A look at the biggest newsmakers of the 2015 Trade Deadline
10) Jordan Leopold’s Daughter
The trading of Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Leopold to his hometown Minnesota Wild offered up a more human look at the league. Spurred forth by an impassioned and adorable handwritten letter sent to the Blue Jackets brass by Leopold’s 11-year-old daughter Jordyn, in which she wrote that her dad was “very lonely without his family,” the 34-year-old Leopold was reunited with his daughter on March 3, as he was sent to the Wild in exchange for defencemen Justin Falk and a fifth-round pick.
Coined as one of the NHL’s most underrated players, Andrej Sekera was one of many moved at the 2015 Trade Deadline, exchanging his Carolina Hurricanes uniform for the black and white of the Los Angeles Kings.
9) Erik Cole
Size and grit is something every team needs come playoff time, and Cole supplies just that for a Detroit Red Wing team well-known for its smaller stature up front. Acquired from the Dallas Stars for two prospects and a 2015 second-round pick, Cole brings extensive playoff experience, including a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes won in 2006, to a Detroit team already loaded with it.
8) Jaromir Jagr
One of the many trades that occurred leading up to the March 3 deadline was one for ageless wonder Jagr, who is seemingly on a quest to play for every single NHL franchise before he retires. While many have joked that Jagr better belongs in one of South Beach’s many retirement communities than on the ice, there is no doubting that the 43-year-old still has plenty left to contribute for a Panthers team only two points back of a playoff spot.
7) Braydon Coburn
The Philadelphia Flyers traded defenceman Coburn to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Radko Gudas and a first and third-round draft pick in the 2015 draft, in the early morning of March 3. The addition of Coburn adds a steady veteran presence to a relatively inexperienced Tampa Bay defense corps.
6) Chris Stewart
Traded from the Buffalo Sabres for a 2017 second-round pick, Stewart is the kind of big, physical winger that every team covets in the playoffs. A two-time 28-goal-scorer in the NHL, Stewart will add some sandpaper and size to a Minnesota Wild team that is currently clinging to eighth place.
5) Antoine Vermette
With Patrick Kane down 12 weeks with a broken clavicle, the pressure fell on Blackhawks General Manager Stan Bowman to make a move to help replace some of Kane’s sorely missed offence. On Feb. 28, versatile forward Vermette of the Phoenix Coyotes was brought in to do just that, and while many have questioned whether the price of a 2015 first-round pick and prospect Klas Dahlbeck was too high, there is no doubting that Vermette will at least help to ease the loss of Kane.
4) Jeff Petry
Montreal did well to gain the serviceable defenceman for below what many thought he would fetch, only giving up a second and fifth-round pick in the 2015 draft to the Edmonton Oilers for Petry’s services.
3) Andrej Sekera
Many in the hockey world have placed Andrej Sekera atop their lists of most underrated players in the NHL. With the murky future of Slava Voynov in question, Los Angeles needed to make a move to shore up their blueline.
2) David Clarkson
If you’re a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, you most likely pinched yourself on Feb. 26to make sure you weren’t dreaming, as Leafs GM Dave Nonis traded heavily scrutinized winger Clarkson and his albatross contract to the Columbus Blue Jackets for former 30-goal-scorer and, essentially, retired winger Nathan Horton, saving Toronto long term cap space and giving both Clarkson and Toronto fans the fresh start that both sides desperately needed.
1) Keith Yandle
From the bottom dwelling Phoenix Coyotes, the Rangers acquired slick defenseman Keith Yandle, Chris Summers and a fourth-round pick. Going the other way was 2015 World Junior standout Anthony Duclair and a first and second round pick.