The interesting thing about this trade is that Toronto gave up it's offense to have a Defense to build around. Kinda like what Team USA seems to have done.
Anywho...
CALGARY RECEIVES Forwards Niklas Hagman, Matt Stajan, Jamal Mayers, and defenseman Ian White
TORONTO RECEIVES Defensmen Dion Phaneuf and Keith Aulie and forward Fredrik Sjostrom
Since there's really no funny photoshops to be made using "Columbus BJ's", I'll just give you the breakdown.
CALGARY
- Stajan is a great addition. Only 26 and getting better, playing with all the offensive talent that Calgary has can only make him better.
- I think Hagman is a bit overrated, but anyone who can put up 33 points for the Maple Leafs can't be all that bad. I just have some concerns that his play style doesn't match up well with either of the top lines in Calgary. We'll just have to see how he works out.
- Ian White is an interesting addition. He's really an all around defensman, but doesn't really stand out too much at any one thing. He's a good hitter, scorer, blocker...but there are better. If he can find a niche in Calgary, he could really become a great pickup for the Flames
- I saved Jamal Mayers for last because of two things:
- He's 35
- He just wanted out of Toronto.
TORONTO
- Dion Phaneuf is a great addition to any blue line, and now Toronto can build around both a good yound forward (Phil Kessle) and a big solid defenseman (Phaneuf).
- According to NHL.com, Keith Aulie was a focal point on this deal for Toronto. Like Phaneuf, he's a big defensman (6-6, 208), and someone that Brian Burke wanted really badly. Aulie is only 20, but he appears to be loaded with upside and skating ability.
- Oh. Right...Frederik Sjostrom. Well, he'll bring a little bit of offense back, but probably not a significant enough amount to come close to making up for the loss of anyone but Jamal Mayers
But wait, there's more!
TORONTO RECEIVES Goaltender Jean-Sebastian Giguere
ANAHEIM RECEIVES Goaltender Vesa Toskala and forward Jason Blake
The Anaheim goalie controversy is finally over, unless Toskala can relearn the skills that got him a starting job after backing up Nabokov. Still, Toskala should be good for the occasional start, and Jonas Hiller should get all the confidence in the world being the clearcut #1 in Anaheim
ANAHEIM
- As I said above, Toskala is a solid addition as a backup goaltender, and his addition should help Hiller to play even better, though if Hiller doesn't feel pressure to play his best anymore (unlikely), this move could prove to backfire
- Toronto also added Jason Blake, likely a casualty of the Leafs' youth movement during their accelerated rebuilding. He should fit into one of the top lines in Anaheim well, though. If I were a Ducks fan, I would have preferred a pick here. Toronto still gonna end up with a poor year, it would seem, and thus high picks, though they gave up their first already. Oops.
TORONTO
- Toronto finally gets something that they haven't had for YEARS. In JS Giguere, the Leafs finally get a (hopefully) reliable goaltender, provided that he can perform as a number one again, contrary to his previous numbers this season.
So thanks again to Brian Burke.
There's a fair bit of debate on the winner of this trade. I really think that Calgary did the best in the immediate future, as some added offense and a defensman should help their playoff push.
Long term? You'd have to think that Toronto wins out. They added a solid top D pairing for the future and a starting goaltender for the next few years.
Anaheim didn't win the day or long term, but did add two pieces that can really only help them.
So what are your thoughts? Who won the trade? Leave some comments below
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