We're into the second half of the hockey season, and the push for the playoffs begin!

Adding Depth Wins Cups

Written by: Tyler Bodman on 2nd March 2010

PHOTO BY SCOTT VANKOUGHNETT

The Penguins used a conditional pick to get Bill Guerin at last year's deadline. The results were a Stanley Cup. | read this item

With the NHL trade deadline just over a 24 hours away, we take a look at what the past six Stanley Cup champions did before the deadline.

On March 10, 2003 – The New Jersey Devils made two moves first they acquired RW GRANT MARSHALL from Columbus for a conditional choice in 2004. Their second move saw them acquiring D RICHARD SMEHLIK and a conditional choice from Atlanta for a fourth-round pick in 2003 (D MIKE VANNELLI).

Compared to 2002 the Devils were relatively quiet at the 2003 trade deadline. In ‘02 they obtained C Joe Nieuwendyk and RW Jamie Langenbrunner from Dallas for C Jason Arnott, RW Randy McKay and New Jersey’s first round choice in 2002. Grant Marshall provided timely scoring for the Devils (6-2–8) including a series-clinching goal in triple overtime against Tampa Bay.

On January 27, 2004 the Tampa Bay Lightning acquired D DARRYL SYDOR and Columbus’ fourth-round pick in the 2004 Entry Draft (D MIKE LUNDIN) from Columbus for C ALEXANDER SVITOV and Tampa Bay’s third-round pick in 2004 (later traded to Calgary). This trade was completed 40 days before the trade deadline and the only move the Lightning needed to make.

The 31-year old Sydor brought with him the experience of having appeared in three Stanley Cup Finals, including playing with a championship team in Dallas in 1999.

On March 9, 2006 the Carolina Hurricanes acquired RW MARK RECCHI from Pittsburgh for LW NIKLAS NORDGREN, C KRYS KOLANOS and Carolina’s second-round choice in 2007 (later traded to San Jose).

The 38-year-old Recchi, who had won a Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 1991, had 16 points (7-9–16) during the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including six points in the Final against Edmonton. He scored the game-winning goal in Game 4 that put Carolina up 3-1 in the series. The Hurricanes had also added a key piece to the puzzle on Jan. 30 when they acquired Doug Weight from St. Louis (along with Erkki Rajamaki) for Jesse Boulerice, Michael Zigomanis, Magnus Kahnberg and a first-round draft choice.

February 27, 2007 the Anaheim Ducks got out and toughen up by acquiring LW BRAD MAY from Colorado for G MICHAEL WALL.

A veteran of 15 NHL seasons and 932 regular-season and Stanley Cup playoff games, May brought plenty of experience to the Anaheim lineup for the stretch drive. The 35-year-old Toronto native appeared in 18 of the Ducks’ 21 postseason games as the franchise won its first Stanley Cup championship.

February 26, 2008 the Detroit Red Wings sured up their defence when they acquired D BRAD STUART from Los Angeles for Detroit’s 2nd-round pick in the 2008 Entry Draft (later traded to Colorado) and 4th-round pick in 2009.

Stuart arrived in Detroit with more than 500 games of NHL experience and quickly formed an effective blueline partnership with hard-hitting Niklas Kronwall. Stuart appeared in all 21 Red Wings’ playoff games in their 2008 Stanley Cup campaign, tallying seven points (one goal, six assists). He ranked third in the NHL with a +15 rating, just behind Kronwall and Conn Smythe Trophy winner Henrik Zetterberg (+16).

March 4, 2009 – Pittsburgh Penguins acquired RW BILL GUERIN from NY Islanders for a
conditional pick in the 2009 Entry Draft.

The Penguins brought in a high-scoring wing for center Sidney Crosby at the trade deadline for
the second consecutive season, having benefited from the acquisition of Marian Hossa a year
earlier. In Guerin, the Penguins added a 17-year NHL veteran with 408 goals, 811 points and a
Stanley Cup ring. He made a major contribution to the Penguins’ Cup drive, recording seven
goals and 15 points in the postseason.

The Penguins also acquired W Christ Kunitz and prospect Eric Tangradi about a week before the trade deadline for D Ryan Whitney.

If there’s one thing you can take away from all of these trades, it’s that you don’t need to make a blockbuster deal to win the Cup. All of these moves were depth moves. Insurance plans for the long playoff run.

Topics: Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils, NHL Deals, NHL Trade Deadline Deals, Pittsburgh Penguins, Stanley Cup Champions, Tampa Bay Lightning, Trade Deadline