NHL Season Opener: Most Important Off-Season Trades

The NHL season is upon us, so it's time to look back at the off-season. There were a ton of free agent signings, but for now let's concentrate on trades. Who made the biggest trades this off-season? It's surely an objective discussion, but here are a handful that will prove to be the biggest.

In no particular order:

Alex Tanguay was traded from the Calgary Flames to the Montreal Canadiens for two draft picks. Draft picks? Are you kidding me? Tanguay is someone who can score a ton of points for a team, and while he admittedly had somewhat of a disappointing 2007-08 season (only 18 goals and 40 assists in 81 games) that will improve this year. Tanguay says he didn't like the style of play in Calgary, and the Canadiens were really going after him and got just the guy they wanted. Tanguay is only 28 years old and should help a Montreal squad that ran into a tough Philadelphia team in the conference semi-finals last year. Look for them to be right near the top again this season.

Olli Jokinen was moved from the Florida Panthers to the Phoenix Coyotes for Nick Boynton, Keith Ballard and a second-round pick. A lot of people are saying the Panthers got too little for Jokinen, but they were in a bit of a rush to bring in defensive help. Jokinen is another big-time scorer who had a little bit of a drop-off in productivity last year, but should see his numbers improve in the desert. The biggest hurdle he might face in Phoenix, however, is that the Coyotes are in the midst of a youth revolution, deciding to focus their attention (and playing time) on Kyle Turris and Peter Mueller, two scorers who also excel at center. A big trade, but probably not to the level of Tanguay to the Canadiens.