STEVE: So it's Monday, February 28th...the NHL's trade Deadline. And Jason Arnott got his wish, right Anthony?
ANTHONY: It appears that way.
STEVE: He lands with a sure-fire playoff bound team - the Capitals - and will now attempt to win his 2nd Stanley Cup. To answer your question from our previous conversation on Arnott...no...Jason was not a "Believer".
ANTHONY: He was not, and he sort of gave that view the whole way. He wanted a sure thing and did not want to "gamble"
STEVE: Well, making the playoff’s now for him certainly shouldn't be a gamble. But I'm not sure what he'll be guaranteed come playoff time on a Capitals team that's looked far more dominant in the past than this years version, and found themselves out in the 1st round.
ANTHONY: I think the East is up for grabs. I think the Lightning might be able to make a serious run.
STEVE: I completely agree...and I love Arnott and all, but considering what the Devils got in return...I have to wonder if the Capitals have even scouted Jason recently, because in my opinion this was an absolute HEIST.
ANTHONY: On the surface it appears to be. It could be one of those deals that benefits both teams. Jason may step his play up now that he will be in meaningful games.
STEVE: There's no question that Jason seemed uninterested at times and perhaps unhappy with his 3rd line role. With a more important role in Washington, his game could rebound some. But from the Devils end on this, players like Kovalev and Modin who are similarly slowing down and nearing the end of their careers, went for 7th round picks.
ANTHONY: You also have to understand those teams were looking for salary dumps completely.
STEVE: Perhaps in part, although those contracts are expiring ones. But then you have a player like Brad Boyes who is 28 years old and has put up 41 pts in 62 games this season (compared to Arnott's 24 points), go to Buffalo for just a 2nd rounder.
STEVE: To me, Lou did a phenomenal job here. Arnott had slowed down greatly. He had put up 7 points in his last 25 games and was looking disinterested. Can you honestly say that when looking at the 2nd half of the season, this is a down grade from Arnott? Not a chance.
ANTHONY: His play certainly declined from earlier in the season.
STEVE: Lou managed to get David Steckel, and a 2nd round pick in 2012 back from the Caps. There's not a size dropoff here for the Devils, as Steckel is also 6'5. He's 29 years old, and signed to a reasonable $1.1 mil for the next two years. He currently possesses the best faceoff percentage in the league with a 63.7%. Now instead of having only Zajac to take key draws, Steckel can take them too.
ANTHONY: Any team could always use a faceoff specialist.
STEVE: I'm not going to over-analyze his numbers or his play in Washington either. We’re a completely different system and team than the high octane, speedy, creative Capitals. Steckel’s the sort of player that could blossom in a structured system like the Devils have. The Devils KNOW how to use players like this.
ANTHONY: We always seem to get maximum production out of guys of this ilk...the Grant Marshall’s of the world so to speak.
STEVE: Exactly. Similar to how under-rated his acquisition was at the time, over the next couple of years I can see this acquisition panning out similarly.
ANTHONY: If he ever scores a series clinching goal as Marshall did....even if it was his only goal in a Devils jersey....the deal today would be a steal for the red and black. Especially taking into consideration the abysmal amount of series wins since that famed 03 team.
STEVE: Too true.
STEVE: Many thought that if Arnott were dealt today, we would have taken a small step backwards, and perhaps derailed this attempted miracle run....
ANTHONY: I disagree. At this point Jason was essentially a non factor on the ice. Now...is his locker-room presence something that will be missed? Possibly, but I think the team will go on just fine without him...just like we survived life without Lags.
STEVE: Totally agree...In fact, in terms of overall structure, I'd argue we're a stronger team today than we were 24 hours ago.
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