Whenever there is a big trade in any sport the microscopes come out to see who won the trade? The dozens of factors that go into making the deal are pushed aside and measurable statistics are strewn about to determine who go the best of the deal.
The NHL trade deadline produced only one real blockbuster deal that saw the Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Rangers exchange captains Martin St. Louis and Ryan Callahan. It marked the first time in NHL history that teams traded captains though the deal was made under different circumstances from each side.
St. Louis had been upset with his omission from the Team Canada roster when the team was announced. His boss, General Manager Steve Yzerman also served as the general manager for the Canadian Olympic team, which made the snub particularly personal. Though the deposed Tampa captain was added as a replacement to the roster, he spent the majority of his time in Sochi on the bench or as a scratch.
Fuming over the perceived lack of respect, St. Louis had made it clear that he wished to finish his Hall of Fame career elsewhere. Though the Lightning had given St. Louis the opportunity that no other NHL team would as an undrafted free agent, the reigning Art Ross Trophy winner wanted out. With a connection to the northeast, it was up to Yzerman to get the best possible return for the 38-year old sniper.
The Rangers were in a different type of pickle. Their relationship wasn’t nearly as contentious, but a long-term contract was being negotiated with neither side willing to concede. In New York, Callahan was the hard-nosed, lunch pail type of forward who endeared himself to the fans with his grit and heart.
The emotional leader of the under achieving club, Callahan was snake-bitten with injuries from the start of the season. With the contract talks stalled and the sides well dug in at a stalemate, the Rangers found their yang to Tampa’s ying in the trade market.
The deal was struck as St. Louis was shipped off to Broadway for Callahan and a pair of draft picks. There are conditions with the draft picks exchanged that relate to New York’s playoff performance and whether or not Callahan signs a contract extension in Tampa.
So the big question is, who won the trade?
At first it appears that the Rangers stole St. Louis from Yzerman and Tampa. After all, the Lightning captain has been doing his usual thing, scoring at a point per game clip. Even more impressive is that St. Louis had been doing this without the services of his team’s best player Steven Stamkos. In case you weren’t already impressed, St. Louis will turn 39 this June.
He will bring scoring, leadership and a pre-existing chemistry with Rangers’ center Brad Richards with whom he won a Stanley Cup in 2004. The diminutive “Mighty Mite” can help jump start a notoriously sluggish New York offense and help solidify the Rangers as a viable Stanley Cup contender.
What the Lightning get is a grinding winger that is ten years younger than St. Louis. The style of the two could not be more different with Callahan playing the role of hard working, wrecking ball, skating 100-mph crashing into everyone. St. Louis is deceptively fast, and uses his slight build to avoid contact while boasting some of the silkiest hands in NHL history.
Statistically the two do not compare, but if Tampa is inclined to ink their newest winger, the value of the deal could be tilted decidedly in favor of the Lightning. What seals the decision for Tampa Bay are the draft picks thrown in. While St. Louis’ value is undeniable, moving forward the Lightning received the younger player, with more games left (value) and two draft picks. Though they are conditional picks, they represent more value for the Lightning moving forward.
Even if St. Louis ends up playing out the rest of his contract with New York, and there is no reason to believe he won’t, it is one more season at $5.625 million. While it is believed that Callahan is looking for a long-term deal in the neighborhood of $6 million per season, it will be interesting to see if Tampa keeps him around to discuss a deal.
The verdict goes to Tampa. In spite of being bent over a barrel by their pouty star and veteran leader, GM Steve Yzerman managed to swing a deal that will not only benefit his team this season, but will bring value to his club beyond the years that Martin St. Louis will be in the NHL. It wasn’t a decisive victory, but one is left to wonder if this deal would have taken place if St. Louis were added to the original Canadian Olympic roster.