Looking back: 2009 NHL deadline

Part of a series looking at the legacy of the trade deadlines since the lockout. For the purposes of making the exercise more interesting, we consider any trade after the calendar changed years and don't just limit the discussion to the actual deadline day.

After a deadline period the previous year that saw Brad Richards, Marian Hossa and Brian Campbell switch jerseys, the 2009 period was rather underwhelming.

What the eventual champs did

Kunitz has been banged up a lot in Pittsburgh, but he's averaged almost three points for every four games when healthy. He earned his second Cup ring, having won with the Ducks in 2007. Tangradi could become a "tweener" who doesn't fully crack the NHL, but the Ducks didn't keep Whitney, trading him within a year to Edmonton for Lubomir Visnovsky.

Impactful trades

The Flames went for it, thinking they were serious West contenders. But injuries saw the Flames handled summarily in the last two games of a six game opening round series with Chicago.

These deals were impactful because they were part of a years-long process in which cavalierly trading picks or prospects hurt Calgary.

Leopold's second tenure in Calgary ended that summer. Wilson's no star, but has been on the Colorado blue-line for a few years now while the Avalanche with the pick selected Stefan Elliott, who made his NHL debut this year.

Jokinen is back with the Flames, but his 2009-10 season with the club was very disappointing. Phoenix used their pick in 2010 on Brandon Gormley, a Canadian world junior member this year. The Flames traded the pick they obtained to Florida. 

Clear verdict:

Jokinen was part of the mult-player deal of 2008 that saw Brad Richards head to Dallas. Jokinen scored just eight goals in 66 games with the Lightning, but caught on fire for the Hurricanes in the 2009 playoffs.

He followed that up with a 30-goal season in 2009-10, and while his production has tailed off steadily since, it's still a clear win for the Hurricanes.

Tampa Bay didn't retain the draft pick, for the record.

Recchi proved to have lots left in the tank, sticking around for the 2011 Cup victory. The second round pick was dealt by Boston in a deal to get defenceman Dennis Seidenberg, another key piece to their championship team. 

The Lightning derived little benefit on their end. 

Much ado about nothing

Campoli started well enough, but his 2009-10 campaign was disappointing, with team spent on the sidelines. Comrie didn't even last that long, his second stint in Ottawa even shorter than his 61-game turn just two years earlier. McAmmond played just 18 games on Long Island, and the Isles never kept the pick. 

Draft pick conversion

The Blue Jackets have the edge so far in this deal because of the tissue paper tough Leclaire, but this could swing the other way. The pick was used for goalie Robin Lehner, although the Swede is struggling in the AHL this season.