Post #2: Trade Deadline

3:00 on deadline day came and went as always in the NHL, but this year, for the first time in years, there was a flurry of activity around the league as teams try to make last minute moves to help their chances of winning the Stanley Cup in June.

The major activity began well before the deadline, when Ryan Miller was traded from Buffalo to St Louis on Friday along with forward Steve Ott.  In exchange the Sabres received goaltender Jaroslav Halak, foward Chris Stewart and a draft pick.  The blockbuster deal saw Miller leave his long time home, but came as no surprise to hockey fans.  Miller has expressed interest for several weeks that he wanted to be moved, and it was only a matter of time before the Sabres found him a new home.  Buffalo currently sits in last place in the entire league.

On Monday, rumors began circulating that Martin Brodeur was seeking a trade from his career long home in New Jersey.  Brodeur, who no doubt will be a first ballot Hall of Famer when he retires, has not played as much in goal this season for the Devils, since the team acquired Cory Schneider in June.  And while Brodeur does not have youth on his side, everyone who is a hockey fan has to hope that he decides to finish his career in New Jersey.  As of 3:00 on Tuesday, he is staying in Jersey.

Also on Monday, the big deal involving Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo was made.  For months Luongo has wanted out of Vancouver.  It was amazing to hockey fans everywhere that he stayed after last season.  When Vancouver moved Cory Schneider to New Jersey, it was assumed that Luongo would stay and be the Canucks starter.  But when rookie Eddie Lack quickly grabbed the spotlight, Luongo once again began riding the bench as the backup.  And after he was snubbed from the starting job for the Outdoor Game, it was clear "Lou" was on the move.  He now returns to where he started his career many years again, in sunny Miami.

The blockbuster deal of 2014 was the trade of Martin St. Louis from Tampa Bay to the New York Rangers in exchange for Rangers captain Ryan Callahan and two draft picks.  It has been well known since before the Olympics that St. Louis has wanted a trade out of Tampa and away from GM Steve Yzerman, who snubbed St Louis originally from the Team Canada roster.  St Louis made it known that his only destination would be New York, to play with former teammate Steven Stamkos.  The real shock was that the Rangers packaged their own captain in the deal.  The only other Ranger captain in history to be traded during his captaincy was Mark Messier in 2003.

Some of the other major trades included a deal that sent Edmonton star Ales Hemsky to Ottawa in exchange for draft picks.  Devyn Dubnyk was moved from Edmonton to accompany the trade, but then was quickly moved to Montreal, which was shocking due to Montreal's strong depth in goal.  Hurricane Tuomo Ruutu was moved to New Jersey and Panther Marcel Goc was moved to Pittsburgh, where he will join a star-studded team (and as a Flyers fan, that is hard to admit).

Another interesting move was Florida moving Tim Thomas to Dallas after the team acquired Luongo.  The two have been combatants ever since the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals that saw Thomas and the Bruins defeat the Canucks in seven games.  After taking a full season off, Thomas returned to the NHL this year signing with Florida.  It comes as no surprise that the team moved him after a lousy season, number wise, now that they have Luongo.  Thomas can expect to see alot of time on the end of the bench in Dallas, since the team already has their starter in Kari Lehtonen.