NHL Power Rankings: Grading all 30 GMs

The price for Keith Yandle was steep — count me a believer of Anthony Duclair’s — but you gotta push all-in when the East is this wide-open, your big gun (Rick Nash) is having a career year and your team knows what losing in the Cup final tastes like. Nice extension for Mats Zuccarello, too.
GM grade: B+

GM Bob Murray was on a search to land a defenceman, and he found one in the Blue Jackets’ top-scoring D-man, James Wisniewski. Korbinian Holzer and Simon Despres were also brought in for depth. And Tomas Fleischmann is useful up front. Consider it a disappointment if the Ducks don’t win two rounds.
GM grade: B

GM David Poile beat the deadline rush by adding Leafs rentals Mike Santorelli and Cody Franson, and now has arguably the deepest defence in the league. The team has lost four straight, though.
GM grade: A

Marc Bergevin put in work. When your goalie is having a season like Carey Price’s, it’s incumbent on you to give your team a shot. The additions of Jeff Petry, Torrey Mitchell, Brian Flynn and Devante Smith-Pelly deepen the roster at both ends of the ice.
GM grade: A

The Ian Cole and Ben Lovejoy additions give a little depth on the blueline, which could be significant if injuries strike, but GM Jim Rutherford’s best move was made way back in January. David Perron has flourished since escaping Edmonton.
GM grade: B-

With Kevin Shattenkirk on the shelf, the Blues — already solid on the blueline — added defencemen Zbynek Michalek and Robert Bortuzzo. Who knows how much ice time new centre Olli Jokinen will get, but it’s a nice story that he’ll finally experience his seventh playoff game.
GM grade: B

Not willing to meet the Maple Leafs’ price for Dion Phaneuf, the Red Wings opted for the Devils’ Marek Zidlicky, a cheap rental with a right shot — and he already scored an OT winner. Ken Holland also took Erik Cole off his old pal Jim Nill’s hands. Cole is on pace for a 25-goal campaign. Nice moves both.
GM grade: A-

Although Dean Lombardi was unsuccessful in finding a buyer for his nastiest contract (wonder if Mike Richards for Nathan Horton was ever discussed at the Kings office…), he did rent the best defenceman on the market in Andrej Sekera for a first-round pick.
GM grade: B-

If you go by the “whoever gets the best player wins the trade” maxim, then Steve Yzerman’s acquisition of Braydon Coburn was great. But two picks (including a first-rounder) and Radko Gudas was a ton to pay. If Tampa doesn’t win a couple playoff rounds, this will be seen as a mistake.
GM grade: C

Chuck Fletcher won deadline day if only because of the Jordan Leopold acquisition, inspired by a come-home letter written by the player’s daughter — a frontrunner for greatest hockey story of the season. Right up there with the resurgence of Devan Dubnyk. The Wild have won three straight and are in playoff position. Karma!
GM grade: A

Garth Snow’s heavy lifting was done in the fall, but swapping out goalie Chad Johnson (.889 save percentage) for Michal Neuvirth (.918) was brilliant. Helped the Sabres in their goal to lose every game, too.
GM grade: A-

A second- and a third-round pick for Curtis Glencross, one of the better forwards available, only looks good if the winger can quickly adapt to the Caps’ lineup and get back to his 20-goal form. Renting Tim Gleason was a safe move — adds a little blueline insurance.
GM grade: C

The Blackhawks wasted zero time making use of the cap space provided by the Patrick Kane injury and scooped up the best available centre, Antoine Vermette, at the expense of a first-round pick, as well as veteran defenceman Kimmo Timonen. Chicago is living for the now.
GM grade: B+

Playing some of their best hockey of the season, the Senators stood pat despite an outside shot at a wild-card spot. Like the lock-up of Marc Methot. Now Bryan Murray must find fair deals for sudden standouts Andrew Hammond, Mark Stone and Mike Hoffman, all RFAs this summer.
GM grade: C

The Canucks essentially sat out deadline day, acquiring a pair of not-quite-ready forwards who’ve had their moments: Sven Baertschi from the Flames and Cory Conacher from the Islanders. Smart, low-risk moves that could pay off down the road, but do nothing for this playoff run.
GM grade: C+

The season-ender for Mark Giordano must’ve changed things for Brad Treliving’s Flames, who are evidently exercising patience and learning from past mistakes. They recouped picks for Curtis Glencross and Sven Baertschi, who would’ve walked; last year, they held on to Mike Cammalleri for nothing.
GM grade: A-

The Jets’ quick snap-up of Jiri Tlusty should help scoring, and Lee Stempniak adds some help up front. They hung on to Michael Frolik, though it’s unclear if he’ll remain in Winnipeg for the long haul. The Evander Kane deal is the biggie, though, and Tyler Myers looks rejuvenated.
GM grade: B+

GM Doug Wilson fiddled with the fringes of his roster, moving Tyler Kennedy and Andrew Desjardins out. And so we continue to wait for the point when the team is forced to make a significant change. Three points out of a playoff spot, that time is near.
GM grade: C-

The now-injured Brett Connolly (six weeks, broken finger) for two second-round picks and forwards Maxime Talbot and Paul Carey? That won’t cut it. The Bruins, however, have won back-to-back while the chasing Panthers lost goalies back-to-back.
GM grade: C

Nifty little return for Erik Cole, whose good contract year helped Jim Nill’s future. There’s potential in Mattias Backman and Mattas Janmark, plus a second-round pick.
GM grade: B+

Willie Mitchell will disagree, and the Panthers would be fun to watch in the post-season (love me some Jagr!), but I don’t see them squeezing in. Dale Tallon figured he was a buyer, and it’s a good thing he only gave away picks, not prospects. Tomas Kopecky and Scottie Upshall weren’t moved; they could walk this summer. This is a team with a minus-25 goal differential (second-worst in the East) and two injured goalies.
GM grade: B-

Minor movement here as the Avalanche didn’t mess with a core it thinks can win in a couple years. The big revelation is Patrick Roy coming out in favour of Ryan O’Reilly, previously believed to have a fractured relationship with the team.
GM grade: C

Ron Hextall smartly recognized this team is not built for or performing like a playoff run is in the cards. So he made a nice haul for Braydon Coburn: two draft picks and Radko Gudas. Philly hasn’t always been so self-aware at this time of year.
GM grade: A

Nice return for a couple of UFAs, Jaromir Jagr and Marek Zidlicky, but you can’t help but wonder how close they were to finding new homes for Michael Ryder, Martin Havlat, Scott Gomez, etc., etc.
GM grade: C

The Hurricanes beat the deadline with their big moves, dealing away Jiri Tlusty and Andrej Sekera, and scooping a first-rounder. Tim Gleason was traded away (again), a couple prospects were added, and Ron Francis extended Jay McClement.
GM grade: B+

Dave Nonis has been putting in work. Regardless of return or method, he found a way to trade David Clarkson and all his non-returning free agents, save David Booth. Plus, he didn’t move Phil Kessel or Dion Phanuef when their stock is low.
GM grade: B+

James Wisniewski and Nathan Horton are off the books, David Clarkson (game misconduct and injury already) is on, and prospect William Karlsson (via Ducks) could turn into something. But why didn’t they insure Horton in the first place?!
GM grade: C+

The Oilers’ return for defenceman Jeff Petry, sent to Montreal? A (probably very late) second-rounder in 2015 and a conditional fifth-rounder. Not great.
GM grade: D

The Sabres’ ability to sell is incredible. That Tim Murray dealt both of his goalies away and is now operating a tandem of Anders Lindback and Chad Johnson means the most balls in the lottery are all but assured. If the odds don’t pay off, though, this will look ugly.
GM grade: A-

Arizona has lost 10 in a row and only got weaker, dealing Antoine Vermette, Keith Yandle and Zbynek Michalek. The return was great: Anthony Duclair is going to be a player, and the two firsts and a second in a solid draft year is something.
GM grade: A