NHL trade deadline winners and losers

They say the NHL trade deadline is like Christmas. So much hype, so much wishful thinking, and those who bet on hockey likely can’t sleep the night before. After all, NHL trade deadline deals often significantly impact Stanley Cup odds – though not as much as some people think. Let’s break down the top winners and losers in the NHL trade deadline and how their actions changed the online betting landscape.

NHL trade deadline: Flames win big, Habs and Devils left empty handed

• Olli Jokinen gives Calgary a true number-one center
• Montreal Canadiens fail to fill void at center
• Devils stand pat, view Martin Brodeur as their “acquisition”

NHL TRADE DEADLINE WINNERS

Calgary Flames (+1800 Stanley Cup odds)
The Flames are the no-brainer pick as the winner in the NHL trade deadline deals. I like their win-now mentality; Jarome Iginla and Miikka Kiprusoff are on the wrong side of 30 and sniper Michael Cammalleri will be an unrestricted free agent come summer. Why not go for it all?

Some NHL betting fans knock Olli Jokinen because he has no playoff experience, but what does that prove? For all we know, he could be a monster in the playoffs. Maybe he just needed an environment where he didn’t need to be “the man,” and Calgary is just that. Toss in the Flames’ reacquisition of Jordan Leopold, a versatile if unspectacular defender, and the Flames did great at the NHL trade deadline.

Pittsburgh Penguins (+4000)
If you include last week’s Chris Kunitz deal along with yesterday’s Bill Guerin trade, the Penguins suddenly have a top-six forward group including Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Petr Sykora, Jordan Staal, Kunitz and Guerin. With new coach Dan Bylsma already lighting a fire under them (six wins in seven games), the Pens could be great upset sportsbook picks if they make the playoffs.

Florida Panthers (+2500)
If you’re in Florida’s shoes, you desperately want to make the playoffs and appease your fragile fan base. A big NHL trade deadline deal – maybe for a soon-to-be unrestricted free agent – would energize the franchise, right? Well, what better piece to “acquire” than Jay Bouwmeester? If you think of him as a “rental” at this point, retaining Bouwmeester gave the Panthers the biggest acquisition at the NHL trade deadline. He looks doomed to bolt in the offseason, so best of luck to the Panthers in the stretch run.

NHL TRADE DEADLINE LOSERS

Washington Capitals (+575)
The Caps are sure to contend in Stanley Cup odds but they also had some very visible flaws heading into the NHL trade deadline…and addressed none of them. Goaltending and defensive depth, particularly the former, were major question marks and answering them could’ve propelled the Caps to top Stanley Cup contender status, but they made zero trades. Ouch.

Montreal Canadiens (+1900)
Is Bob Gainey starting to kill his legacy, morphing into a wet noodle when he tries to strike NHL trade deadline deals? Habs supporters will tell you they already got what they needed with Mathieu Schneider. While that was undoubtedly a smart acquisition, Montreal needed a big centerman to replace injured Robert Lang and came up empty.

New Jersey Devils (+575)
Some online betting fans would disagree, claiming that (a) The Canucks were bigger flops on NHL trade deadline day and (b) Martin Brodeur’s return was a de facto trade. But getting Mats Sundin earlier this season, to me, was Vancouver’s big haul and I don’t think any other potential NHL trade deadline deals worked for them.

The Devils certainly didn’t need to make many changes, and Martin Brodeur’s return puts them among the best Stanley Cup contenders. However, I think New Jersey was one piece away from becoming the top Stanley Cup contender. A true thoroughbred defenseman like Chris Pronger would’ve done the trick.

To see how the NHL trade deadline deals affect sports betting in the stretch run, keep reading the Betting Edge at BetOnline.com.

Who better to offer great sports betting and hockey tips than a native Canadian? Like any good Canuck, Don Melrose eats, sleeps, breathes and bets hockey, making him the perfect NHL handicapper. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.