There have been six recent trades in the NHL that have to do with the expansion draft and I am going to recap them all with my opinion on who won the trade. Some of these trades if not all of them might not have happened if there was no expansion draft.
Capitals receive: Tyler Graovac
Wild receive: 2018 5th round pick
This trade was based on the expansion draft as the Capitals traded for Graovac so they could protect two of Tom Wilson, Lars Eller and Jay Beagle. They needed to leave two forwards unprotected who have played 70 career NHL games or 40 games last year and Graovac reached those requirements. The Wild did not use Graovac much and he was most likely not going to make the roster. Graovac will probably not be taken in the draft and could compete for fourth-line minutes.
Winner: Capitals
Canadiens receive: Jonathan Drouin, 2018 6th round pick (conditional)
Lightning receive: Mikhail Sergachev, 2018 2nd round pick (conditional)
Jonathan Drouin is a star in the making and will help the Montreal team which has struggled to score goals the last couple of seasons. Drouin has been the centre of trade rumors ever since he was banished to the AHL in 2014/15 and has not got along well with Steve Yzerman and management since. The expansion draft played a part in this trade too as Tampa wanted to protect someone young such as Vladislav Namestnikov. Mikhail Sergachev is a great young defenceman who will one day turn into a star so the Bolts got good return on the trade.
Winner: Canadiens
Coyotes receive: Nick Cousins, Merrick Madsen
Flyers receive: Brendan Warren, 2018 5th round pick
Nick Cousins could be a solid fourth-line centre for the rebuilding Coyotes as he was a solid depth forward for the Flyers last season. The Flyers likely want to play guys like Scott Laughton, Jordan Weal and Taylor Leier ahead of him and that is why the trade was made. The Flyers might have also thought Cousins could be lost in the upcoming expansion draft.
Winner: Coyotes
Canadiens receive: 2017 3rd round pick
Sabres receive: Nathan Beaulieu
The Canadiens most likely got rid of this young defenceman because they wanted to protect Alexei Emelin and thought Vegas would snag Beaulieu. The Sabres defence needs a lot of work after Rasmus Ristolainen and Bealieu will be able to play top four minutes. The Sabres had no defenceman to protect after Ristolainen and Jake McCabe and will probably hope for Zach Bogosian to be picked as he has disappointed since his trade from Winnipeg.
Winner: Sabres
Coyotes receive: Chad Johnson, Brandon Hickey, 3rd round pick (conditional)
Flames receive: Mike Smith
Brian Elliott was a huge disappointment for Calgary last year so Flames GM Brad Treliving decided to do something about it. Mike Smith is 35 and makes $5.66 million for two more years, some of it being retained by Arizona but he made the all-star team last year and his puck-moving ability will help this up-and-coming Flames team. John Chayka probably wanted to protect Louis Domingue because he will continue to improve and quite possibly will be a solid starter one day. Considering the Flames only gave up a 3rd, Chad Johnson who is a UFA and was not likely to be resigned as well as defensive prospect Brandon Hickey who has shown decent potential makes the move worth it.
Winner: Flames
Devils receive: Mirco Mueller, 2017 5th round pick
Sharks receive: 2017 2nd round pick, 2017 4th round pick
Mirco Mueller was once a very promising prospect for the Sharks but he no longer shows that same flash to be a top defenceman. That aside he still has decent top four potential and Doug Wilson in San Jose made this trade because Vegas will be looking for young defenceman. The Devils defence needs lots of work and getting a young defenceman who should crack the team next year is a good investment for them.
Winner: Devils
Photo credit for Jonathan Drouin photo goes to http://www.tsn.ca/ and credit for Mike Smith goes to http://www.cbssports.com/
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