Trade evaluations in all sports tend to initially focus on short-term issues.
A deal can look great on deadline day.
Yet four years later, it can be retroactively derided when: a) the headline player in the deal has retired, moved on or just been a disappointment; and, b) a draft choice included in the transaction turns out to be a young Ukrainian winger who scores 147 NHL goals before he is 20.
The soundest NHL strategy is striking a delicate balance between hoarding draft choices and prospects while thinking long term and using them as commodities for upgrades while thinking short term.
Here’s a breakdown of the deals teams other than the Avalanche made approaching the trading deadline:
Came out ahead, if . . .
The Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks had the nerve to trade for the highest-profile potential rental players — Atlanta Thrashers winger Marian Hossa and Buffalo Sabres defenseman Brian Campbell, respectively.
At some point in the near future, the Pens are going to find it impossible to fit all that awe-inspiring young talent under the salary cap. But for now, adding Hossa from Atlanta — not just a scorer but a solid all-around player and locker-room guy at age 29 — makes them a threat for a breakthrough playoff run this spring.
If a way can be found to re-sign Hossa, the price — including Angelo Esposito, who starred for Patrick Roy’s major-junior Quebec Remparts, two other prospects and a draft choice — is justifiable.
The bottom line is the same for the Sharks and Campbell. The cost was a decent young forward, Steve Bernier, and a No. 1 pick.
But there’s a “cap”
Brad Richards is a terrific center who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP when the Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2004.
But he’s the most overpriced player in the game, and the inflexibility of the NHL’s hard cap system — and that’s a good thing — means that he can’t be asked to renegotiate. He can’t be asked to restructure. His old team can’t pick up part of his salary.
It’s all now on the Dallas Stars, who picked him up from the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday and are facing a $7.8 million cap hit in each of the next three seasons.
That salary also becomes the benchmarks for others on the roster, and the pressure will be immense to deliver bang for the buck — or be a drag on the Stars, limiting their options, for the remainder of the deal.
Biggest risk
The Canadiens — owned by Vail resident George Gillett Jr. — traded goalie Cristobal Huet to Washington and seem determined to go with young Carey Price as their playoff goalie. He was major junior’s top goalie a year ago with the Tri-City Americans then put on a terrific performance in the AHL playoffs. He has been decent in sharing time with Huet, but this is placing a lot of trust — and pressure — on a 20- year-old.
Best low-profile deal
The Devils added a solid defenseman, Bryce Salvador, from the Blues.
Huh?
The Wild decided to give another chance to Chris Simon, who has been nothing but trouble. Minnesota picked him up from the Islanders, where Simon couldn’t even behave while playing under his former junior coach and mentor, Ted Nolan.
Terry Frei: 303-954-1895 or tfrei@denverpost.com
