Top Winners From The NHL Trade Deadline

The Columbus Blue Jackets hope that trade deadline acquisition Marian Gaborik will help them return to the playoffs. (Al Bello)

The trade deadline in any sport can make a significant impact on a team whether they are buyers or sellers. Many NHL teams were looking for that one or two pieces that might push them over the edge in the quest to lift Lord Stanley's Cup. I have determined which teams I think are the top three winners at the trade deadline as they make a push for the postseason.

1. Pittsburgh Penguins - The Penguins were one of the most active teams throughout the trade deadline window. They got things going early on and were still in the mix for some deals right before the deadline. The Penguins began by acquiring three in a span of four days (March 24-27). Veteran forwards Brenden Morrow and Jarome Iginla will help provide the Penguins with scoring depth and playoff experience up front. Douglas Murray gives the Penguins another defender who can deliver hits and block shots when needed. Just when it seemed the Penguins might be finished, general manager Ray Shero added one more piece to the puzzle in Jussi Jokinen from the Hurricanes. Jokinen will likely start at center while the Penguins wait for captain Sidney Crosby to recover from a broken jaw. Additionally, Jokinen brings valuable playoff experience for the Hurricanes' run to the Eastern Conference finals in 2009. His presence adds yet another depth piece to an already stocked front line.

2. Minnesota Wild - The Wild have been one of the Western Conference's best teams the past several weeks. As they look to prove that they are Stanley Cup contenders, they acquired one of the best players available at the deadline in Buffalo Sabres captain Jason Pominville. The Wild did have to give up quite a bit in return. This included highly touted prospect Johan Larsson, goaltending prospect Matt Hackett, a first-round pick in 2013 and a second-round pick in 2014. The Wild did also receive the Sabres' fourth-round pick in 2014. That is a lot to give up, but for what a player like Pominville could mean to a playoff run, it is well worth it. He has reached the 30-goal plateau twice and recorded at least 20 goals in six straight seasons. Pominville adds the kind of scoring depth that the Wild need for a playoff run. He is a leader with the character and experience that is such a benefit to the team as a whole. The Wild are going to be battling the Vancouver Canucks for the Northwest Division crown the remainder of this month. This deadline move could prove to be enough to help them secure home-ice for the first round and possibly beyond.

3. Columbus Blue Jackets - After years and years of selling at the trade deadline, the Blue Jackets were actually buyers this season. The shocked everyone by acquiring three-time 40-goal scorer Marian Gaborik from the struggling New York Rangers. Just like the case was with the Wild acquiring Pominville, the price was heavy for Gaborik. The Blue Jackets gave up three of their key role players in Derek Dorsett (currently injured), Derick Brassard and John Moore. That is a significant amount to give up, but when you consider that this is team that has been to the playoffs just once (and were swept by Detroit in that lone playoff visit), the fact that they are in the hunt for a surprise postseason berth, makes Gaborik definitely worth the cost. Gaborik fell out of favor with the Rangers due to tension between him and head coach John Tortorella. The trade though reunites him with former teammates Artem Anisimov and Brandon Dubinsky, who ended up with the Blue Jackets in the Rick Nash trade last summer. Gaborik can definitely be an impact player with a fresh start from a team desperate that is desperate for his scoring help. The Blue Jackets currently rank 29th in goals per game and 27th on the power play. They will need Gaborik to help spark their offense if they hope to secure a return to the postseason.

Roberto Luongo Discusses Possibility of Leaving the Canucks

In a radio interview on Vancouver's 99.3 the Fox, Roberto Luongo revealed what he has been thinking about the future. (Danny Moloshok)

Many people having been talking about Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo's upcoming appearance in the World Series of Poker. Friday night, he was on the air with Vancouver's 99.3 the Fox to discuss his poker game. When the conversation turned to hockey and his future, Luongo didn't keep a straight poker face. In fact, he laid all his cards out on the table.

Luongo announced over the air, "I think it's time to move on. And I'm okay with that. I had a great six years in Vancouver. It's a really wonderful city. I really enjoyed my time there. Unfortunately, I was not able to bring a Stanley Cup there. Probably my greatest regret. But it'll be remembered for six great years."

In six seasons with the Canucks, Luongo did help lead them to the playoffs five of those years. But he had only 32 wins in 61 playoff games with a 2.53 GAA and a .916 save percentage. The fact that the Canucks signed backup netminder Cory Schneider to a three-year, $12 million deal seems to provide additional evidence that Luongo might be on the way out.

When asked about where he would want to go, Luongo said that there were lots of great cities to play in. However, he gave special mention to Chicago. The Blackhawks definitely seem to be a team he likes. Luongo also said he is open to returning to the Florida Panthers, where he played for five years before coming to Vancouver. One last trade destination that is buzzing among fans and experts alike is the Columbus Blue Jackets. Their disgruntled star Rick Nash wants out as well. A straight-up trade would be unconventional and unlikely, but certainly a possibility.

I believe the decision by Luongo to move on to somewhere else is the proper decision. The window seems to have closed on this Canucks team. Their defeat in the first round to the eight seed Los Angeles Kings is just further evidence of this. While I doubt Luongo wants to go to Columbus, the Blackhawks seem to be a very reasonable possibility. The Blackhawks have the type of pieces available to provide adequate return. If I am reading Luongo's poker face correctly, I believe the Blackhawks is the team he wishes to join.

Winners and Losers from the NHL Trade Deadline

Winners

Nashville Predators - Nashville has traditionally been sellers at the deadline, but this year they decided to be buyers in a big way. Their blue line first got a boost with the acquisition of veteran defenseman Hal Gill. The Predators then added forward Andrei Kostitsyn to join younger brother Sergei. Finally, they acquired big center Paul Gaustad for some added team depth. The Predators are on the prowl and looking to make a run at the Stanley Cup.

Vancouver Canucks - Vancouver's concern from last year's playoffs was their overall toughness. They were bullied at times by the Bruins in the finals. As a result, they made two somewhat surprising moves to address this. First, they aquired winger Zack Kassian and defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani from the Buffalo Sabres. Kassian is a big boy and should help add some toughness to this team. Second, the Canucks added veteran checking center Sami Pahlsson. Pahlsson is no longer in his prime, but worth the additional depth for the limited cost given up.

Losers

Columbus Blue Jackets - The Columbus Blue Jackets are awful. There is no way around that fact. Captain and star player Rick Nash reportedly asked to be traded, but he ended up going nowhere. The Blue Jackets are clearly rebuilding. Nash doesn't fit that mold and should be given the opportunity to thrive somewhere else. Instead, they ended up with nothing to help turn around this abysmal team.

New York Rangers - The New York Rangers were the favorites in the Rick Nash sweepstakes. Since Nash ended up going nowhere, the Rangers had to scramble to get anything done. All they could manage was to bring in barely used winger John Scott. That move isn't the type of one the Rangers needed. The Rangers are still the best team in the Eastern Conference, but that gap just got a little bit smaller. They are on the losers list because they didn't improve much and their competition in the Eastern Conference just got better.