because, you know, he's, as you said, 52 years old. That's right. So if this is a pure rental, I think it's a little bit of an overpay, but like, again, a semi-justifiable one. It's not like Carlson's a bum or anything like that. He just has limitations now that come with being 36.

he's not super mobile anymore. He still makes the first pass that you want and all that kind of stuff. And I don't think the Ducks really have a guy like that. I guess it depends where they play him because obviously Lecombe can do a lot back there. But, you know, just having another guy who can make a good first pass and maybe juice the powerplay a little bit. I don't think that's a problem for them. Um, so yeah, and then, you know, they offload Ryan Strom, which like, really nice job there for that. You know, I think he's an okay player, but the money just doesn't make any sense and he signed beyond this season.

I'm trying to think there was one more Ducks trade, wasn't there? I don't know. I was, I was locked in on Carlson. They may have, uh, sure, sure. I get it. I should probably pull up a list of trades. I wonder, did anyone generate? right, such a list.

You know what? It was just the Ryan Stromtrade was the other one. I thought there might be one more, but that's all fine. So yeah, like, I think that really just like, again, there, I don't know that they're the favorite in the Pacific now, but it cracks the door open for them, you know, another inter three. and we're, you know, we're going to be talking about, and honestly what the play may be here is, it's like if we can finish first in the division,

we don't have to play one of Vegas or Edmonton in the first round. And then that's, it's not exactly a free pass to the second round for them. But like, I don't know that they would be favored against either of those teams. No, they wouldn't. And if against Utah would probably be the other,

option crossing over. Right. Which is interesting. I'd someone point out to me that there's a legitimate chance that Utah could not only be the crossover wildcard team, but could have more points than anyone in the Pacific. And they're asking me, like, how does that affect whole mice and all of this stuff, which is just not something that I believe we've seen yet? I can't imagine that's even come close to happening.

Yeah. Which just drills home the point that the Pacific is, in theory, wide open. So I get that. And the first round pick, if I'm not mistaken, is like somewhat protected. So if Anna-Henna is like plunge you out of the playoffs or whatever, there's not too much, too too much risk involved. But it's a gutsy move. But, yeah, I don't know. I'm not completely sold on it from the Anaheim perspective yet,

but I'm closer now that I was three days ago or whenever we found out about the... Mm-hmm. Yeah, no, totally. It's just, you know, it's just a situation where the vibes are good. You might as well do something because there's not a lot to, like, love in that division right now. Mm-hmm.

We can talk about... And I guess I should say the other thing is, the obvious question is, okay, great, maybe the division's wide open, so you get to the conference final and what, you're going to absolutely get your doors kicked in by whoever comes out of the central. And I guess I would say, A, you don't know that for sure, because by the time you get that deep in the playoffs, who knows where things are at. And B, for a young team like Anaheim, there's a lot of value in getting, in getting, you know, and the playoffs. a decent run under you, as opposed to, you know, if this was like a, the sort of team we'd be more thinking of for a John Carlson, like an older, let's go all in now team. If Edmonton had made that trade.

Yeah, I mean, Edmonton's, like, the level of desperation in Edmonton should be off the charts. But, but yeah, like, if it's a team where you're like, oh, well, I mean, they're all in to win the cup, then, I mean, does this actually? actually put you over the top against any central team, and obviously it doesn't. But let's just say as a Leafs fan, getting a good playoff run under you is probably not the worst way to set a foundation. Probably take that box off a little earlier than you might otherwise. Totally. Yeah.

But let's stay in the Pacific. Let's talk about Vegas. They traded for Nick Dowd, speaking of guys from the capitals. Yeah. And, you know, I think you would have liked to see them upgrade a net. It may be instead of that. But also, maybe you, like, maybe that's just not a realistic thing that could have happened. No.

So. But if any team could make it happen, you would, like, I think a lot of us were looking at Vegas going, well, they're going to do something crazy. They're going to. Yeah, always. 100% of the time. something. Yeah, they don't have cap room. They don't have this or that. Won't matter. They'll figure it out. And they just kind of didn't. So. And I wonder if that is kind of, well, I think the thing to say is that Dowd is not a pure rental. He's, I believe, is signed for next year

at some relatively small amount of money. And like, he's, he's an okay player. There's, there's nothing wrong with going out and getting nicked out, I don't think. Um, like a really solid, just bottom of the lineup center style guy. And I wonder if this, him having term and them not doing more is just kind of an admission of like, yeah, you know, it turns out this was not going to happen for us this year. And we kind of are recognizing that and we're not going. Oh, it's not. I don't think that line of thinking exists in Vegas.

I like, now. maybe they looked at and said there's nobody out there that helps us in the way that we normally would but I mean that is a team that feels like they're all in all the time so I guess this is I wonder do you think they talked

about Carlson at all because that would have been like just purely based on team profile you would think that would be more of a Vegas move than an Anaheim move and the fact that they were talking to the capitals obviously is I wonder but

no I mean I mean, there's, it's perfectly reasonable for teams that are already good and established to have quietish deadlines. Sure. It's just surprising to see it from Vegas. No, I agree. Obviously, I agree with that, that they, that they don't usually have this approach at all. But again, that, that just makes me kind of go, oh, they, they, they know they don't have it this year. Mm-hmm.

That's, that's just kind of my read. Like, obviously, they're going to finish top three. in that division, they're going to make the playoffs, kind of let the chips fall where they may. I don't feel like, again, you're looking at anybody in the Pacific going, unbeatable team. So they could get a round or two deep and, like,

beyond the first round, and nobody would be surprised. And that would be, like, a nice thing for them for a team that, again, nobody thinks they're a cup contender this year. So just see what happens and off you go, I guess, you know? Sure. But let's talk about Edmonton now. I think the last time we did the show, they had already made the Connor trade, right?

Yeah, yeah. They had already done that. Connor Murphy. They'd already done that, right? And then they go out and their big ad, I guess you would say, is they get Jason Dickinson and Colton Dock. We mustn't forget Colton Dock. No, of course not. So a pretty underwhelming deadline that fit expectations, I guess.

There had been a lot of talk about Edmonton doing something bigger and then a lot of pushback on that that, you know, be reasonable. They've already done this and that, and they can't be expected to make some big, big blockbuster move, which, you know, fair enough. I maintain they should have done, they should have got a goalie. I know that that's hard to do. I know that there's not, you know, Vezina front runners available this time of year,

but the idea that they're going into the playoffs with this goaltending combo is a choice. Oh, totally. Yeah, of course. I don't think the goalie thing was ever really realistic. And the thing, I think the thing to say about that is, again, people thought Vegas needed to add a goalie. So if everybody needs to add a goalie, maybe you feel like it's fine, you know, I think that kind of ignores what's going on outside that division. And obviously the thing hanging over all of this is that McDavid gone. in two years after this one, if things keep trending in this direction, right? So I do from the perspective of, shouldn't they be just like going all in every year for the next three years?

It doesn't matter, like trade everybody you possibly can. Every ass. There's no such thing as an untouchable player on the NHL roster, apart from McDavid and Drysidal probably. There's no such thing as, keeping a pick, keeping a prospect, all of that should be on the table. But again, I just kind of like, who were they going to add? But if it's all on the table, then how do you wind up with Tristan Jari as your starting goal?

Like, I guess. Well, you're a, you're a dumb guy. I don't, you know what I mean? Like, I, we've covered this part of it extensively. I guess like, to me, you can't, and this is, this is true. or should be true for every team, but especially the Oilers, like you can't evaluate just their deadline.

You've got to look at it in the context of, in this case, the entire season going back to December when they made the original goal-tending move. I just, I don't get it, man. And goal-tending's weird. And Tristan Jerry could win the cons might this year. And it'll be a great story, and everyone will go, uh...

I could win the lottery, too, you know? Exactly. But I just, man, like when there is a glaring, huge problem, the warning sign on the dashboard is blinking and making noises and smoking. And you don't address it. But again, the question that I really, with Vegas and Edmonton, I ask is, like, who is the goalie that you're going out and getting that you're like, that guy's definitely better than the kind of bums we have now,

who's available? You know, I don't know that there really was one moved that I was like, oh, he would have helped the Oilers. No, there, I mean, there weren't any goalies moved. But I mean, if I'm the Oilers, I would take Jordan Binnington over what I got now. Sure. Yeah, no, I obviously I agree with that.

And that's a name that was apparently, at least potential. eventually available. Yeah. Well, yeah, we'll get to the blues in a bit. Like,

whatever was going on over there, like who fucking knows? Yeah, we need a chunk of time for the, for the, so I don't,

I don't know. And I get, I, I concede your point that it's, I'm doing that thing of, well, you should have just got a

superstar and it's like there wasn't, like, there wasn't anyone who matched that. But I don't, like, what is Stan Bowman there for?

If, if, if it's only to, it's a fucking great question. question. I don't have an answer for you. For guys who are already available, like, okay, I feel like anyone could do that. Yeah, he's not a good GM.

Okay. Like, that's what it boils down to for me. They hired a guy who's bad at his job. And ultimately, that means, I think that, like, look, the way I looked at, like, what they added, like, taking it holistically here is, like, like, oh, three guys who were on the Chicago Blackhawks the last few years. How good were those teams?

Oh, they sucked. They were horrible. Like, I think honestly, I don't, I don't dislike Dickinson or Murphy. Colton Dock, like, is whatever to me. I don't mind them getting out from under that Mangia Pony deal, you know? They took on three expiring contracts and moved a guy that, like, that was a mistake. I can't remember who made it. it, you know, like.

Yeah. Somebody, somebody must to sign this guy. Yeah. So, like, I, I think that overall they got better. I don't know how, how much better they got. And to your point, obviously, they didn't address what, the one position that's like glaring issues number ones through numbers one through 50. But, yeah, I guess Jordan Bennington would have been the guy, except what happens if you lose in the first round. which is...

I'll tell you this. I'm laughing. Yeah. Okay. Fair enough. But, like, this is a... Certainly if Anaheim can hold first place, and I'm not convinced that they can. No, I agree. But if, I mean, if the Oilers end up playing... Like, if the Oilers started a seven-game series

against Golden Knights tonight, are they the favorites? Probably not. Well, I think it's probably a coin flip. Might come down to home. Yeah, maybe. I mean, you know, we've all, and we're over playing the whole Connor MacDavid's story. Like, I get that.

If you're an Edmonton fan, you're like, oh, God, here we go again. They have to win a cup in three years or else McDavid bolts. And, okay, maybe that's not set in stone. I mean, if you go out in the first round, especially, oh, look at that. Our goaltending gave up four goals a game. Just like everybody said it was. How do you, how do you reconcile that? How do you look back?

No, I agree. There wasn't. It's not even to, look, it's not even to me, he's going to leave in two and a half years or whatever it is. Like, he could sign, it's next July 1st, I guess he would be eligible to sign an extension. Let's say he signs that extension on July 1st and completely takes away the three-year panic window that we're talking about and have been talking about for like a year and a half now. he's still he's going to be like 30 at that point you know like how many how many prime Connor McDavid years do you have left to win like do you want old man Connor McDavid winning the cup like 32 year old Connor McDavid winning the cup or do you want to maybe

get a kick at two or three with him that I mean that's ultimately what it boils down to I'm let and obviously again he could leave and we go well you fucked up I don't what what do you want us to say, right? But it's really about maximizing the window that him and Dreisdel are going to be the two or three best players in the world unquestionably. I'd prefer if we didn't refer to 32-year-olds as old men. Well, you know what I mean, though. Like, this is just how ageing curves work.

If we're saying John Carlson, father time himself at 36 years old, you know, like, Yeah, no, this is just how it works. So that's kind of my big take on Edmonton. It's like, I think they got better, but like not in a way that is meaningful. Okay. Really. Mm-hmm. So I think those are the three big teams from the Pacific that are worth talking about.

Like, I don't, well, I guess Seattle added a little bit. Let's talk about Seattle because it's starting to feel like they're just going to make the damn playoffs, doesn't it? I mean, at some point we have to reconcile. Seattle being a 20% playoff long shot, according to every model, and being permanently

five points up on the wild card. Yeah, that's right. Eight straight months. Bobby McMahon? Yeah, they go out and get Bobby McMahon for two other team's draft picks. Yep. Did not give up a first.

Did not give me. I mean, we'll talk about the Leaf's side of things, but, you know, not. I mean, I would say a fair price for a guy like that. Yeah, and he's like, well, I guess he's probably a little too old to be under their control for this summer, isn't he? No, he's not.

He's UFA. He's got to be a UFA. And apparently wants a good chunk of money, which will be interesting to see because Seattle has always been a franchise that seems a little eager to spend their money to keep guys. Yeah, they just extended Eberley as well. You want to talk about a guy who I'm like, hasn't that guy been in the league since 1997? That's right. Like he's Patrick Marlowe's age, right?

Like, Is this kid by now? Is this? Yeah. It's, I mean, it's crazy how long it feels like Jordan Everly's been around. Speaking of Oilers who didn't win,

who didn't win shit in Edmondton. But, you know, again, like this is a nice little addition. He's a, McMahon's a perfectly good player. And that's that. You know,

like, I don't have any much bigger take on it than that. But yeah, I thought, you know, nice little ad for them and they're going to be around it. And it felt about right for Seattle as far as... Yes, absolutely. You're in the playoff hunt, go and add. You know, you're in the same division we just said is up for grabs. Although there's a good chance if they make the playoffs, they'll be the central.

team because of the crossover, in which case, good luck. But, hey, let's try to get there. But also, don't blow your brains out. Yep. Big Man's about right for that. Yep. So let's do one more Pacific Division team here

as kind of a bridge to the fucking main event, the Central Division. The Calgary Flames trade Nazim Kadri to the Colorado Avalanche. Mm-hmm. For Victor Oliveson, A first, a second, and Max Curran. Good work by Calgary.

Sure. Calgary's done, you know, they, man, they've stockpiled a bunch of picks. They have. Some prospects, but a ton of picks. We always say that this is the easy part, the tear down. And especially for Calgary, a team that had, for a team as bad as they were, they had a lot of talent, like a lot of individual. individual guys that would be attractive to,

which is not always the case when a team is as bad as the flames are. So, I mean, Craig Conroy has done the easy part, but you've got to do the easy part well. If you screw up the easy part, nothing else falls into place. So, yeah, he's done a nice job on it. Do you know how many picks they have in the first two rounds this year? Just this draft. Oh, don't they have, like...

Two first and like three or four seconds? Four seconds this year, yes. And they have two firsts each of the next three drafts and two seconds each of the next three drafts. And then again, four this year because why not? This is how you rebuild. You have, like you say, you have guys that like you want to trade, trade them. Get some picks and prospects for them. Because they also, like they got Brennan Othman, who's like a buy load.

style guy. Like I like what they're doing here where they're just kind of going, we don't have it. And what's nice is, and it's very funny that it's being thought of this way, but I think it is like a nice kind of deadline style thing for your rebuild. You go, when we open the new building, we'll have guys who are good. Yeah. The new building's two plus years away or whatever it is. We'll see you then. don't worry about coming out to the Saddle Dome.

We'll see over it what I'm assuming is going to be called Scotia Bank something or other. The TD, Scotia Bank, Saddle Dome. Because. Rogers Dome. Because we only have three companies in that. Well, that's what I mean. Yeah. It's one of those three.

Well, you got Canadian tire too. So maybe it's four. It's a good point. But yeah, so they trade cadre and we'll talk about it from the abs. perspective in a bit, but they also trade McKenzie Weeger. And this is where they get three of those four second round picks. They get Utah's, the Rangers, and Ottawa's all in this year's draft from the Weiger trade, which means obviously Utah had those picks all along.

They get Jonathan Castania, who's pretty good center prospect for Cornell this year. and Oli Mata is just like, hey, you got to have NHL guys on the roster making some amount of money. Mata's signed for three years beyond this one. So, you know, again, it's just like... The Rangers pick especially, that's like... Oh, yeah, that could be like the 30th overall pick or something. Oh, they didn't get a first pick.

Okay, well, I mean, yeah, they got... They're going to miss the first round by like three spots. That's... Yeah, real nice work by Calgary. Yep. I know he said that would be the last one. Any just quick thoughts on the Kings, like, still? Because the Kings still think they're making the playoffs.

They do. And they're, you know, the way things are kind of going in that division, it's not impossible. No. You know, I saw, again, I don't really want to get super into it. Like, with Winnipeg. But I saw people going, you know, know, the Jets are only five points out. And they have the best goalie in the world.

And like five points might not be the worst gap if like Hellebuck is what we think Hellibuck can be. That's all true. But at a certain point, there are just like six or seven absolutely mediocre teams competing for, you know, four playoff spots. Mm-hmm. So I don't know how that all shakes out for them. But yeah, to your point about the Kings, I, it does.

are mentioning that they for some reason they got Scott Lawton I don't really understand that because they also sold Corey Perry and Warren Fogle.

Yeah. They got Scott Lotton because he is an absolute missing piece on a playoff team. He's a dynamic center. He's a warrior. Yeah. Oh, I hold that. Sorry, I was reading from

last year's deadline script. Let me flip ahead to this year. Oh, yeah, it says here he's a bum. So they give up a third round pick for him. Well, the market bears what it bears. Second round pick. The best quote of all time. What was that?

True Living, they asked him about like, hey, you gave up a first and then you traded him for a third like a year later. Yeah. What's that all about? He goes, the market bears what it bears. It's like, no, what happened was I got tricked. Yeah. And then no, I was not able to try.

trick somebody else. Last year, there was one stupid team. Yeah, that's right. This year there were zero. We're trying to figure out why that was. We're triangulating on that one. We're, yeah. All right.

Central time. Central time, it is currently 934-8. Ryan, swish. Know what I meant. Yeah. All right, let's actually start with Utah, since we're kind of around them right now. they got McKenzie Weger

who I think is going to help them I don't know that that I think we said like the pressing need was maybe someone to add a little more a judge to that offense but that kind of player just really wasn't available

so you get Weger who a little on the old side at 32 and signed for five more years but the money makes a good amount of sense, I think, as the cap grows. God, what did Alan Wall? Alan Walsh said the way things are trending right now, the salary cap in 28, 29, could be $123 million.

And at that point, $6.25 million for McKenzie Weaver, even if he's 36, you're like, who fuck, that's nothing. Who cares? I mean, at that point, as crazy as it is, 6.5 is literally an average. salary for a 20-man roster. Yep. So I think you can live with it. Also, again, like to go back to Calgary,

getting trading some of these guys with term and getting out from under it is a million percent. But yeah, I mean, I don't mind it for you to, again, like, I don't know how long we're going to do this. Utah's going to be it on every big name and never get anyone thing. But I think for the purposes of this trade deadline, line, Weiger's, he's not like the biggest name or anything, but is he a top eight name? I think you can make that, that argument.

Yeah. Yeah, that's fair. So, you know, I don't, I don't love the long term of it for, for them, but, you know, you're not, you're not as concerned. You're, you're a little concerned about that if you're Utah, because you have a younger core. But there are, like, they're, they're kind of sneaky. Some of their players are older than you think they are. kind of team, you know? So that's where I'm at with them.

Again, there's the top three in that division and there's everybody else. Sure. Right. So, yeah, that's a tough one. Let's talk about the other team that made a trade with Calgary, the Colorado Avalanche.

These guys were active. Yep. And I love it. I mean, again, Cadre, going back to Colorado. I'm certainly, like, yeah, great analysis. Oh, it's a great fit. Yeah, no kidding. Everybody saw that.

But a lot of times everyone sees it, and it still doesn't happen. Yep. Colorado figured it out, made it happen. Love it for both sides. Both sides and for the player as well. Yeah, he clearly really didn't. Like, there is a NASM-cadry-sized hole

through a brick wall. in the flames dressing room that from him sprinting out of there when he got this news, I'm sure. Yeah, and like he, from all accounts, he liked it in Calgary, but he loved it in Colorado. You know what I mean? So, and, you know, that's even leaving aside one team is actually like quite good and the other team is the Calgary Flames. Yes. So that's like I don't know that like

Codry's like oh thank God I'm out of there but he's like I love where I'm headed instead I'll tell you that so I and you know I talked about this last week like I wanted to see the abs at a center who could make a difference for them and I don't know that Codry is supplanting Brock Nelson is the two

but there's a lot of parity now between the two and the three whatever you think that is for them. You know? So that's kind of how I was, how I'm thinking of it. It's just like they, the one thing I said they needed to do, they did it. So I, you know, I think they did a good job here because they did the thing that I thought they should do. That's, which is what all teams should do.

Just, you have a pretty good track record. What does Ryan Lambert think we should do? Go do that. You'd have a pretty good track record. That's all. all I'm saying. All right. The other guy the Avs added was Nick Waugh.

Again, another center. And so now they have like five NHL centers who all of whom you're like, oh, that guy's not bad. And it is, I mean, it's a bit weird in knowing that they end up getting cadre, right? Because the Wa trade happens first. Right. And makes a lot of people go, oh, they must be out on Asim Qadri because why give up a first round pick for a fourth line center.

Well, I mean, I guess the answer is you got a really good fourth line center. I mean, this was a guy who was a good third line center in Vegas, which is a pretty stack team. So as a fourth line, I mean, he might be one of the best fourth line centers in the league. Right. And they also, with either cadre or, you know, depending on where they play guys, with either cadre or Nelson, they also have one of the best third line centers in the league. Yeah. And with Nathan McKinnon, they have the best,

maybe probably the best first line center in the league. Right up there. And all of a sudden, you're going, oh, maybe these guys are just like really fucking scary all of a sudden. In a way that like, obviously, you know, the record is what it is. But we talked a bit last week about like they were, they were 500 since January 1st.

or whatever the date was, I don't think we have to worry about that anymore. They really tightened some things up all of a sudden. And isn't that interesting? So I really love what they did at this deadline. They went out and got Blankenberg to kind of round things out on defense as well. Not that like Blankenberg is like unbelievable or anything like that, but nice to have another NHL body, you know.

And he doesn't cost them. anything at all. All right. Well, I think that's it for Colorado. So let's do the other kind of big player here, Minnesota, the Minnesota Wild. They were busy. Busy-ish, yeah. I mean, volume-wise, sure.

Well, that's what I mean. Bill Garum was working the phones, and you can't say otherwise. but it was some interesting additions, let's say. Mm-hmm. So let's just start at the very beginning, Michael McCarran for a second-round pick. Not how I'd be spending my second-round picks, but I see the vision, if nothing else. Yeah, great big face-off guy. I don't know.

Sure. I find it very funny that he winds up in Minnesota after. Do you remember the slashing incident a few months ago where he gets, there's Zuccarella, like, slashes him and he does the whole, oh, my hand is broken thing. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, I do remember. The replay shows it didn't even come close to his hand.

Yes, yes, yes. And the, let's just say some of the Minnesota media guys were quite mad about that. And now it's like, oh, here he is. Okay. Yeah, big guy. This is, this is, GMs love guys like this at playoff time. And interesting that Nashville was kind of selling, you know, they didn't, considering where they're at.

Yeah, Marsa So and Stancoast didn't move, but they did move a couple other guys, you know, for sure. I think that's fine. Get Nick Folino for free. Why not? Sure. Good story. Oh, did they get him for free? That didn't come up at all.

Why did that? Why would, why would they get them for free? Oh, they were doing. him a favorite turn. Yeah. So I don't know if you know this, but some NHL players have brothers who also play in the league.

That doesn't sound right to me. And it's the most interesting thing in the world. It's crazy. What are the odds that two brothers would both make it in a sport where only like 100 families are... That's right.

Yeah. Producing players. But yeah, it's cool. Why not? Yeah, I don't care. That's fine. Bobby Brink. I think this is their best ad of the day.

You like that, eh? Yeah, I mean, let's put it this way. Eurecheck, obviously, he's big, he does stuff. He does some stuff, well, he can't really skate, et cetera, you know? I think there is a reason that two different NHL teams in four years have moved on from like a six-foot-12 defenseman who has taken sixth overall. you know what I mean? Sure. That's what it really boils down to for me is like I'd be a little, you're not going to believe it.

This sports car that everybody's dying to get if it works right, this one, you should just buy it and see if it works right. Yeah. There's a reason they have like lemon laws, you know what I'm saying? Mm-hmm. So that's kind of like I think that Yerechek, if he can't. he can't make it work in Philly, which it may, you know, there are some people I talk to over the weekend who think he maybe will be a little bit more of a good fit in Philly. And I said, well, I'll believe that when I see it.

So now, now I get to see it maybe. I don't know. Um, and then, yeah, they moved out Vinnie Hinnis-Strazo. That's fun. Sure. Trade him to, Trade him to Florida. I think Vinny Hinnisorzo's complaint. about that?

Oh, rats, I got to leave Minnesota and go live in Miami for the next couple of months. That sucks. Yeah, that's a rough one. I'm so mad about that. I wonder if there's any difference in the tax rates. I bet there isn't. I bet it's exactly the same. Probably is.

So, yeah, I, you know, I think we all wanted the wild to go make the bigger move. Well, there was a lot of the Vincent Trocheck talk, and we'll get to that. to that with the Rangers because he doesn't move at all. I don't, did we ever find out if he would have even considered that given his geographic preference? Who knows?

Yeah, I guess I never saw a report. I half expected that when it didn't happen, we'd see, you know, oh, it turns out he never would have gone, but I guess we don't know. So, yeah, it was fine. Yeah. And obviously you have, like,

you're legally honest. obligated when you're talking about the while to say, actually, they made their deal back in December. And they did. They, but they had, they had the flexibility to do more. And I, you know, I don't think it's telling tales out of school to say, I think that given the situation in that division, I think they should have done more. But, you know, prices being what they were, who knows, whatever. So that's where it lands. But this is also like Colorado made such a huge splash at the deadline.

And the cadre one being so last minute, obviously, like they didn't get, the other teams didn't get the chance to react to it, really. I think the cadre trade was like maybe the last one in the Q, capital T, capital H, the Q. But Dallas went out. and they got Tyler Myers. Remember, we talked about the right side of their defense. So they got Tyler Myers to question mark, question mark, question mark, shore that up. Yeah. And they got Michael Bunting as well, who's like fine.

Yeah, classic decent player that at any given time, you have no idea what team he's on. Yeah. I believe he's played for 14 different teams at this point. And, yeah, so a bit of a, I'll be honest, kind of a letdown for Dallas in that, especially with the Tyler Sagan. That's exactly what it, yeah. You know, there was talk. And, and again, you go, well, you know, they should have got, well, who? Who's the big, you know, who was the 50 goal scorer who was available?

And sure, you know, they, I guess you say they didn't do anything that makes life tougher on, on the Jason. Roberts in front one way or another. Yeah. They also didn't trade him for Brady Kachuk, which was, you know, disappointing after that scoop had been broken. Oh, I didn't even see this. Did you not see this? It was like a, I don't think I did.

Yeah, that was a spit and chicklets scoop. That Brady Kachuk for Jason Robinson, who's not a guy, but they eventually... I'm sure there's a guy named that. There isn't. There's nobody. Not one guy. I'm going to look on the elite prospects app. Hold on.

I'm going to see if there's any Jason Robinson. I mean, there might be guys whose nickname is Jason, and they entered it as for like a Gump Warsley situation. There, it seems as though there are six guys named Jason Robinson who have ever played any kind of high-level hockey. How many are currently playing? Looks like one. kid who plays for the Tampa Crunch 13 UA team.

I don't have any stats for this kid. Buddy, pack your stuff, man, you're on the way to Ottawa, apparently. It's cold up here. I got to tell you, man, he's not going to be happy to hear about the fucking tax rates. No, he's not. His allowance is going to get absolutely wrecked up here. That sucks, man. Well, that's hockey.

Hockey's a business. People don't know this. But yeah, so like Dallas, you know, I think they improved, but like not nearly as much as the avalanche did. And if you want to say the avalanche were always the clear favorites in that division, I would have a hard time disagreeing with that. So not a lot's changed. And neither Minnesota nor Dallas has really taken the step that I think a lot of us were kind of hoping for there. another team in the Central Division. I don't know if you know these guys are in there,

the St. Louis Blues. Yeah. The deadline's most interesting team. I think that said prior to the deadline. And yeah, interesting week in terms of what they did and what they did. More interesting, way more interesting in terms of what they didn't do. And also what they both did and didn't do in the Colton Pereko's situation, where, you know, did you trade them?

Yes. Okay. Did he get traded? Well, no. Okay. Hold on. He's still here. So I don't even know where you start.

Well, let's start with the ones they did make. Okay. They traded Justin Falk for Justin Hull, Dmitry Buchelnikov, a first and a third to Detroit. Mm-hmm. Good deal for both sides and sure. You're rebuild I'm not

I'm not mega convinced It's a good deal for for Detroit But Well I don't think like Justin Fault's a bomb or whatever But You know I

For after years and years of Eisen Being like if this doesn't Like I don't think we're going to win the cup this year So like I'm not going to make any trades at the deadline And me going makes perfect sense to me Big Dog have a good time out there you know this year he's like, I gotta go get Justin Falk.

I just don't have enough 33-year-old defensemen who are okay at best. But your team is in the playoffs finally, and everyone's been screaming about how conservative and slow-moving you are. Like, you've got to. Oh, yeah, Steve Eisenman, the man who loves to be moved and swayed by public opinion. Yeah.

You know, like, it's funny that, all I'm saying is, It's funny that this is the guy. Not public opinion. What about the opinion of your captain who last year? Yeah, that's a good point. Kind of three under the bus. Yeah, and you're right. The deadline, right.

What can I say? When you're right, you're right. It's a good point by you. So, yeah, I don't, you know, this is a whatever trade for both sides for me, except obviously, you know, two, three years from now, we may be saying something different when Bucelnikov hits and all that kind of. stuff. But the other trade the blues make, they ship out Braden Shen.

Finally, after all these years, Braden Shen, off to Long Island, another team that when they made this trade, I was like, did Lou like usurp power, like, you know, like a scheming vizier, did he get himself back into power here? They went out and they traded for a 34-year-old who makes six and a half million dollars and has two years left on his deal or a year and a half left on his deal. I was like, I can't believe it. Wait, two and a half years left? Yeah, this expires in 2028.

Oh, my God. I couldn't fucking believe this. Which is probably, I mean, from the Islander's perspective, that probably adds to his value, right? Like, I don't think you make this. Yeah, if you think Braden's still good, sure. Yeah. Which they appear to believe.

Okay. Good luck with that, guys. Best part of this story is the whole like both teams staying in the same hotel thing. Yeah. Which, by the way, nice wrinkled. They weren't playing each other. I assumed they were. I was like, oh, they must be playing tonight.

Like, no, they were in a, both in a hotel in a separate third location, which is, which is cool. And Patrick Waugh apparently met with Braden Shenz. Yeah, this is the people you meet on vacation, like that movie from last year. Yeah. I feel like this was, was this a meeting or was it a hostage situation? Was this? Yeah, for sure. What was the NBA one where they were like sending photos of like the chair jammed under the door kind of deal?

Yeah, I don't remember off the top of my head. Probably something like that. But yeah, so you don't love it for the Islanders, which I would assume means that you like it just fine for the Blues. Yeah, they got another first round pick out of the deal. Cool. All right. Two for two. Keep going.

What did they get for Robert Thomas? Uh-oh. Oh. Oh. Okay. Did you see he said yesterday that, like, nobody ever even talked to him about a trade? He's like, the only stuff, the only people I ever heard anything about me getting traded from was insiders. Interesting. Yeah.

Well, that's cool. I mean, then. Thanks for watching. That's what all the insiders are saying. There you go. Appreciate it, Big Dog. Yeah. I did see Robert Thomas interviewed on some other podcast thing.

I don't like those guys. I don't know if it was a podcast or like is it technically not a podcast? Is that why contraction? Well, one guy, it's branded and one guy's on it like four times a week, but also it's not his podcast. Okay. All right. That's fine.

By the way, great webcam setup for Robert Thomas, where he like puts the camera on the floor and just towers over it. That's a good look. Yeah, he's been watching a lot of these, I don't know about you, Sean, but when I'm on Instagram, they're like, you want to see the, like,

images or, like, the, the graphic, like, videos that explain how they did the, the different sizes of guys and the Lord of the Rings movies. And every time I'm like, I actually do it. That's exactly what I want to say.

Have you seen the video where the guys, like, totally recreated the effect from scratch? Yeah. That's the one I saw last night. Yeah, that was sick. Watch, we watched that. That was neat. Yeah, no Robert Thomas, no Jordan Kairu move, no Jordan Binnington move.

Yep. And then Colton Pereko ultimately does not move. And I feel like at this point we're supposed to have strong feelings about like the ethics of the whole situation with the trade being not announced, leaked, reported. And then he say, which always leads to people going like, they shouldn't even. be allowed to do that if you have a no-tray and all this stuff. To me, the system worked the way it's supposed to work. Yes. And I don't know, did you read J.R.'s behind the scenes that's, as in Rutherford, not Roneck.

Oh, I thought you meant Jim Ross. It could have been him, too. Yeah, he said it was a slobber knocker. Did that? Pier 6 brawl almost broke up. Wow. Bowling shoe ugly. He, uh, RJR had a piece on like,

Wait, who's RJR? Well, Jeremy wrote from the athletic. Oh, you said RJR. I thought, I thought there was a third guy who was named like Ronald Jason Robertson. I'm adding letters. You know what? I apologize to just J.R. Plain old J.R.

Wait, which one, though? Jeremy. Ronick? Roneck? That makes sense. Makes a lot of sense. Thank you. Um.

Pereko didn't sound that upset about the holding. No, I say this all the time, man. Like, every time a trade happens and guys are like maybe not psyched to get traded out of their city, well, you know, it's a business. And then sometimes something like this happens and you're not allowed to like ask the guy, is it a fucking business or isn't it? Yeah. You know, like a no move clause, no trade clause, whatever it is, that doesn't mean, you. You go like, you are straight up not allowed to talk to me about the possibility of a trade. Right.

It just means that you have to get my permission. If there is like a secret third level of no move clause out there, you know, I guess fourth because you can have a limited no trade or whatever. But if there's one word, it's like, you can't even talk to me about it. Fucking put it in writing. Otherwise, I don't want to hear about it, man. You got to run. There are multiple levels. There's limited no trade.

Yes. There is no trade. Yes. There is no movement. And then at the highest possible level, there is Ryan O'Reilly in Nashville. With no trade protection of any kind whatsoever. And yet, apparently, Barry Trots has to ask his permission to trade him at all. That's a guy who should have been traded.

But, Pereko, are you? Yeah, I mean, there was a little bit of that, like, oh, he didn't want to go to Buffalo thing. It sounds like they kind of nip that in the butt a bit, or like that it wasn't a... Anti-Buffalo thing. He just didn't want to leave St. Louis. I'll tell you something right now. That's a thing he's allowed to think. I'm going to tell you something right now, Ryan, and this just occurred to me.

But his stuff is there. That can't be right. I mean, it would be because he lives there, right? Like where else would his stuff? Oh, fuck, you're right. He does live there. Probably not in Buffalo. It'd be weird if it was in Buffalo.

He probably accepted the trade of all this. It's like my PlayStation's there, man. I got to. I'm way behind on my Fortnite dailies. You know what? I'll do it. Let's go. So, I mean, ultimately, this is it.

Now, Doug Armstrong hands the baton off to Alex Steen. Was this enough? Is it good, bad? Is this just a mess in St. Louis? Like, what is Robert Thomas? going forward. Yeah, I think this is just a thing where everything is on the table this summer, right? Like, that's ultimately what it has to be.

Like, if you're, if you just go through all this, like, mentally or whatever you want to say, and you're Robert Thomas and Colton Pereco and, to a lesser extent, Jordan Cairo, aren't you just kind of like, well, I'm getting traded in June then? Like, you know, what's the fucking difference? Yeah. And, and again, like, the fact that they only got. futures, really, like, that does not say to me if I'm those guys, well, obviously, you know, let's just find out what's going to happen.

We know what's going to happen. You would think. And, again, like it doesn't, the GM handoff is unusual, unusual in the sense that we usually don't know a year and a half in advance that a GM change is taking place. Yeah, court politics and all that. But we all understand that Steen is involved, Alex Steen is involved in whatever conversations are happening now, and Doug Armstrong will be involved after July 1st

or whenever the transition is. It does kind of give them a bit of an out if they really do change their minds on this stuff, that, you know, Steen can come in and go, oh, no, I'm, I never want to trade these guys. Yep. But yeah, real, really interesting week in St. Louis. Yep.

All right. Well, why don't we, when we take our break here, and then we'll come back and we'll talk about the Buffalo Sabres, the rest of the Atlantic and the whole Eastern Conference. Why not? We'll be right back. This week's episode of Puck Soup is brought to you by RayCon and folks, you might remember last week I was saying, oh, this is a spring ad read. It's snowing like crazy out there right now. What are we talking about at spring? Well, now it's 60 degrees.

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Cementmobile.com. All right, so we're back. The Buffalo Sabres. They didn't get their men. They didn't get Colton Pereco. They got the next best thing, two defensemen who kind of suck. Yeah.

They did get that. They got Logan Stanley and Luke Shen for Jacob Bryson and Isaac Rosean. Bryson's just kind of like a guy who, you know, A HL, NHL, Tweener, and mostly an NHL player, probably. Isaac Rosean, a younger guy, what's he, 23, maybe, 22, a second and a fourth. And this is what I think you call a consolation prize. Sure.

Well, it's a plan B. Yeah, of course. And, I mean, a lot of people would say that the Sabres blue line is a strength overall, but the depth. I mean, getting Pareko as a number four would have been ideal. That really would have made a list. Yeah. Yeah.

Not to be. So, I mean, how many times has Luke Shen been traded at the deadline? 500? I think so. That sounds about right. Let's go with that. I'm going to look this up because it is probably, it's probably legitimately like six or six-ish, I guess.

I don't, I mean, let's find out. Seems to move a lot. And he does. Part of that is because he's not very good, but also part of it is he's a guy that teams like him as a six, right? Like, bring him in, go out there, have nothing happen on your shift for good or bad, and get off the ice. And he says, yeah, coach, I know how to do that. And usually. Okay.

So I'm going to expand the deadline to include everything after January 1st. Okay. How many times has Luke Shen been traded? I'll say four. I'll say four. January 6th, 2016, goes with Vinnie La Cavillier, remember him, from Philly to L.A. For a third round pick and Jordan Wheel. Wow.

Okay. No recollect like I remember the Le Cavié trade. I do not have any recollection of Luke Shen being involved in that. Mm-hmm. January 17th, 2019, traded by Anaheim with a seventh round pick to Vancouver for Michael Del Zotto. 2023 traded by the Vancouver Canucks to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a third round pick. 2025 traded by the Predators with Thomas Novak to Pittsburgh for a fourth and Michael Bunting.

Two days later, he is traded by Pittsburgh to Winnipeg and then this trade. So it was indeed exactly six. Wow. And that doesn't even count a couple of times where he got traded in like June or one time he got traded in June. That was the JVR. That's right. Cool, man.

I mean, so it's fine for Buffalo. He's played for nine different teams. Yeah. That's crazy. And two stops in Toronto at least. I don't know if there's any other double-ups, but he's getting to... I don't think so. He's got to be getting close to record territory.

Sillinger, I believe, still the record at 12? Yeah. I'm thinking in terms of trades. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And that also might be Mike Sillinger now that I say that. Might be Sillinger. Brian Ashton was way up there. Michelle Petit played for 10 teams.

But don't let the discerptu. you from the key point, which is Buffalo Sabres are fun as hell, man. Did you watch the Tampa game? I joined late, but yes. I was, like, in on the third period. Actually, I know, I think it was around the second that I flipped over and then really locked in on the... Man, that was so fun. I have not enjoyed a hockey game that much in a long time.

Because, look, there are a lot of high-scoring games out there. There's not a lot of high-scoring games where teams are, like, just punching each other after every goal. You know what I mean? And when there's a game with 17 or 15 goals, it was 8.7 was the final. And it wasn't, you know, it wasn't 11 to 4. It was back and forth.

And back and forth, yeah. Like, oh, and the, I mean, that crowd was absolutely off the charts. Like, and because it just, for a regular season game in March, like, you understood what was going on, right? Like, this is, the sabres are finally having their year.

They're finally planting their flag, earning some respect, whatever you want to call it. Tampa comes to town. Everyone in Buffalo was fired at. This is our channel. We're going to deliver a message. They'd already be in Tampa once. Yep. We're going to show everyone that we belong.

And unlike the first game, about a week ago, Tampa was sort of, Sort of like, okay, you want our A game? You're going to get our A game, which involves all sorts of things, including face washing, yeah, that's exactly right. We're going to come into your, you came into our building, and we weren't really paying attention, and you kind of pushed us around. We're going to give you our best tonight. And off they went, and holy crap, that was such a, that was made my cynical, cold-hearted

hockey fan face light up. Yeah, to me, I'm gonna make what, I don't know if you're gonna get this reference. This is a wrestling comparison, but this is Samoa Joe versus Necro Butcher to me

where it's just like, it's brutal. Like it's really, two guys who are really teeing off on each other. And in this scenario, I suppose I'm making the Buffalo Sabres a team I don't think are suit. People act like they've never seen a PDO team before.

You know? Buffalo Sabers have the second highest PDO in the league. And they're sub-50% in every other underlying number. Just, you know, shots, Corsi, Fenwick, expected goals, scoring chances, you name it. They're like 48% or worse, basically. That doesn't mean they're not a good team. That probably just means they're not a good team. That probably just means they're not a great team.

And so in this scenario, I'm saying, they're Necro Butchoo, where it's like, they're not on the level of the Tampa Bay Lightning slash Samoa Joe. But fuck, man, they're going to really go give it to each other in a way that's super entertaining. And I just, I kind of have a theory about Joe versus Necro that's kind of, you don't have to be a pro wrestling fan to watch that and go, wow, that was something I've never. seen before. That was sick, actually. It was nasty. It was cool. Like, that, that's kind of where I'm, where I'm at with that game, where it's just like,

you could show that to any, like, the guy who's like, look, I don't like hockey. You show them that game and they're like, okay, hockey's pretty all right. Yes. You know what I mean? There's something there. I get the appeal, even if it's not for me. That is one of those. I mean, you almost wouldn't show it to people because they'd be like, I want to watch another hockey game.

be like, you're, this one isn't going to be. Yeah. Oh, it's crazy. No one, no one gets suplexed on the top of their head on the concrete floor in this other match that you're having me watch. Real quick, not to since we've, you know, just been singing the praises how great

this was. I don't want to bring it down too much, but thoughts on Brandon Hagle not being suspended for punching a dude in the back of the head on the anniversary of the Todd Bertuzi incident.

Well, I don't think you can really judge it based on the, this thing happened 25 years ago. Tell me what I can and can't do. Okay, you're right. Do whatever I want. Well, I think you can do that. I don't know of the violin gentleman himself, George Paros. You know what I mean? Like, look, obviously I've criticized the Department of Players say they, they,

Brandon Hagle could have pulled out a fucking sword. and just like, you know, decapitated someone. And if you told me, oh, and George Peros was like, that's a max fine. Have a good one. But we agree if he had done it to a Florida Panther. It's three games, right? No, I think if he had done it as a Florida Panther, they would have already named him Stanley Cup champion. If he had done it as a Florida Panther.

That's what I'm saying, yeah. But if he did it to a Florida Panther, that's when this, because, I mean, that's the only team the Lightning get suspensions against. You're right. You're absolutely right. So, okay. Yeah. No, it's obviously, I'm a throw the book at him kind of a guy on all this,

on all this stuff. But you couldn't, you, you couldn't show me a play where they don't suspend somebody that I'm like, I can't believe they didn't suspend that guy. This is the fucking national hockey league. They, they hate suspending guys.

They do. So, like, I couldn't be less surprised that that happened. Um, anyway. way. The Sabres also got Sam Carrick and Tanner Pearson. All right, great.

Love that. Again, you know, like, to me, to your point earlier, this is a very circuitous way of talking about it, I guess, but like, to your point earlier about like, Pereco would have been such a good fourth defenseman for them, I don't know that either Logan Stanley or Luke Shen should even really be getting more than like 15 minutes in the same.

night. And you're probably only playing one of them at that at the same time. So I got, I meant to look this up. Speaking of PDO teams, isn't Logan Stanley's shooting percentage this year fucking crazy? Oh, am I making that up? I do not know. I haven't looked at it in a minute, but I remember looking and he was above a lot of like high scoring forwards.

Okay. In that stat, whatever, like a month ago or something. Let's see. Yeah, he's currently shooting 12.2%. His career average before this season was... 4.6 altogether. Career 1.6, 1.3, 9.1, 3.4, 2.0, 12.2. That's sustainable.

He's clearly... What the Buffalo Sabres do allow their defensive defensemen to shoot 12. point one percent. Yeah. I wouldn't be, I wouldn't be letting him get too close. By the way, I looked it up his career.

He has, this season alone has more than doubled his career shooting percentage. Yeah. From 2.2 to 4.6. And that's fucking crazy. And nine goals this year after scoring one goal a season in each of his first five seasons. Yes. He went from five to 14 in,

in the space. of 59 games. My point being, the thing with Logan Stanley is, he's older than you think he is. He's 27 years old. He can shoot the puck hard. As we talked about before this year,

he hasn't shot the puck well, ever. And in what universe are you putting him in a position to shoot the puck that much when you have like Rasmus Dahlene, Owen? But like guys who like, are going to play 24 minutes a night or whatever it is. You know what I mean? Like, I'll put it this way.

First round of the playoffs, Dahlene, if he's not playing like 30 minutes a night, I will be shocked. And then like, why did you trade for Logan Stanley at that point? You know? Mm-hmm.

So that was kind of my take was like, when they got Luke Shen, I was like, that makes a lot of sense. And they were like, we also got Logan Stanley. And I was like, why? So, you know, I think,

they obviously wanted to do more and this to me felt like well I gotta do something so people don't think I'm doing nothing from Yarmo there um do you see all this stuff about like oh maybe Kevin Adams is one of the best GMs in the world it turns out yes I've been seeing that for

three months you have but now but now everybody's catching up with with a take that frankly is insane and stupid like let's let's be real GM of the year votes. I'm telling you. You're absolutely right that he will. Absolutely.

It's not a question. Cannot wait. So, anyway, the other teams in the Atlantic, who do you want to talk about? You want to talk about Toronto now? Not really. Okay, great.

We don't have to. Detroit, we kind of covered. You didn't love Justin Falk for them? No, I didn't. That's correct. Okay. Do you not love, like, the player slash fit, or just the price was a bit too rich for him.

The price is crazy. Four assets for Justin Falk? It's Justin Hull really an asset. No, he's no, okay, but even still, let's call it three and one to make the money make a little bit more sense or whatever. For Justin Falk? Mm-hmm. They also got David Perron. Like, let's just get every guy who's 36.

years old in the league, man. Yeah. They get him from Ottawa, who... Yeah. I guess just a case of... I mean, he hadn't been doing a ton up here, and so... Send him back to... They got to get him back to St. Louis eventually, but...

So that he can sign his next contract. That's right. Montreal doesn't do anything. Apparently, they were looking for big swings and didn't find anything. Yeah. So that's interesting. I've seen... speculation that it was like maybe an Adam Fox trade, which like, oh, all right, yep, or

Vincent Trocheck, maybe, okay, sure, you know, that makes sense. One that I saw that was really interesting, and this, this can be where we talk about your Toronto Maple Leafs, is I saw somebody be like, what if it was a Matthew Nye's trade? Yeah, that's, that's been floating around and that there was something involving him, because part of this is, I guess, can you? Hughes was like going to do his availability at 3.30 or whatever, you know, the, we're done for the day GM. And then like it got pushed back or he didn't show up or there was like, oh, they might have something going on that came at the very last minute. I think Kiprio's had hinted that it could have been a Matthew Nyes thing. I mean, the Leaf's just bad asset management.

just a disaster of a season. Brad Trilliving has completely lost the confidence of the entire fan base and did not pull out any miracles to earn any of it back. Let me... The minimum. Let me say this, though. I'm a little surprised that he kind of just gave up the ship on Lott just because of what he cost last year.

Yeah. I don't think most NHL GMs do that, quite frankly. And you know me, I'm loath to give Brad True Living any kind of credit or praise or whatever. I think he's a rotten GM just stinks. But you don't love the return, obviously. But what I think is funny is they ship out Lottin, Waugh, and McMahon. They get back a first, a second, a third, a fourth, and a fifth. That's a whole draft, baby.

We're back in it, you know? We got one whole draft. I thought that was really funny. Where it felt almost like targeted, where he could go to his bosses and go, hey, anybody else get a first, second, third, fourth, and fifth and one go? We got one Tanner, Genoa for the deadline. What do you do? The other thing that people have pointed out correctly is no prospect.

X-com. Like, no young players. The comparison that I've seen made in a few places is to what the Bruins did last year were, yeah, they got picks and stuff, but they also got young players who are already in the lineup and contributing. And the Leafs did none of that. I mean, the Leafs are a mess. And as far as Matthew Nyes, if somebody calls it an offer, have the conversation.

They didn't do it. They shouldn't do it, probably under most circumstances. but I mean if after the year they're they've having their calling anyone untouchable, then they're even more screwed than we think. But yeah, they're going to get through the season, fire everybody. And then I don't even know what you do next if you're the Leafs. Yeah.

No, obviously I agree. You wonder, you know, like it just does conjure like what is what does the roster look like two, two, three years from now? Who knows, man? They got no first round picks of their own, so you can't tank. They're the dumb team again. Can I? When they make a new GM hire, can I advance this proposition?

They should trade Austin Matthews. Okay. But I think what you're forgetting is the GM who's going to come in is going to need a year to kind of get the of the land. Can you imagine how fucking crazy it would be? If a guy gets hired, let's say a guy gets hired on like May 3rd, right? Whatever. Hey, you know what?

Let's move it to May the 4th and it's freaking Star Wars Day. Okay. And he comes in and at the draft, Austin Matthews for like the third overall pick and plus. You know what I mean? Whatever it is. Imagine. Would be so fucking sick. I would-

something in only a month and a half. Well, that's what I'm saying. Like, imagine it's just like a fucking, a real desperado. Just a shoot first, ask questions later guy. You're going to do it. That would be the time to do it. Oh, my God. It would be so fucking awesome in this imagined scenario that will never in a million years take place.

Also, be cool if that guy could, like, sprow wings and fly around the room. You're right. Undeniably, that would be sick. There's no two ways about it. But hey, we mentioned Boston. I liked what they did only because they added three guys and assigned them all to their HAL team. But did you see these quotes from all the Bruins afterward?

No, I don't think of it. Every single Bruin was like, I fucking love that they kept this team together. Okay. Like, we're competing. The underlying message of all of it was like, look, I don't know that the old Don Sweeney should be buying. but I love that nobody got traded from the NHL. Like Swainman in particular, I feel like had a couple of quotes where he was like,

I'm so fired up to, these guys are my brothers. I love being in the fight with them, blah, blah, blah. I was like, that's really, you never see guys like so fired up to have not sold or bought. Okay. I thought it was really interesting. That means you're not going to get a Dylan Larkin. Well, that's what I mean.

Yeah. They were, the quote, I encourage people to seek out these quotes because you would never believe based on what happened with the team versus the reaction that they basically did nothing. Yeah. They were like, yeah, nothing happened. These guys are all future NHLGMs. They're so excited that nothing happened. I mean, the Bruins are in tough to make the playoffs. And as are. To a lesser extent, the HABS. And, you know, I think the thing to me is if Montreal misses the playoffs after a quiet deadline, that's a disaster. Boston, I think, you know, maybe you can handle a little bit.

Well, can I tell you. Columbus is accumulating points and Ottawa is heating up significantly. So it's going to be a race. So you say they're in tough. I don't know what Dom has. I don't have Dom's open in front of me. But Moneypuck has the Habs 81% and the Bruins 61% to make the playoffs. So I shouldn't say in tough, but certainly not home and cooled out.

87% for the habs and doms and only 35% for the Bruins. Oh, is he got, who does he have then? Must be Ottawa. He's got Ottawa at 59%. Yeah, Ottawa. And the blue jackets at 66. Wow. Yeah, I'm kind of on the Blue Jackets for making it train.

We'll talk about them in a minute. But there's one other trade in the Atlantic we simply must talk about. Corey Perry, who is past 40 years old at this point for a second round pick. I love the light. Now, granted, that's a 2028 second round pick, but like still. That's not even a real year. No, I mean, it might as well not be. And at that point, again, at that point, the, the,

The NHL salary cap will be over $120 million. Yeah. Crazy to think about it. I love a guy coming home. Now in Corey Perry's case, that's two-thirds of the league. But, yeah. Hey, do you want to hear a hilarious joke about how the lightning are probably going to lose in the final now? Is that true?

They are? Wow. The thing is, with Cory Perry. Uh-huh. He loves two things. Okay. Being a dirty piece of crap. Uh-huh.

And losing in the Stanley Cup final. Love it. I, you know what? Hell yeah. It's a good fit. He scored in his first game. It's a vibes thing. Like, they weren't going to buy.

They weren't going to buy. So they bought a guy that everybody there likes. Yeah. He's not going to move the needle for him. But it's a vibes thing. We're all feeling good about it. My hat's off to him. Speaking of, uh, dirty.

scumbags, any thoughts on the Panthers doing essentially nothing? I'm a little surprised they didn't. No rentals. Yeah, well, I didn't think they were going to rent. I thought they were going to find a way to move something. Well, I meant, I meant like no rentals to sell on from their perspective other than Roboski. And I think, you know, they'll be loading up for, not loading up for next year, but they expect

to contend again next year. Yeah. I guess if Burbowski wasn't going to move, there was not much for them to do, although, you know, you don't want to be creative, but sure. And then let's quickly go through the Metro here. We'll do Columbus first, I suppose. And Columbus, you know, they got Connor Garland. That's basically it.

Yeah, that is it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They got Connor Garland. That's about right. I think for the position they're in, go and get a guy. who is not just for this year, makes you a bit better. You know, I got a couple goals already.

But don't go overboard. Don't talk yourself into you're a cup contender. But yeah, take your run at the playoffs. Sure. Yeah, I think that it makes sense insofar as Garland is signed till 2032. Speaking of fake years. That's like when Avatar takes place, I think, is 2032. That's how far.

far in the future it is. And so, look, would I personally want to be paying him that much for that long? Not really. You know, I don't know that it aligns

with the overall competitive window of where this team is based on how young a lot of their guys are. But he's a good player. He's certainly a good player. And given the other options out there, if term is like such a big deal to NHL teams, which it does seem like it is,

um, they don't, you know, the thing about the cap going up is that makes just every GM really scared of what they're going to have to sign their UFAs for three years from now, you know, um, because like,

look at, look at Columbus's cap situation. Like, not after even next season, but the year after. like what are they going to do with coil? What are they going to do with Marchmont? What are they going to do with Jenner?

Like there are guys that they have to really think about because like Marchenko is a is an arbitration eligible RFA in 27, 2728. Kent Johnson is. Denton Matechuk doesn't have arbitration eligibility, but he will be an RFA. What's Jetgreaves going to cost? All of these things. really kind of add up in a way that them having even a guy who's overpaid at $6 million until he's 37 or whatever.

That makes sense to me that they're looking at it through the let's just get as many of our future costs nailed down as possible because I don't think when the caps $120 million, Columbus is going to be spending $120 million. You know what I mean? Yep. Mm-hmm. So there will be a bunch of players who are like, well, if the caps 120 million, I want 10% of that.

10% of that isn't a lot of money now, but it's 12 million three years from now. So just nail it all down. That makes sense to me. I don't know that I think Columbus is any good, really. You know, they're fine. But go get somebody. that makes sense. Sure.

Who else do we got to talk about in the Metro? Like, the Rangers didn't really sell? Yeah, the Rangers not moving. That's like the big story. Especially Trocheck, because that was a case where, like, when is the value going to be higher? Totally. And, I mean, you know,

we hear it a few times this time of year that you'll hear. about a team where they set their price and nobody matched the price then you know fine and the guy's got term left right this isn't Scott Lawton where he's going to walk for nothing so you just got to the market bears what it'll bear

but I mean clearly when you look at the direction the Rangers are heading in Vincent Trojek doesn't line up with their timelines so right you don't have to move them but

under what scenario is the offer going to get better in the summer or beyond? And I guess we find out. No Adam Fox deal, no, you know, nothing. Yeah, again, that always felt like more of a summer thing, honestly. So, um, they made, yeah, with Panarin, which didn't, didn't get a ton for him. But that's tough. Like if you had told, like what, like a month ago before the Panarin deal or however

many weeks, that the Rangers are going to walk out of this deadline without getting any first for anyone? Yeah. It's a little tough. It is. No two ways about it. The Islanders, we mentioned they bought on Luke Shen. You didn't love it.

I don't think I love it either, but I don't, you know, I get it. Again, it's just the, it's giving up a prospect who's like, I don't think he's great or anything, but then also two picks. You know, and again, he's signed longer term, blah, blah, blah. What it really boils down to for me with this is they, they felt like they had to add someone because they're having a surprisingly good season and the vibes are good and all that kind of stuff. Reward the team kind of deal.

Yep. I just don't know that a prospect and to, and to, picks. I guess you would argue that getting out from under a second year of the Drew-end deal is part of it. But now you got two more years of the shit. I don't know, man. Like, I think they did okay here.

Like, Shen will help them. I just don't know that it's three assets help. Mm-hmm. That's fair. The penguins, they did their little cute thing. where they, uh, they added a guy for like next to nothing and maybe he's nothing.

And, and, but also he's 24 and he's legitimately like six nine, six eight, something like that, Oscar Soderblum, or Elmer Soderblum, I should say.

Um, and, uh, I don't know. It costs him San Jose's third round pick. Maybe this guy's not anything. Let's find out. Sure.

Makes sense to me. Yeah. And then I guess here's where we mentioned Malkin got suspended five games. Right, yeah. And Crosby's still not back, although a heavy schedule. I don't think Crosby's getting traded. I'm just going to put that, I'm going to plant that flag. I think Crosby to Colorado is probably not going to happen now.

Yeah, you've been saying that for four or five days now. So, yeah, I think that, you know, you can kind of argue that they added, with Gerard, like, before the last show we did. So, yeah, they made their, there's not really anything else to do. They made their move. Yeah, man, it was a quiet one in the Metro Carolina. Well, and so this is what I was teeing up is somehow, in my opinion, like, Pittsburgh had a better deadline day in terms of like what I was expecting them to do than Carolina.

The undisputed best team in this division only added Nick DeLoree. Now, it didn't cost them any. It cost him a seventh round pick two years from now, I think, one year from now. So, like, on that level, who cares? But it's like, are you going to be better than this at any point in the near future? I don't know, man. Like, go fucking make a move. And maybe a move just wasn't there to be made.

Maybe. But. And I mean, we can assume, I mean, Carolina's always hunting for guys. Irons in the fire, yeah, for sure. I think it's, I think it's fair to assume that if there were things to be done, they were there. And this time around, it just wasn't an option. Yeah. Philadelphia, I mean, they.

Yeah, I mentioned like they got, they got, and they got, and they got, a check. So maybe that's something for them. I don't know. Maybe. And I mean, is that... I guess that's a cover of it. Jersey didn't do anything. So that takes us back to Washington, which I do want to... Oh, right. God. Yeah, Washington. What am I thinking? Decision there is an interesting one. Yeah. Cold-hearted, I think, is a good way to put this. Because it does, I mean, it sounds like Carlson, for, you know, if people aren't in, aren't aware, he had some no trade protection, but not covering Anaheim. So this was not something they had to go to him with.

Doesn't sound like he was involved. Like, this wasn't a while we're going to work with our veteran and try to find a home for him. Yeah, it didn't seem like he was anticipating it either. Yeah, didn't really want to go, apparently woke up to the news. Yep. Trade broke in the middle of the night. The middle of the night. It was 1 a.m.

Let's not act like, look. At his age, he's been asleep for four hours at that. That is the middle. Hell, I was up, you know. I mean, look, this is, on some level, this is what we're always saying teams need to do, isn't it? Yes. So. I can't imagine having a problem.

I can't imagine having a problem with it. Like, I get if you're a capital fan. Washington are bummed out about it. I mean. But, like, I think, I think from it, from the perspective of, oh, I really like that guy. Maybe you would argue he should have been lifelong capital. But, like, the idea of, I can't believe they moved this, this 36-year-old defenseman who, you know, were not a particularly good team this year. Like, I don't think it's beyond the pale that they traded him.

You know what I mean? And I will say. Yeah, I will say. Yeah, I would say. Yeah. playoff spot? Yeah, man. Five points out.

Fucking might as well be 50 with a lot of these teams. I hear you, but a lot of teams don't think that way. Or at least they... Yeah, so, like, good for the Capitals for thinking that way. Okay. That's... Again, like, I get to be unsentimental

because I don't give a shit about the Capitals. You know, I'm not a Capitals fan. So, like, I get to be unsentimental about it. I understand that. But at the end of the day, like between him and Dowd two guys who are like well past 30 who still have some value like I think you got to trade those guys if you're five points out of a playoff spot and they did so like good for them and like they got decent returns for both of them my opinion

yeah that's fair I don't I don't really disagree so like I get why a Capitals fan would be like um nostalgic about these guys and like they should have been capitals for life i get why you would think that 17 years with a team is the Bruins traded bradmarshand you know like he did yeah i i i just don't think it's it's like uh and and to to their credit i don't i haven't seen a lot of capture and being like i can't believe they did this there was one guy

I saw a quote it where he seemed really upset. It was a guy, Alex Ovechkin, it says here, seemed pretty upset. Are we at all concerned about how this might impact his future there? Or is this just like, yeah, your friend just got traded? Well, I said it earlier, man. Is it a business or isn't it? You know, I get why you're mad when like,

when you're a guy who, a guy who you've basically known your entire adult life more or less. Yeah. I get why you would be upset if you're Alex Ovechkin, but like, and I get why you would make public statements about like, wow, this sucks. But like if you're going to hold that against like the capital's organization for however long, that I don't get. I just straight up, don't like.

Sure. Do you think you're competitive this year, man? For what? that's all. Like I don't I totally get it from the emotional perspective on that side, but it's like, if you're a fan,

like I think, I think the front office just did a really good job for you. There's not a lot to be upset about here. And again, I haven't really seen a lot of cats fans being like, how could they do this to me? Okay. More of a,

this sucks, but I get it reaction. And, And I think that's the appropriate one. I think that's every team that made notable trades, right? I don't think we missed any. You never know. We probably did.

Oh, and you know what? I will say this too. They went out and for this year, I think they did a decent job of replacing those two guys. A slight downgrade from Carlson, more than slight, I guess, but a downgrade from Carlson to Lilligrant. But Lilligran's not like a bummer. anything, you know? And fair enough.

And like how much worse than Nicked out is David Camp? Not like appreciably. Right? So that's also why I don't know that you can be like super bummed about it. Like it's not a one for one replacement, especially like from an emotional perspective. Like you,

you, as a fan, you built like what you consider to be a relationship with these guys. over however many years. But like, not that Nick Dobbs was there for that long, I guess, but, you know, like,

they got the, the fucking dollar store versions of both of these guys. And that's not nothing. Like, if they had just flat out sold, I'd be, I can way more easily see being upset.

They got, about the five points out thing. They got the dollar store versions and paid dollar store prices. That's exactly right. Yeah. A lot of teams miss that half of the equation this time of year.

But yeah, that's fair. So anyway, let's do some injury news really quickly here. The avalanche announced Gabriel Landis Gogh week to week. He took a shot from, I believe it was Kail McCarr right in the nuts. Well, I was going to say you hate to see it. You hate to hear about it. You love to see it.

You watch the replay over and over. Yeah, man. They're making a fifth jackass movie this year. love to see it. There are not a lot of things that I will stop what I'm doing to, like, go over to my son and show on my phone. But, like, anytime, like, a second basement takes, like, a one hopper right in the, right in the nads. Yeah. Yeah.

So, but also, you hate to see it. Tough for him. There's no denying that. Yep. But, again, like, they've made, they got a jackass movie coming out in, like, May. Okay. You know, there's a market for this. That's all.

Sure. But obviously, like, that's not ideal for the abs. Like, oh, we just made these great ads, blah, blah, blah. Oh, and now our captain is going to meet. It's week to week, you know, like, that's not... Which is not great, but doesn't sound like the playoffs being in jeopardy. Correct. Yeah.

That's a good way. to think about it. Yeah. I saw a talk that Florida might shut down Brad Marshand. Yeah, we're certainly into that time of year when it comes to the teams that are not competitive. Yeah, you're absolutely in your... Especially if the player in question is like 38 years old. Yeah.

No point. We'll see more of this, I think, pretty soon. For sure. For sure. James Schwartz is out, by the way, oh, go ahead. Sorry, because especially given it's Marchand, the first round pick that the Panthers traded away, not for Marchand for Seth Jones,

is top 10 protected. So they can tank this year down the stretch. Because, yeah, their GM. is smart enough to put top 10 on things. Which, you know, at the time, you would have been like totally unnecessary. What are you talking about? You're about to win a second straight, but... That's what I mean, yeah.

Yep. So, um, yeah, uh, what else? Shane Schwartz out indefinitely, like I, like I said, uh, again, that just like sucks if you're, if you're Seattle, you thought you were adding and blah, blah, blah, and now, that, that, that, That, I don't know, like, that's not like a huge loss or anything, but it's enough where you're like, fuck, man, that, that sucks. Robeah hints out a couple of weeks, it looks like. That's fine.

Just get everybody, you know, you're playing for position in that division to a certain extent, obviously, but. Well, you are, but also. You know, you've got to play one of those teams at some point, at a minimum. And it, even like a couple weeks ago, maybe in a week ago, it looked like, Colorado maybe was coming back to the pack and now I don't think so. I think it's Dallas episode almost locked in. Yep. So just get everybody healthy for the playoffs and go from there, I think is like, why force

it, you know? We had a question, I think we had a question in the mailback last week about like, why do guys try to play through injuries at this time of year? And the answer is so often, well, they need to get into the playoffs spot or they need to get into an advantageous position. once they get into the playoffs. And like for Dallas, Colorado, Minnesota, it's like we're not worried about making the playoffs.

And because of the format, we're just going to like get who we get. Yep. And there's not really much we can do about that. So yeah, anyway. And then I saw Jake Sanderson is week to week. Yeah, which is. That's not good.

With an upper body injury and it is not good because he's very important for an Ottawa team that does not have a lot of Yeah. A lot of leeway right now. Yep. So I think that's it for this week. Unless I missed a big injury.

But I think otherwise we're pretty much done with the news. Did you see Pierre's post about the summer? No, I did not. It was a very good post and also a very good example of one of my favorite genres, which is, okay, this window for teams to be active kind of came and went and was a bit of a dud, but the next one is geared up to really be something. So it's, you know, he had everyone from McDavid to Matthews to Brady Kachuk and others as, you know, just keep an eye on him this summer. It'll be interesting. Totally, man. Yeah. As usual with this kind of thing, I will believe it when I see it. Yep. So that's it.

Why don't you hit them with the plugs? Let's get out of here. Find me at the athletic. Find me with Frankie and Sean tomorrow and as well as in the red light newsletter. All sorts of fun stuff like that. And for me, elite prospects, where we're getting into, you know, major junior, college hockey, other pro leagues, playoff time. and we're going to have all a good coverage over there. I'm obviously going to be mostly focused on college hockey,

but there's a lot to be very interested in this time of year. Only a handful of NCAA tournament spots are still up for grabs, like two or three max. So it's going to be a pretty crazy last couple of weeks here. So check all that out and then head over to patreon.com slash puck soup, where we're going to go do a mailbag right now, and then later this week, I think we're going to do probably a bonus episode.

So all kinds of good stuff. Check it out. Patreon.com slash puck soup. Thank you for listening. And have a good week. Bye bye-bye.