Lightning give up on Alexeev (and other moves)
Nikita Alexeev has been traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for DefensivemanLeft Wing Karl Stewart and a sixth round pick. Details to follow as well as linkage.
UPDATE #1: Stewart is another younger player (23) with only 50+ NHL games to his credit. He has 5 points and 45 PIM this season in 37 games with the Blackhawks. He’s an enforcer for sure with some scoring knack from his junior days but not a huge offensive threat. He is not a huge guy (5′11″, 185 Lbs) but he is willing to drop them and I assume throw his weight around.
…Unlike Alexeev.
Credited as one of Rick Dudley’s “Soft Euro” draft picks, Nikita has never utilized his size (6′5″, 227 Lbs) to his advantage to drive to the net. I always figured that was the role the Lightning anticipated Alexeev to grow into — sort of a Fredrik Modin with more.
But it didn’t work out that way. Though Alexeev has registered a career high in goals and assists this season (10 / 11) he hasn’t used his size to his advantage and that has hurt the Lightning at times.
2ND UPDATE Jason Ward has been acquired from the Los Angeles Kings for a fifth round pick. He’s a former first round pick from the Montreal Canadiens. I’m actually at a loss to figure this one out. Ward’s a right wing and I am unfamiliar with his career. He’s not a goal scorer (28 points is his career high), he’s not an enforcer. Someone please do me a favor and enlighten me on this move — why Ward?
3RD UPDATE: I get the Alexeev deal. I initially wrote some shocked remarks about the trade (because I was misreading TSN.CA’s draft tracker) but I understand this move. Alexeev is a big price to pay but a I said above, he never lived up to expectations. Stewart comes in with more NHL experience than minor league tough guys like Mitch Fritz. He is the gritty winger that Jay was after. He is also able to be a part of the organization for a while if he earns his keep.
That’s the one thing in the O’Brien and Stewart deals that makes me very happy — both additions are not going for veteran grit, veteran costs and what not. They were long term acquisitions. They’re technically still kids. While you see other teams adding veterans in a traditional push — we’re adding young role players to round out the veterans we already have.
It’s almost as if Jay Feaster read me loud and clear.
4th UPDATE: TSN.ca’s player profile for Ward sheds more light on why Feaster would have picked him up:
Assets Works hard every shift and knows how to take care of his own end. Doesn’t mind playing a crash-and-bang style. Is a quality teammate.
Flaws Doesn’t own top-end skating ability, which hurts his level of production. Has had trouble finding his niche in the NHL. Is too inconsistent.
Career potential Checking line forward.
Rob Dimaio anyone?
Loading ...
February 27th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Hmmm. I was just in Chicago at a Hawks game last weekend, and Stewart isn’t even listed in the program. Not convinced that’s a good move, as Alexeev was our +/- leader and does have speed. But I can see that #15 hasn’t been doing much for us lately.
February 27th, 2007 at 10:22 pm
I think Stewart and O’Brien are great additions for the long haul. They have grit and are not afraid to check opponents. That is what Feaster was looking for and that is what the fans want. (Fans recent chant: We want Roy! We want Roy!) Ward may not be a bad fit either. He can take the hits and can give as good as he gets. If he can gel with his linemates and learn the Lightnings system he might be that last gritty cog our wheel needs. Tortorella hasn’t been happy with Alexeev so I am not surprised that he was a casualty of trade day.
February 28th, 2007 at 9:35 am
I recently noticed that the Lightning do not have a single forward with a right-handed shot. Boyle and Sarich (if I recall correctly) are the only right-handed shots on the whole team.
I’m not sure how critical an issue this is, since I never played hockey myself. But it appears that without a right-handed forward, Tampa has no one to take one-timers from the left circle the way Vinny does from the right circle. This is probably why we see Boyle down low on the left now and then on the power play.
My point in all this is that Ward is a right-handed shot. Maybe that was something that boosted his attractiveness.
February 28th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
More bangers. I like it. Bad start for O’Brian and his skate.
Yes a right handed shot is important. You pointed perfectly as to why. Also a left hander player cutting around the net from the right with the puck on his backhand is a disadvantage, It’s much harder to lean into the defender and control the puck with it on the backhand plus when you pop around the other side the puck is on the backhand making for a much harder and reduced field of vision shot or pass than being on the forehand. But there are occasions when a right handed left winger is an advantage, for instance streaking up the right allows for a cut back to the middle for a quick shot also being naturally set up for the one timer.
Long road trip ahead, could make or break us.
February 28th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
It’s sad that the Lightning have the mindset to create a team full of grinders. Stewart was a player that was put on waivers several times this year because he wasn’t good enough to make a roster spot!( Pitt, Anaheim, Chicago) What players are going to actually win the games for us? We have 4 scoring forwards and the rest are grinders or players that haven’t really put up big numbers: Tarnasky, Wanvig, Taylor, Dimaio, Ward, Stewart, Roy, Karlsson. If we keep dealing great players like Modin, Stillman, Aleexev, Kubina, then we won’t have any depth in the playoffs if anyone gets hurt. The game last night against Dalls shows the lack of offensive that we have. We can’t rely on our top 3 players to win all of our games. If we do it will be a short exit out of the playoffs. The best possible move would have been to get rid of Denis and try and pick up a real goaltender who can compete with Holmqvist. I mean Philly picked up Biron for a 2nd round pick. The Bolts missed the boat on this one!
February 28th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
Im a hawks fan and i have to say that im kind of dissapointed to see stewert go. He may not have alot of goals or he may not even be on the program but he was crafty little guy who brought a spark to his team. Ive watched him play all year and he was one of my favorite players. Hes not affraid to hit anyone and he will throw it down if it will lite a spark for his team. I think he could fit in anywhere and i wish him the best of luck in tampa.
February 28th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
I agree with the lightning on everything, accept giving up Aleexev for nothing! What you got in return isn’t going to help the team. Aleexev may have been in the doghouse, but years ago Lecavalier was in Tortorella’s doghouse and he got through it. I would rather scratch Aleexev or tell him to hit someone every shift and when he does, reward him. The lightning don’t have an abundance prospect that have his talent and up side. I didn’t think that Aleexev was doing worse than Karlsson. My point is keeping him wouldn’t have hurt the team. He’s a talented player that is coming in under the radar, that can help production on the 3rd or 4th line. The depth you want for the playoffs.
February 28th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Alexeev has been in the Lightning doghouse since shortly after he made it to the NHL. It isn’t a single season instance — he had not lived up to his expectations in Tampa Bay.
He is having his best season ever this year, that is something worth addressing… But it’s 21 points and no goals in 29 games.
I wish him well (and with some of the comments about Stewart, I’m seeing this as the “overpaying” that Feaster talked about over the weekend) but perhaps in a different system and in a different franchise, he’ll reach his potential that lead to Dudley taking him so high in the draft?
February 28th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
This was definitely a bad trade deadline day for the bolts. A number of fantastic players of whom were affordable could have been aquireddes by the Bolts for about the same price that they spent on one rookie unexperianced defenseman. If Jay Feaster acted on the recommendations of the Bolts scouts then Management ought to take a good look at firing all of them. This is two years in a row that Uncle Feaster has screwed the Bolts cup chances at the trade deadline. I for one am very disappointed at the Bolts for making these lame excuses for trades when the core of players we have have worked so hard all year long to get where they are, then to get no help what-so-ever from management. If the Bolts even make the playoffs this year I will bet money they will probably go down in the first round again due to lack of talented depth. Its unbelievable because all they needed was one or two decent forwards. Getting rid of RFA Alexeev was extremely stupid, when after all he was a first round pick. What kind of stupidity can we look forward to next year? Getting Rid of Marty or Vinny for a 5th round pick? I say there needs to be some corrections to the general managers office…my god, bring back Phil Esposito before this idiot sells the farm.
February 28th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
And what would it of cost us long term Tim?
You think like the Cap doesn’t exist. Like draft picks and prospects mean nothing compared to what TSN/ESPN happen to say about XX player. Newsflash — the NHL changed with thanks to the Cap. There isn’t room to bring in a player that commands a big salary. There isn’t leeway to add too much to this roster in order to keep Vinny, Brad and Marty around. Some people are ready to trade one of those three but the majority of the fans don’t want to see any of them gone.
Last thing we needed was a Phil-Esposito like raiding of the cupboard for a quick fix / addition that screwed the franchise long term. One cup run doesn’t outweigh contention year in, and year out. You just have to look at the Bucs in Football and see what ruination you can do to the franchise by going for one Super Bowl. They’re largely out of contention now with thanks to Jon Gruden and what they gave up for him.
March 1st, 2007 at 1:14 am
I consider them good temp moves for the playoffs where lets not pretend everything doesn’t get rougher and rougher as things progress. At the same time these acquisitions are decent long term prospects. As for Alexeev, he’s clearly been a Ralph Sampson who plays well “short” of his potential, so giving him up for anything decent while he’s on the end of a who can count anymore game scoring drought is a good move. Hell, Ranger has more points than him. And what’s up?, we’ve got some great forwards besides the big 3, Prospal, Craig, Fedotenko, Perrin all are reliable guys. As for the rest, name one team whose bottom of the line-up is putting up big numbers and isn’t full of bangers, last year vets, and prospects. If anything we’re missing just one more solid defenseman, and you can’t have everything. Water under the bridge now. As a great idiot once said, you go to war with the army you have.
March 1st, 2007 at 1:50 am
Good points John. I understand that there is a cap and understand we don’t want to throw away our future either. But give up a first round pick for a Rookie eigth round defenseman who hasn’t even proven himself yet. Then the other guys are the same as if you would have went down to the AHL and brought up the farm team. So, why didn’t Uncle Feaster just call up the AHL guys, load up the Springfield Falcons with and then fill Springfield with ever who’s left that cleared waivers. What about our current goal tending situation? You don’t think that this isn’t a big Feaster blunder as well? If it wasn’t for lucking out with the back up Holmqvist, we would be in last place.
In case you haven’t looked at it in a while, this year’s schedule is not in favor of the BOLTS to make the play-offs . Atlanta and Carolina both have it allot easier than the Bolts and allot easier than most down the stretch. All I’m saying is there was enough cap space to bring in several people who could have made a difference by augmenting our superior talent. Olrg Saprikin, Matin Gelinas and others were available. I bet you next year that the scenario repeats itself again and again. The Bolts haven’t done anything to help their present situation or their future. What if one of our big three gets injured, then who do you rely on? Other Teams have figured out that if you want to win a Cup in the in the Salary Cap NHL that you are going to have to rely on rental players to get you there. As much as I hate to say it Carolina got it right last year and we got it wrong and probably did this year as well. The way in which we won the cup in 2004 will not fly as long as this CBA is in place. You got to make trades…staying at the top is only a 5 or 6 year span. Look at Philly, Detroit, Edmonton, Colorado whomever. They all had runs at being top dog and now they are rebuilding as well. But they still trade to make their teams better if they think they have a chance at a playoff run…heck, some teams traded to at least have a stab at making the playoffs.