First Star, Worst Star: March 1, 2015
By jeanshorts
9 years ago
Spring is almost here! The trade deadline is almost here! First Star, Worst Star? It’s here RIGHT NOW!
FIRST STAR
The Toronto Maple Leafs.
Look, I’m just as surprised as most of you are. But damn, that move to get rid of Clarkson’s contract? That was DAMN shrewd, whichever one of the 35 GMs/Assistant GMs came up with that (looking at you Dubas).
And, I mean, you have to hand it to Jarmo Kekalainen as well. I know we’ve all spent the last season and a half mercilessly mocking Clarkson and his hilarious contract, but at the end of the day the Blue Jackets now have a player to actually put in their lineup, who, while probably never reaching the heights of his 2011-12 campaign can still reasonably be expected to contribute as a third line player. And don’t think even the most ardent Clarkson hater can argue that is less valuable than continuing to pay for a player who will probably and unfortunately never play in another NHL game.
This is the rare trade that will definitely work for both teams, and it’s a great example of the way financial clout can help a big-money team buy its way out of jams. Toronto’s ownership deserves credit for spending the money. Leafs management deserves credit for finding a creative way out of a bad situation.
WORST STAR
Trade Deadline Fervor. It happens every year, and I’m just as guilty of it as anyone. We circle trade deadline day on our calendar. We all place our bets as to who is going to have the worst TV coverage, even though it doesn’t really matter because we’ll see everything on Twitter minutes before they report it on TV. Some of us even take the day off (looking at you Matt)! And then about 5 days prior to the deadline GMs start making all sorts of trades, ruining the anticipation, and generally leaving very little to actually happen on trade deadline day itself.
And on top of that when was the last time there was really an earth shattering trade? Gaborik to the Kings was pretty exciting, but mostly just because of what it added to an already stacked Kings team. We always hope something insane is going to happen, but as is standard in the NHL these days everyone plays it fairly safe. And in recent years it seems most of the big names trades happen in the week leading up to deadline day.
Which is why I say we start acting like spoiled 16 year olds and start celebrating Trade Deadline Week! It has all the fun of trade deadline day, but spread out over the course of 7 straight days! There will be highs, there will be lows, we’ll all take the week off of work and then have to find new jobs. It’ll be great! WHO’S WITH ME?!? *deafening silence*
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