The National Hockey League (NHL) is a highly competitive professional sports league, and teams are always looking for ways to improve their rosters. One of the most popular methods for doing so is through midseason trades involving star players. This season, two of the biggest names to be involved in midseason trades were Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane and St. Louis Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko. In this article, we will analyze the impact that these trades have had on both teams.
The first trade involved Kane being sent to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for forward Marcus Johansson, defenseman Henri Jokiharju, and a 2021 first-round draft pick. This move was seen as a win-win for both teams, as the Blackhawks were able to shed salary and acquire a young defenseman and a first-round pick, while the Sabres were able to add a star player to their roster.
Since the trade, Kane has been a major contributor for the Sabres. He has scored 11 goals and added 18 assists in just 22 games with the team, and he has been a major factor in helping the Sabres stay in contention for a playoff spot. The trade has also had a positive impact on the team’s overall performance, as they have gone 11-7-4 since Kane joined the team.
The second trade involved Tarasenko being sent to the Washington Capitals in exchange for forward Jakub Vrana, defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler, and a 2021 first-round draft pick. This move was seen as a win-win for both teams, as the Blues were able to acquire two young players and a first-round pick, while the Capitals were able to add an elite scorer to their roster.
Since the trade, Tarasenko has been a major contributor for the Capitals. He has scored nine goals and added 10 assists in just 15 games with the team, and he has been a major factor in helping the Capitals stay in contention for a playoff spot. The trade has also had a positive impact on the team’s overall performance, as they have gone 11-3-1 since Tarasenko joined the team.
Overall, the midseason trades involving Kane and Tarasenko have had a positive impact on both teams. The Blackhawks and Blues were able to acquire young players and draft picks, while the Sabres and Capitals were able to add star players to their rosters. Both teams have seen an improvement in their performance since making these trades, and it will be interesting to see how they fare in the playoffs this season.
