s25 - Crickets for a deadline [WB10]

Vegas, NV - Well, well, well, that’s be a big giant yikes from…. I guess.

Now that the VHL’s 25th trade deadline has come and gone, let’s look back on a pretty low volume transaction period and dive into what it could say for the state of the league.

The biggest trade has to be the Vezina winner from the past two years Marc-Andre Fleury, top line centreman Henrik Sedin, and a 2nd round pick being shipped out of Vegas to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for two first round picks, Jonathan Quick, and Mike Zigomanis. 

“Was actually a super easy trade to put together,” remarked Vegas Golden Knights General Manager David Zammit. “Us and Chicago were looking for a big shakeup and this fit the bill for both teams. Hawks want to make a push and go for it and we want to retool.”

Aside from that mammoth deal, the next biggest could become a debate.. I’d probably lean towards the 11-piecer between true Toronto Maple Leafs and the St. Louis Blues. Biggest parts of that was blues sending forward Ryan Stoa, defenceman Marco Scandella, five super later picks to Toronto for Vincent Trochek, Antti Miettinen, Alex Petrovic, and a first round pick.

That was followed by the Blues and Golden Knights swapping Bobby Ryan and Deryk Engelland plus a 1st round pick. 

Only other deal that’s sizeable was between the desert dogs in Phoenix and Buffalo. 

Sabers landed Calvin De Haan, an AHL forward, and four late round picks for Matthew Peca, Willie Mitchell, and a second round pick.

So why is this bad for the league? It’s minuscule movement for a league with 24 teams in it. 

Only eight teams, so a third of the league pulled anything off around the deadline. With three teams being involved in at least two of the six deals. 

Hell, I messaged 20 teams about a trade block that included the best goalie in the top, a top 15 centre league wide, two top six winger, and a top four defenceman…. 12 responses. 

Hard to make anything happen when you can’t even get a response from people. Even just say, sorry not interested. Maybe Chris is right, maybe the league is headed down a dark path… I honestly hope that isn’t the case.

WC - 385