Kris Versteeg

The Panthers came in on a high, winning three of their first four games. Brian Campbell leads the NHL with seven assists, and he's a defenseman. They had just swept last seasons Eastern Conference finalist Tampa Bay in a home and home series. Things have not looked this promising in quite some time.

Fantasy hockey rule No. 496: A player’s fantasy value normally goes up when he is traded to a different NHL team. 

With the NHL trading deadline several weeks behind in our rear view mirrors, let’s see if the above rule is holding true.  Here is a look at many of the major names dealt at the deadline and how their fantasy values have fared since they changed uniforms. 
   

Tomas Kaberle, Boston Bruins

I have frequently been displeased with the Flyers effort since the All-Star break, even when they are winning. I had the sense that it was just a matter of time before the wheels fell off the team bus.

And the feeling that this had happened before was overwhelming. But instead of relying on my memory, which is getting worse by the year, I decided to do some research.

During the telecast of the Philadelphia Flyers 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, Flyers color commentator Keith Jones made an interesting observation that I had never heard before.

Kris Versteeg was called for a slashing penalty on Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller and play-by-play announcer Jim Jackson and fellow color commentator Steve Coates disagreed with the call because the whistle wasn’t blown.

Then Jones added this statement:

It seems the Philadelphia Flyers set a rather expensive precedent with their blockbuster acquisition of former Toronto Maple Leaf Kris Versteeg a few weeks ago.

When the Flyers sent their first- and third-round picks to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Flyers basically set the price for similarly valued Dustin Penner. 

And the Kings were willing to pay it.

The NHL has a notoriously late trading deadline considering it comes with only 20 games left in the season, so teams in the thick of the playoff hunt have not wasted any time getting the guys they wanted a few days before February 28.  

So how have the fantasy values of the big-name players that were traded in the past two weeks changed now that they are on different teams?  Here is a look at whose fantasy values have shot up, dropped down and stayed the same post-trade.     

While most fans of the Chicago Blackhawks and Toronto Maple Leafs appreciated Kris Versteeg’s high energy style and playmaking ability, they also saw him prone to poor decisions and untimely turnovers. And during the first period of the Flyers 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, Flyers fans got a glimpse of the bad side of Kris Versteeg.

This piece is also featured at The News of Delaware County

The Philadelphia Flyers acquired forward Kris Versteeg from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a first and a third-round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Some pundits say the Flyers paid too much for Versteeg, but the intangibles that he brings to the table can’t be measured.

When I heard that the Toronto Maple Leafs traded Kris Versteeg to the Philadelphia Flyers for first- and third-round picks in this year's draft, I had mixed feelings.

Sure, we were able to acquire a first-round pick, but Versteeg could have been quite a good player for us down the road. Only 24-years-old, Versteeg has already won a Stanley Cup, and in 224 NHL games, has tallied 58 goals and 78 assists for 136 points.