NHL / Richard Douglas / 06 March 2009 / Leave a comment

Just like the Premier League, the NHL's transfer deadline was jam-packed with speculation and rumour but not much really happened. The only blessed relief was that we did not have to endure Sky Sports telling us that, for the 72nd hour in a row, there was nothing to report, writes Richard Douglas.

The case of Jay Bouwmeester, a free agent at Florida Panthers, epitomised deadline day.

The superb defenceman was linked with moves to any number of places but, in the end, stayed put. Chris Pronger, Nikolai Khabibulin, Keith Tkachuk, Ryan Smyth, Marian Gaborik, Martin St. Louis, Milan Hejduk and Ilya Kovalchuk were other major names who filled column inches and messageboards but did not budge.

In fact, there were only 22 deals and 47 players changed club. Just one - Olli Jokinen - can be considered an elite name. Of course, the credit crunch was biting hard and in some such circumstances next year's draft picks become a commodity in which the General Managers feel they cannot afford to trade.

But with a quarter of the regular season left to run and the roster finalised, who is in the best shape in each Conference? Here's my main movers in the East after the markets closed.

Pittsburgh

The Penguins will be stronger for the addition of Bill Guerin. The 38-year-old veteran was perhaps the most well-known name to be traded on an overall quiet day. He was skipper at the New York Islanders and was once one of the NHL's power forwards. These days he is very much second fiddle and so Guerin's main job is to help out Sidney Crosby. He did precisely that in his opening game, assisting the top scorer's goal against the Panthers this week.

Despite missing five games in total this season, Crosby is second in the NHL in assists with 56 and third in points with 79. Pittsburgh ([6.2]) will struggle to make up the gap to Boston et al in the Eastern conference and surely they will be satisfied with a Play-off berth. Even then the Stanley Cup [28] is some way away.

Boston

The Bruins have been leading the way in the Eastern Conference for some time but their form has tailed off badly in recent games. Just three regular-time wins in their last 10 games is not enough for a side so short in the odds at [2.4]. But they traded wisely by brining in Mark Recchi from Tampa Bay; the 41-year-old attacker has experience that could be vital down the stretch. In addition, Steve Montador has added competition offensively. The Bruins will always be in the mix as Conference winners and Stanley Cup champions [9.6] because their netminder is Timmy Thomas, who leads the League statistics in goals against average and save percentage.

New York Rangers

The Rangers were seen to be a team in need of grit and goals. Their two deadline day deals will help solve those problems. They took forward Nik Antropov from the Toronto Maple Leafs and then, just a minute before the window slammed shut, added much-touted defenseman Derek Morris from Pheonix Coyotes.

However, the most interesting acquisition was Sean Avery. The winger was taken from the Dallas Stars and has been playing in the lower leagues after being suspended in December for making a crude remark about other hockey players dating his former girlfriends.
The Rangers are still off the pace in the Eastern Conference ([4.2]) but a busy deadline should see them comfortably in to the Play-Offs. They remain justifiable outsiders for the Stanley Cup [55].

Washington

The Capitals are handily placed in the Eastern Conference but they missed a major trick by failing to trade before the deadline. This is team who are right up there in the goals for and against columns. It makes them well-liked and massively entertaining but you can't see them winning the Stanley Cup [11] that way. They have decent shout in the Eastern Conference [3.6] especially with Alexander Ovechkin, the League's second top-scorer, in such excellent form. But they have been pretty fortunate with injuries so far if their luck breaks they will struggle.

Montreal Canadians

Yet again, the Habs GM Bob Gainey did not want to deal but their goaltending is considered too weak to win the Stanley Cup ([22]). They remain solid Play-Off fodder however you can't see them winning the East ([4.4]).