PHR Originals: 01/30/2017 – 02/05/2017

As we get closer to the NHL trade deadline, PHR has been pumping out the original pieces. Here is a look at the past week:

• The Trade Candidate pieces came fast and furious this week, with our staff taking a closer look at the cases for: Jannik Hansen (link), Cody Franson (link), Shane Doan (link), Teddy Purcell (link), Ben Bishop (link), Jimmy Howard (link), Michael Del Zotto (link), Jaroslav Halak (link), and Curtis Lazar (link).
• Yesterday Zach Leach took a look at the expansion draft and the problems it is giving teams on the back end and in net. Calgary, Carolina and Philadelphia were specifically analyzed for some issues they will face. Stay tuned for part two this week.
• I hosted our very first live chat on Thursday, and the questions came in bunches. The Maple Leafs and Anaheim Ducks seemed especially intriguing, as the two teams seem to match up on paper for a deal.
• Brian La Rose took questions in his weekly mailbag feature, including addressing some concerns about Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill.
• Brian also completed the first round of his 2005 re-draft series. Amazingly, Steve Downie was the consensus 30th pick. It goes to show how first-round picks aren’t a lock, as Downie only scored 196 points in his 434 career games.
• Late Wednesday night I took a look at some smaller deals that paid off at last year’s trade deadline, and the value you can find in the margins of an NHL roster. It’s not always the blockbuster that makes the biggest impact, just ask the Pittsburgh Penguins.
• Glen Miller wrote about how Alexander Burmistrov is filling a much-needed role at center in Arizona. The former top pick was selected off waivers early last month.
• And finally, just today I examined Peter Budaj’s renaissance and the other players around the league who have made a huge comeback this season.