“Ken? Steve here. Let’s make another deal.”
In le s than 24 hours, Ken Holland and Steve Yzerman, two general managers who go way back to the late ’90s and threeStanley Cups when the former was the Red Wings GM and the latter his captain, made a second swap hours before the NHL trade deadline.
First, as the clock was striking midnight on Feb. 24, Yzerman sent Holland defenseman Mike Green and Austin Watson Jersey then, around mid-afternoon on Monday, the two made another swap sending the speedyAndreas Athanasiou to Alberta. This move is a big one for the Oilers, who need a skilled, speedy forward to play with Connor McDavid.
Oilers received from New Jersey Devils Jersey Detroit:
Andreas Athanasiou (F) and Ryan Kuffner (F)
Red Wings received from Edmonton
Sam Gagner (F), 2020 second-round pick and 2021 second-round pick
Oilers grade: A-
The Oilers faithful can no longer say their team didn’t do anything at the trade deadline with the team acquiring one of the fastest skaters in the league not named Connor McDavid. This season, the 25-year-old forward has 10 goals and 14 a sists in 46 games; not great numbers, however, keep in mind last year he did post a 30-goal season and this year’s Red Wings team is terrible.
Sure, he is a league-worst minus-45 in plus/minus rating, but that’s a number that’s highly skewed and again, not unexpected considering how bad Detroit is. His CF% Matt Cullen Jersey is somewhat respectable at 44.73 percent this season, although GF% leaves little to be desired (25.40), per Natural Stat Trick. Both should rise considering he’ll beplaying alongside McDavid who elevates everyone’s game around him or the NHL’s point leader, Leon Draisaitl.
Despite it all, the Oilers are battling for a top spot in the Pacific Division and with the addition of Athanasiou, Green and Tyler Ennis from the Senators, the Oilers may finally be primed for a long playoff run.