Ranking the 5 best trade-acquisition debuts from Tuesday's action
For a newly acquired player, there's nothing more satisfying than making a strong first impression with your new teammates. Several players made debuts with their new clubs Tuesday night, and for the most part, they came as advertised.
5. Pontus Aberg, Oilers
Aberg was a low-risk, high-reward acquisition by the Oilers, but it didn't take long for him to show off his untapped offensive potential, setting up Jesse Puljujarvi's goal with a nifty assist. Aberg didn't get much ice time in Nashville, but could continue to flourish with an expanded role in Edmonton.
4. Paul Stastny, Jets
If Stastny's willingness to lift his no-trade clause to come to frigid Winnipeg didn't win over the hearts of Jets fans everywhere, then his debut performance certainly did.
The veteran center displayed an impressive two-way game, picking up a goal, an assist, a plus-2 rating, and won 74 percent of his faceoffs in Winnipeg's 6-5 loss to the Predators.
3. Evander Kane, Sharks
The Sharks pumped the Oilers 5-2 on Tuesday night, and Kane's multi-point effort was a massive reason why. Though it's obviously still early, his first game was a strong indication that his north-south, physical style will fit in well with the Sharks. Patrick Marleau left a void when he bolted for Toronto this offseason, and Kane seems like a prime candidate to be his late replacement.
2. Ryan Hartman, Predators
Though Winnipeg's deadline-day addition of Stastny definitely drew more attention, Nashville's under-the-radar pickup of Hartman would prove to be the difference in a crucial meeting between the two teams. The speedy forward scored the game-winning goal with one minute left in regulation, giving his new team a huge victory over a fellow Central Division powerhouse.
1. Tommy Wingels, Bruins
It's hard to make a better impression on your teammates than what Wingels did on Tuesday night. Brought in to be nothing more than an energy player in the bottom six, Wingels provided that and more, picking up a goal and an assist in Boston's 4-3 overtime win against the Hurricanes.
The Bruins are going to need unheralded players to step up in the absence of Patrice Bergeron, and Wingels did his part in his Bruins debut.
Missed the cut: Tomas Tatar (Golden Knights), Derick Brassard (Penguins), Joe Morrow (Jets).
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)