Deadline Day: Are Big Deals Worth the Cost?

As I grow older and more mature (stop snickering), I'm beginning to see the folly of a team, on Deadline Day, spending major assets for a playoff rental. Yes, D-Day is always hyped to the max, and gets fans drooling at the prospect of seeing their team get the likes of Marian Hossa, Peter Forsberg, or Mats Sundin to put their team over the top.

Like Tom Benjamin notes over at his blog, rarely does spending the farm on a short-term rental ever really help a team do big things. Last season, we saw the Isles give up lots for Ryan Smyth and the Thrashers do the same for Keith Tkachuk. Both teams fell flat on their asses in the first round, although some would argue that just getting the teams into the playoffs, and one round of lucrative playoff revenue, was the justification for screwing the team's future.

Think of building a house. A good house takes time to plan, and the foundation is laid early in the design choices one makes. You can't simply stick some Sears Aluminum siding on the outside of a stucco monstrosity and expect it to turn into a million-dollar mansion, can you?

Looking back at the eventual Stanley Cup winning teams reveals a noticeable trend: The great teams don't need to do much at the deadline. Great terms are built during the off-season, or earlier in the season, rather than February and March.

2007 - Anaheim: Anaheim obtains F Brad May from Colorado for G Michael Wall, obtains D Doug O'Brien from Tampa Bay for D Joe Rullier. Dealing for a 4th line thug was hardly making waves, but the Ducks already had a great team, and Burke just wanted some toughness.

2006 - Carolina: Carolina obtains veteran RW Mark Recchi from Pittsburgh for LW Niklas Nordgren, C Krys Kolanos and Carolina's second-round choice in 2007. One of the few big deals made by a deadline team, Recchi was more icing on the cake, and spent most of his time on the third line with Doug Weight.

2004 - Tampa Bay: Nothing of note. Their big late-season deal occurred on January 27th, when they acquired Daryl Sydor for a draft pick. This was 40 days before the deadline.

2003 - New Jersey: New Jersey acquires Atlanta defenseman Richard Smehlik, but he plays only five games. A black ace, nothing more.

2002 - Detroit: Detroit was quiet during the season. Its best move is trading for Buffalo goalie Dominik Hasek in July.

2001 - Colorado: Nothing on deadline day. Their big deal was 20 days prior, acquiring Rob Blake and his big slapshot.

2000 - New Jersey: New Jersey Devils obtain RW Alexander Mogilny from Vancouver for C Brendan Morrison and C Denis Pederson. Finally, a truly big deal on deadline day that helped both teams (although Mogilny got only seven points in 23 playoff games that season). Mogilny helped push the Devils over the top while Morrison became a key cog between the Naslund-Bertuzzi combo. Looking at both sides, it was more than simply a rental deal, and not typical of your average deadline deal.

1999 - Dallas: Dallas reacquires Benoit Hogue a few days before the deadline, but that just adds depth. Their free agent signing of Brett Hull in the summer is the biggest transaction. Again, the Stars were already a fine team, and simply added a Black Ace.

So, I would conclude that any team that spends a vast amount of resources on Deadline Day isn't going to be significantly better than they were 24 hours prior. Hockey is a game that requires a great deal of chemistry, and plopping in a new shiny star player into a new environment is hardly a cure-all panacea. GM's need to avoid the public pressure and do what is best for the club. Sometimes, not making a significant move might be the best option.