Archive: Hawks, Bruins Prospered After Trade Deadline Deals Set Them Up For Cup Victories

The NHL’s trade deadline is now four days away, and The Hockey News is continuing our look back at some of the biggest deals made in previous seasons. 

In this story from The Hockey News' Feb. 10, 2020 edition (Vol. 73, Issue 3), writer Jared Clinton examined a number of big-ticket trades made over the years.

(And this is your daily reminder: for access to The Hockey News’ exclusive Archive, you can subscribe to the magazine at THN.com/Free).

One of the moves Clinton looked at was the 2015 deal involving the Chicago Blackhawks and veteran Antoine Vermette. The Hawks gave up a first-round pick – that didn't amount to much at all – and prospect Klas Dahlbeck for Vermette. He had three game-winning goals, including two in the Stanley Cup final, to help Chicago win it all. The deal was a clear win for the Blackhawks and a clear loss for Arizona.

Another deal Clinton looked at was the 2010 move in which the Boston Bruins landed defensemen Dennis Seidenberg and Matt Bartkowski from Florida in return for Byron Bitz, Craig Weller and a 2010 second-rounder. Seidenberg went on to be a cornerstone competitor for the B's, averaging 27:38 of ice time in Boston's Stanley Cup victory that season. The Panthers, on the other hand, got back a trio of assets that had no real impact on them, making this transaction a clear win for the Bruins.

Vol. 73, No. 3, Feb. 10, 2020

By Jared Clinton

Chicago Blackhawks acquire: Antoine Vermette

Arizona Coyotes acquire: Klas Dahlbeck, 2015 first-round pick (Nick Merkley)

One season spent out of the Stanley Cup spotlight led the Hawks to go big-game hunting at the deadline. That meant spending a first-rounder and prospect D-man Dahlbeck to acquire the coveted Vermette.

The early returns were abysmal. Brought in to solidify the middle six, Vermette wound up on the fourth line and produced a mere three points in 19 regular-season games. But he proved his worth in the playoffs. Though still saddled with a depth role, his clutch contributions – three game-winning goals, including two in the Cup final – made all the difference in the Blackhawks’ run to their third championship in six seasons.

Turns out it was a steal for Chicago, too. Dahlbeck was waived by Arizona after a season of bottom-pair service, and the first-round pick became Nick Merkley, who played just one game in Arizona and was dealt to New Jersey as part of the Taylor Hall trade.

Boston Bruins acquire: Dennis Seidenberg, Matt Bartkowski

Florida Panthers acquire: Byron Bitz, Craig Weller, 2010 second-round pick (Alex Petrovic)

If the Bourque trade taught us anything, it is that sometimes it’s what happens well after the deadline that matters most. Such is the case with the Bruins’ acquisition of Seidenberg.

When scooped up from the Panthers for spare parts and the second-round pick that became Petrovic, Boston inserted Seidenberg into a top-four role to bolster a back end led by Zdeno Chara and Dennis Wideman. That was enough to get the Bruins to the second round of the 2010 playoffs but no further.

The following season, however, Seidenberg was a key cog on the blueline, second behind only Chara in average ice time during the regular season. That was the precursor to a post-season in which Seidenberg’s 11 points led all Bruins defensemen and his 27:38 average ice time was one second behind Chara for the team lead in a Stanley Cup-winning season.

Anaheim Ducks acquire: Mike Sillinger, Jason York

Detroit Red Wings acquire: Stu Grimson, Mark Ferner, 1996 sixth-round pick (Magnus Nilsson)

Despite the Red Wings marching to the Stanley Cup final in 1995, this four-player, one-pick deal had little to do with Detroit’s post-season success, nor did it create some seismic power shift in the NHL.

Truth be told, maybe the Red Wings don’t get swept by the New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup final if they can ice Sillinger and York instead of Grimson, who contributed just one goal in 11 games. But this deal is significant for another reason: it marked the first time that Sillinger, who played for a dozen NHL franchises during his career, was traded.

Before Sillinger called it a career following the 2008-09 season, he was traded another nine times. Included in Sillinger’s travels were six swaps that came in the second half of the season and a stretch of seven years during which he was dealt just before the trade freeze five times.

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