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Welcome to another edition of the Hockeybuzz hotstove.
With the Winnipeg Jets and Buffalo Sabres combining to finalize a blockbuster trade on Wednesday, the hotstove examines who won the deal.
Todd Cordell
I am generally on board with 'the team who gets the best player wins the trade' philosophy so I guess I'll go with the Sabres, but I think both teams did well here.
Buffalo is getting the best player in Evander Kane. I think he'll be a star. Zach Bogosian is a pretty good defenseman, too. That said, the Sabres had to give up a lot to get these guys.
I think Tyler Myers will benefit from a change of scenery where he'll play less minutes and with better players, and Drew Stafford is a very underrated winger. He's a rental, sure, but at the very least he can give them some production in their top-9 that they wouldn't get from an injured Kane, and he probably wouldn't cost a ton to bring back.
They acquired two prospects who project as middle-6 guys in the talented Joel Armia, who's playing pretty well in the AHL, and Brendan Lemieux, who has 36 goals in 47 games with Barrie (OHL) this year. They also get a 1st round pick in a deep draft.
I think both teams did well given where they are. The Jets get something for their playoff push, and for the future, while the Sabres get worse as of today (since Kane isn't playing) and upgrade their team for the future. Sure they gave up a couple good prospects, but their cupboards are pretty full, and they still have two 1st round picks this year.
I'm sure a winner will become more clear in time, but, again, I think both teams did well given the circumstances.
James Tanner
I think it was a pretty even swap. The Jets get help now but they also get a late first and two decent prospects. The Sabres get Kane, who say what you want, can still be a star in the NHL. Bogosian is also good.
Ultimately though, I think Myers with his size and offensive potential might end up being the best player in the deal.
Basically the Sabres got two above average NHL players for One above average NHL player a pending UFA and some long-shot lottery tickets.
Drew Stafford could also really help the Jets down the stretch, I think one day - depending on how each guy develops - there will be a winner, but for now, I think it's a pretty fair trade.
But it depends on your perspective too, because if you say that the Jets won because they traded an injured player and two headaches for immediate help, a potential Norris Trophy Defenseman and made their prospect pool much deeper at the same time, then I couldn't really disagree with that either.
Tim Chiasson
I think it’s tough to assess who wins/loses a trade this early. Winnipeg did a great job by simply unloading Kane; they couldn't keep him around after all of this and needed to ship him out ASAP. Buffalo did a great job in picking up a top-six winger they desperately needed. Character flaws aside, Kane is a top-six guy.
That said, if I had to pick a winner right now I’d like the deal more from the Buffalo side.
Brendan Lemieux’s camp told Buffalo that he wasn't signing with them so he isn't really a loss for Buffalo. I think Zach Bogosian is a better player than Tyler Myers and the Sabres had three first rounders. Tim Murray essentially upgraded on defense and acquired a top six winger – both with term left – in exchange for a defender he’s been trying to move, a pending UFA, a pick he didn't need, a prospect who didn't want to play for Buffalo and Joel Armia.
I’m not knocking the Jets on this one because, like I said earlier, this had to be done and they picked up some pieces for the future while being able to distance themselves completely from Evander Kane’s troubles in the Peg. It’ll be a while before the real, long-term, winner, if any, is determined from this deal – especially with the first round selection TBD. Cheveldayoff did a solid job with his hands in a bind.
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