The NHL trade deadline has come and gone, and while the moves weren't as big as the last two years, the biggest stunner was Vancouver and Buffalo swapping former first round picks in Cody Hodgson and Zack Kassian. That trade also saw defensemen Alexander Sulzer and Marc-Andre Gragniani switch places. The real story is Hodgson and Kassian, as Buffalo needed a top six forward and Vancouver needed size and grit. Hodgson has 33 points, but being stuck behind Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler, it was clear that Hodgson had reached the ceiling of his potential in Vancouver. Combined with the acquisition of Sami Pahlsson from Columbus earlier in the day, it was clear Hodgson's days as a Canuck were numbered. This isn't the first time a former first round pick from Vancouver was traded before hitting his prime. Michael Grabner (2006) was traded to Florida last year for Keith Ballard and Patrick White (2007) was traded to San Jose for Christian Ehrhoff prior to the 2009-10 season. Grabner would go on to be claimed off waivers by the New York Islanders before playing a game for Florida and become a Calder Trophy finalist last year. White has yet to play an NHL game, and is currently playing in Europe.
As for Kassian, he provides the size and toughness that can play almost everyday in Vancouver's lineup. He can also provide some offense when needed, but given that he's likely slated for either third or fourth line duty, his main role will be similar Milan Lucic of Boston.
And what of the Rick Nash to Vancouver rumors that had been circulating around? I maintained all along that Vancouver did not need Nash, as the Canucks already had depth in terms of offense, and their biggest needs were on the bottom two lines and the blue line (you can never have enough defensemen). In the trades they made yesterday, Vancouver filled both needs well, and Gragniani can step in right away and be what Ehrhoff was last year, albeit with less production at this point.
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