CarterHud

          The Tampa Bay Lightning have acquired defenseman Ryan McDonagh and forward J.T. Miller from the New York Rangers in exchange for forward Vladislav Namesnikov, forward Brett Howden, defenseman Libor Hajek and a 2018 1st round pick and a conditional 2nd rounder in 2019.

         For the Lightning, they are trying to win the Stanley Cup this year, and sorta need too. They are a must win team. McDonagh, along with Victor Hedman, makes two top pairing defensemen on their team, a lot better than most other teams. They give up a big haul, but it\’s worth it for a year and three months of McDonagh, plus Miller, a second line center.

          McDonagh, 28, has scored two goals and 24 assists for 26 points in 49 games this year. In his NHL career, all for the Rangers, McDonagh has scored 51 goals and 187 assists for 238 points in 516 games.

          Miller, 24, has scored 13 goals and 27 assists for 40 points in 63 games this year. In his NHL career, all for the Rangers, Miller has scored 72 goals and 100 assists for 172 points in 341 games.

          For the Rangers, they are sellers. Miller is a pending RFA, and McDonagh has just one more year on his contract. They get a huge haul, including a first, a really good player in Namestnikov, and two prospects in Hajek and Howden.

         Namestnikov, 25, has scored 20 goals and 24 assists for 44 points in 62 games for the Lightning this season. In his NHL career, all in Tampa Bay, Namestnikov has scored 53 goals and 70 assists for 123 points in 263 games/

         Hajek, 20, has scored eight goals and 17 assists for 25 points in 33 games in the WHL this season.

          Howden, 19, has scored 22 goals and 36 assists for 58 points in 38 games for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL.

           I think this is an even trade. The Lightning get their desperately needed players, and the Rangers get the prospects and picks they need. It\’s an even deal.

            The Boston Bruins have acquired forward Tommy Wingels from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a 5th round draft pick.

             For the Bruins, Wingels is a solid bottom six depth player. He helps their depth situation, and is a good veteran for the locker room. A 5th isn\’t much to give up.

             Wingels, 29, has scored seven goals and five assists for 12 points in 57 games for the Blackhawks this season. In his career for the Hawks, Ottawa Senators and San Jose Sharks, Wingels has scored 60 goals and 78 assists for 138 points in 430 games.

              For the Blackhawks, Wingels is a pending free agent and they don\’t need any of those. Stockpiling on picks is a better strategy for a last place team.

            I think this is an even trade. The Bruins get a solid player, and the Blackhawks get another draft pick.

          The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired forward Josh Jooris from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for forward Greg McKegg.

          For the both the Pens and Canes, both McKegg and Jooris are pending UFAs that can play wing and center, plus bottom six. McKegg is a little bit younger, though. It\’s a very even trade.

          McKegg, 25, has scored two goals and two assists for four points in 26 games. In his NHL career for the Penguins, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs, McKegg has scored seven goals and six assists for 13 points in 91 games.

          Jooris, 26, has scored three goals and three assists for six points in 31 games for the Canes this year. In his NHL career for the Canes, Arizona Coyotes, Calgary Flames and New York Rangers, Jooris has scored 23 goals and 32 assists for 55 points in 204 games.

             The Calgary Flames have acquired center Nick Shore from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a 2019 7th round pick.

             For the Flames, Shore is a solid depth player, and a fourth line center. This is actually the least amount possible for them to trade for him. It hard seeing this going wrong for them.

            Shore, 25, has scored four goals and 12 assists for 16 points in 55 games for the Sens and Los Angeles Kings this season. In his NHL career for the Kings and Sens, Shore has scored 14 goals and 36 assists for 50 points in 227 games.

             For the Sens, they got minimal value out of Shore, but he was just an add-on in the Dion Phaneuf/Marian Gaborik trade, and flipping him wasn\’t necessary, but they wanted too. I don\’t get it too much, but I think it\’s just a dump-off.

             I think the Flames win this deal. They get a 25 year old NHL player for a 7th rounder. That is the best deal possible for Shore.

            The Montreal Canadiens have acquired defenseman Mike Reilly from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for a 5th round pick.

            For the Habs, they get Reilly, a depth defenseman to replace Joe Morrow, who was traded earlier to the Winnipeg Jets for a 4th rounder, so they move up a round. Reilly is younger than Morrow, and has more potential.

            Reilly, 24, has scored two goals and eight assists for 10 points in 38 games this season. In his NHL career, all for the Wild, Reilly has scored four goals and 14 assists for 18 points in 84 games.

           For the Wild, the rise of Nick Seeler has made Reilly expendable. I think they could have gotten more than a 5th for him, but it\’s not a horrible haul.

            I think the Habs win this deal. Their full trade is Morrow and a 5th for Reilly and a 4th, and that\’s a win, so this is a win. It\’s simple.