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The NHL Trade Deadline was today and being in Canada it was the only thing on all 6 sports channels on my satellite package, and I was off of school so I watched and there were some amazing deals for the buyers, and horrible trades for the sellers.

The Columbus Blue Jackets, who were looking like a bottom seed coming out of the West, traded their captin and best defensemen, Adam Foote to the Avalanche for a coulpe of draft picks. What was an even worse trade was trading Sergei Fedorov, a former Hart Trophy winner, for a guy going to the Notre Dame, Theo Ruth who better not be Bambino sized. Foote and Fedorov are both unrestricted Free Agents next year and are likely rent-a-players, NHL lingo for players who play the twenty games left in the season and playoffs, then bolt for a new team once July 1st comes around. The Caps, who also added Matt Cooke and Christobal Huet now have a great shot to win the division from the injury plagued Carolinia Hurricanes, but what bothers me is that the Blue Jackets would betray their fans and trade away two of their best players for prospects and draft picks when they had a shot to give their loyal fans the chance to see their first playoff appearance. With so many teams having poor attendance things like this show me why that is.

The Dallas Stars picked up Brad Richards and goalie Johan Holmqvist in exchange for goalie Neil Smith, shootout master Jussi Jokinen, and Jeff Halpern. The Stars are obviously gunning for one shot at the cup because it is unlikely that Richards will stay in Dallas for long. Even with Richards the Stars have little chance to win the Cup and come out of the Wild Wild Western Conference.

The Sharks added defensemen Brian Campbell from Buffalo in exchange for Steve Bernier and a first round draft pick. The Sharks, who have been struggling, now can challenge Anaheim and Detroit in the playoffs, but like Dallas will fall short.

Now let's go to the East, where the Huet deal I already mentioned needs to be adressed. People are saying it is a mistake for the Cup contender Canadians to to this trade, but Carey Price is a winner, they have won Cups with rookie goalies, I'm not saying he is Ken Dryden or Patrick Roy, but they need to develop their young goalie and playing in the minors and making spot appearances as a backup isn't going to work. Good move for Montreal.

The Penguins made the most suprising deal of the day aquiring Marian Hossa for Eric Christiensen, Colby Armstrong, and a prospect. This is a likely rental player deal because the Pens can't keep all their young stars under the cap. Hossa, Malkin, and the returning Sidney Crosby looks like the scariest line in the East. I have them giving the Senators and Montreal a run for their money, but they will have to resign Hossa for another year if they want win a cup.

That is my thoughts feel free to comment or challenge me to a throwdown. Have a good one.