Mike Brophy

Veteran hockey columnist Mike Brophy writes Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday on Sportsnet.ca and appears regularly on Hockeycentral.

We make a big deal about the NHL’s trade deadline and why not?

With teams trying to negotiate the salary cap we see precious little trading during the regular season. In the off-season though, there is often plenty of movement between trades and free agent signings.

Here are 10 players who joined new teams last summer that are paying dividends, and a few who have missed the mark.

THE GOOD:

Marian Gaborik, New York Rangers.

Many wondered if the Rangers made a mistake signing a player with a history of injuries to a long, rich contract, but Gaborik has been gold for the Blueshirts. He ranks fifth in goals (36) and ninth in points (73) and is just 10 shy of his career high point total set with the Minnesota Wild two years ago. It’s too bad he doesn’t have a supporting cast on Broadway.

Mikael Samuelsson, Vancouver Canucks

With 30 goals, Samuelsson has already exceeded his single-season high by seven goals. The 33-year-old Swedish right winger has taken the valuable lessons he learned in Detroit and is applying them nicely with a team that gives him more responsibility.

Craig Anderson, Colorado Avalanche

There was probably only one team that viewed Anderson as a potential No. 1 goaltender last summer when he was a free agent and it was Colorado, which signed him to a two-year contract for $3.6 million. It seemed like a lot of dough for a guy who has mostly been a backup, but based on his amazing play this year, you could now make the case he is underpaid.

Ryan Smyth, Los Angeles Kings

General manager Dean Lombardi wanted a veteran presence who could pass on a few tips about paying the price to win to his young, somewhat soft team and Smyth has done exactly that. To those who thought Smyth’s value had decreased considerably during stints with the Islanders and Avalanche, you might want to re-think that one.

Chris Pronger, Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers have not been the dominant team in the Eastern Conference many thought they’d be, but don’t blame Pronger. The 6-foot-6 veteran ranks fourth in defenceman scoring with nine goals and 49 points in 68 games and is plus-23, also fourth best amongst defencemen.

Michael Cammalleri, Montreal Canadiens

You have to wonder where the Canadiens would be if their players had been healthy. Cammalleri missed 14 games with a leg injury, but has still produced 26 goals and 48 points for the Canadiens, who have won five straight. An excellent signing by former GM Bob Gainey.

Dany Heatley, San Jose Sharks

The NHL’s 12th leading point producer with 36 goals and 72 points in 67 games, Heatley has been mostly good for San Jose, although many expected him to be in the race for the Rocket Richard Trophy. If he can raise the level of his play in the post-season and help the Sharks go deep into the playoffs, nobody in San Jose will care that he didn’t hit the 50-goal plateau.

Mike Knuble, Washington Capitals

Mike Rupp, Pittsburgh Penguins

The 12 goals Rupp has thus far equals his output with the New Jersey Devils over the past three seasons. Rupp is a big guy at 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds who stands up for his teammates and isn’t afraid to drop the gloves when necessary.

Radim Vrbata, Phoenix Coyotes

There must be something about the desert that agrees with the 28-year-old Czech. He scored 27 goals for the Coyotes two years ago before managing just three in 18 games with Tampa Bay before heading home last season. In 68 games with Phoenix this season Vrbata has 21 goals and is a big reason why the Coyotes have been such a huge success.

THE BAD:

Samuel Pahlsson, Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets thought they were getting a superior defensive specialist when they signed Pahlsson, who split last season between Anaheim and Chicago, but he has been anything but. The 32-year-old centre has just two goals and 11 points in 66 games and is minus-9.

Martin Havlat, Minnesota Wild

Brought in to replace Gaborik, Havlat has been a disappointment with just 15 goals in 61 games. This guy can be a human highlight film when he is on his game, but that has not been the case very often this season.

Ray Emery, Philadelphia Flyers

After a year in the Russian League, Emery returned on a one-year deal hoping to perform at a high level and earn a long, lucrative deal. It’s not that he has played horribly, but Emery certainly did not distinguish himself as a bona fide starter with the Flyers and then his season was cut short with an injury.

Jay Bouwmeester, Calgary Flames

No matter what the Flames say about Bouwmeester, you have to privately believe they hoped he’d have more than two goals at this stage of the season. After all, the gifted skater scored 15 goals in each of the past two seasons and 12 the year before with the Florida Panthers.

Mike Komisarek, Toronto Maple Leafs

Komisarek has never been a big scorer in the NHL, which makes you wonder why the Leafs would throw so much money his way. He had just four assists in 34 games and was minus-9 when he finally shut it down for the year.