The NHL trade deadline came and went yesterday, and while a few high profile players were exchanged, the balance of power in the league remained mostly unchanged. The local teams all got involved in the action, with the Rangers and Devils predictably playing the role of buyers while the Islanders – currently seven points out of the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot – were sellers.

The primary reason why there were so few blockbuster deals was the timing of the deadline. The deadline was moved two weeks earlier this year, and because most teams are still in the thick of the playoff picture, there were fewer sellers in the marketplace. Another important reason is the $39 million salary cap. Whereas teams like the Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers once would have stocked up on high-priced veterans to aid them in the playoffs, this year the cap hamstrung those perennial spendthrifts. And so, veteran stars like the St. Louis Blues’ Keith Tkachuk and the Chicago Blackhawks’ Nikolai Khabibulin remained in place.

Of the three local teams, the Rangers made the biggest splash, acquiring defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh from the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in exchange for a third-round pick. Ozolinsh should energize the Blueshirts’ power play, as he is an excellent skater with a very hard – and accurate – shot from the point.

There are some question marks surrounding Ozolinsh, however. He missed a large chunk of the regular season after he was voluntarily admitted to the league’s substance-abuse program, but exited that program just prior to the Winter Olympics. In Turin, where he represented Latvia, and in his first four games back with the Ducks following the Olympic break, Ozolinsh demonstrated that his considerable skills are undiminished.

Though Ozolinsh will help improve the Rangers’ power play and zone breakouts, the team failed to address its most pressing need – a right-handed shooting sniper. Perhaps rookie Petr Prucha will once again prove to be the answer when he returns from his knee injury.

The Devils added two defensemen and a checking forward to their lineup. Ken Klee was imported from Toronto in exchange for prospect Alexander Suglobov. A solid two-way blueliner, he will play a key role in New Jersey down the stretch, as he can be used in virtually all game situations. Devils GM Lou Lamoriello also pulled off a deal with the Isles, acquiring defenseman Brad Lukowich. The former Lightning blueliner is a solid stay-at-home defenseman who will take the place of Sean Brown, who was dealt to Vancouver in a separate trade for a fourth-round pick.

The Devils also added forward Jason Wiemer, formerly of the Calgary Flames. He will provide the team with some valuable toughness, and should prove to be a solid third- or fourth-line center down the stretch and in the playoffs. Lamoriello failed to acquire an additional scorer, however, meaning that the Devils’ top line of Scott Gomez, Brian Gionta, and Patrik Elias will face enormous pressure to produce come playoff-time.

In sharp contrast, outgoing Islanders GM Mike Milbury began cleaning house to make his successor’s job a bit easier. Most notably, he dealt the two players acquired in what will likely go down as the worst trade in franchise history. At the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Milbury sent goaltender Roberto Luongo and center Olli Jokinen to the Florida Panthers in exchange for forwards Mark Parrish and Oleg Kvasha. Luongo and Jokinen have since emerged as stars for the Panthers, while Parrish and Kvasha’s stays on Long Island were fraught with disappointment.

The prospects Milbury received in return for Parrish and defensemen Brent Sopel were two of the L.A. Kings’ best. Forward Jeff Tambellini has scored 56 points in 56 games for the Manchester Monarchs this season, and defenseman Denis Grebeshkov has scored 27 points in 48 games for the same team. The Isles received a third round pick in return for each of Kvasha and Lukowich.

Though the Rangers and Devils failed to address their most pressing needs, they did strengthen themselves for the playoffs, while the Islanders, whose rebuilding effort is seemingly never-ending, added some draft picks and a couple of high-quality prospects who can be expected to make an impact on Long Island very soon.

Mr. Greenstein is the editor in chief of InsideHockey.com.

Major Moves at the Deadline

Colorado acquires G Jose Theodore from Montreal in exchange for G David Aebischer.

Edmonton acquires LW Sergei Samsonov from Boston in exchange for C Marty Reasoner, C Yan Stastny, and a 2006 second-round draft pick.

Carolina acquires RW Mark Recchi from Pittsburgh in exchange for D Niklas Nordgren, C Krys Kolanos, and a 2007 second-round draft pick.

Nashville acquires D Brendan Witt from Washington in exchange for C Kris Beech and a 2006 first-round draft pick.

Florida Panthers re-sign Olli Jokinen to a four-year, $21 million contract.