Quick Hits: Pre-Deadline Edition

• Jeff Carter for Jack Johnson and a first is easily the deadline's first blockbuster trade, and in my opinion is a mistake by both Los Angeles and Columbus. 

• Even if Carter has matured, he rarely played with Richards in Philly so there won't be much chemistry there - the two are just great teammates. Carter has also expressed many times his preference is playing center, which he won't get to do in LA. Carter needs to play center with a playmaking winger like Ales Hemsky or Patrick Kane to have the most success IMO. 

• There are plenty of advanced stats out there (not to mention the very basic plus minus rating) to show that Jack Johnson simply isn't as good as advertised. And if LA doesn't make the playoffs, Columbus is stuck with next year's first round pick. This looks bad after Philly was able to draft Couturier with the pick they got from Columbus for Carter. 

• Still, if there's one reason to be excited in Columbus it's that Johnson will be very optimistic and will have a lot of positive energy. The dude loves hockey, and loves America. Columbus deserves more players like that. 

• Phoenix acquiring Antoine Vermette surprised me as I didn't realize they had enough room in their budget to make a big addition.I think that's a really solid move for a team that just continues to surprise. I've been thinking all year LA would end up in 7th and either Colorado or Dallas would end up in 8th in the West, but now I think Phoenix will likely hold down one of those two spots.

• I'm not at all a fan of Detroit giving Todd Bertuzzi a two-year extension. The dude has his moments, but he's becoming less and less of a factor for a team that needs their top-six forwards to get younger.  I really can't imagine how he'll even be a regular in the lineup in two years for the Wings. 

• A small trade that I think would make a lot of sense: The Maple Leafs sending Keith Aulie to St. Louis for Ben Bishop. I don't think it'll happen or has even been discussed, but that trade would make sense for both teams in my opinion.