The Expendables
Here’s a list of major players acquired by the past 10 years of Stanley Cup champions at the deadline the season they won the cup.
David Savard
Barclay Goodrow
Blake Coleman
Michael Del Zotto
Mark Streit
Justin Schultz
Kimmo Timonen
Antoine Vermette
Marian Gaborik
Brayden McNabb
Michal Handzus
Jeff Carter
Not to slight the other players, but Jeff Carter stands out here. Carter was a star player that gave the Kings a crucial boost on their way to a seemingly improbable Stanley Cup. Carter’s trade was different from many of these for a key reason; term. Carter was locked up on a multi-year contract and remained with the Kings for another two seasons, when he added yet another trophy to the Kings’ cabinet.
Arguments can be made that Marian Gaborik belongs in that class as well, given his contributions in the top 6 during the Kings’ 2014 Stanley Cup run. Just like Carter, Gaborik also stayed in LA after his trade to the west coast, signing an extension after the finals victory.
That’s the crucial difference between the two at the time and this year’s Claude Giroux. Giroux is undoubtedly the sexiest name available at the trade deadline this season, as Taylor Hall was two years ago, and players like Ryan Miller and Kevin Shattenkirk have been in the past. A who’s who of who didn’t make the conference finals. There’s something to be said for continuity, or at least the promise of it. Giroux would be coming into the Panthers locker room with so much on his mind; reflections on his 1000th game, a first ever appearance for a non-Flyers team, being away from his family (or having to move them), and the state of his future playing career.
Is it naive to ask if these types of distractions have kept past players traded as “rentals” from succeeding on their new teams?
Giroux will need to lock in and absorb 8 months full of coaching and integration into the Panthers system in less than 2 months. With his future (and past) weighing on his mind, is that going to be easy for him to accomplish?
Jeff Carter came to L.A. with his future secure, not needing to have it weighing on his mind during the playoffs. Marian Gaborik was playing for a new contract in L.A. The Panthers cap crunch doesn’t really seem to grant them that opportunity with Giroux.