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"&lt;p&gt;Every Friday, a trio of SI.com staffers will sit down for a discussion of the hockey world\u2019s hot-button issues. This week, Sam Page, Michael Blinn and Al Muir hash out the season\u2019s biggest trade, the future of Jonathan Drouin, second-half surprises and the moment that will define Jaromir Jagr\u2019s season. First up:\r\n\r\n&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n\u2022 &lt;strong&gt;It\u2019s&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;i&lt;strong&gt;mpossible to tell at this point if there\u2019s a winner in the blockbuster Ryan Johansen/Seth Jones trade, but on a gut level which side do you believe benefits the most?&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n&lt;strong&gt;Michael Blinn:&lt;/strong&gt; In the immediate future, it seems to me that needle tilts toward the Predators. They still have an elite-level defense with plenty of depth and a pair of Norris Trophy candidates in Shea Weber and Roman Josi, and they finally get the top-line center that they\u2019ve desperately needed. I\u2019m guessing Johansen finds some respite with an offensive-minded coach. And he'll be inspired by getting another shot at the postseason. Couldn\u2019t say that about his situation earlier this week. Seth Jones may give the Blue Jackets the win in the long run, but for right now, the Preds get better in an ultra-competitive Central Division. Also, based on how these roundtables have gone for me, I\u2019d like to apologize to our in-house Preds fan Sam for the jinx.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Sam Page: &lt;/strong&gt;I think the Preds obviously benefit more in the short-term \u2026 but I bet the Blue Jackets get more value out of Jones in the long-run. Top-line forwards truly are the harder to acquire than top-pairing defenseman, but Jones is unlike the average No. 1 defenseman in terms of tools. He could become the best player in the league at his position for a decade. Does anyone reasonably expect the same from Johansen? His ceiling seems to be more that of a Ryan Getzlaf, which is no small consolation prize. The rub is that the Blue Jackets have to put themselves in a position to win when Jones reaches his prime. The Preds already have a team that is set to be competitive through Johansen\u2019s prime years. Hence, the trade.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Al Muir: &lt;/strong&gt;You know, that\u2019s a rational and even-handed response from a guy who\u2019s probably wearing Predators Underoos at the moment. Bravo, Sam. And I\u2019d agree with you in principle, especially your point about Johansen\u2019s place on a team that\u2019s already in position to contend, but I\u2019m going to take the big picture view and say the Jackets got the better end of the deal. Johansen has that Getzlaf-type ceiling, but there are questions about whether or not he\u2019ll reach it. Ask around about Jones, though, and you\u2019ll have a hard time finding any doubters. He\u2019s a guy who eventually will play 25-plus all-purpose minutes a night, who can make things happen with his mobility, his vision and his nimble thinking. He\u2019s as close to a sure thing as there is. I\u2019ll take the sure thing.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u2022&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;The NHL trade deadline is Feb. 29. Where will Jonathan Drouin be on March. 1?&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;MB: &lt;/strong&gt;Tampa Bay. Steve Yzerman is a pretty shrewd GM, and he realizes Drouin\u2019s value as a player with lots of potential who\u2019s on an entry-level deal for another season-and-a-half at a sub-$900k cap hit before becoming an RFA. Stevie Y holds all the cards here, and Drouin\u2019s cost-effectiveness could go a longer way in trying to re-sign Steven Stamkos than as a trade chip.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;SP: &lt;/strong&gt;Anaheim. The Ducks\u2019 offense has been horrible, and GM Bob Murray has been opportunistic at grabbing players who have needed a change of scenery. I don\u2019t know who or what is going the other way. I\u2019m also ruling out all other Eastern Conference teams getting involved.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;AM:&lt;/strong&gt; Tampa Bay. My gut says he\u2019s gone eventually, but I think Yzerman holds on to him at least until the draft, by which point he\u2019ll have a better understanding of all the pieces in play, including Stamkos. Drouin would be a nice asset to have in his pocket if he decides he wants to move up in the draft\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u2022&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;Hard to believe, but we\u2019re already at the midway point of the season. Who is your first-half MVP?&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;MB:&lt;/strong&gt; Braden Holtby is this season\u2019s Carey Price. He\u2019s among league leaders in wins (1st, 26), goals-against average (3rd, 1.90) and save percentage (4th, .933). He\u2019s the brick wall behind one of the NHL\u2019s top offenses, and his rise into the elite category of goaltenders makes the Capitals the most legitimate Stanley Cup frontrunner.&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;AM:&lt;/strong&gt; Blinn, you beautiful genius. I made my case for Holtby the other day, so I'm sticking with him. You mention Price, who is coming off one of the greatest years ever for a goaltender. Holtby's numbers are as good or better than his were. Price ended up winning 44 games in 66 starts last season. If Holtby makes as many\u2014and no reason he wouldn't, barring an injury\u2014he's on pace to win 52, which would obliterate Martin Brodeur\u2019s record of 48. I think we\u2019re seeing something truly special here.\r\n\r\n&lt;strong&gt;SP:&lt;/strong&gt; Since you guys have the contrarian pick covered, I\u2019ll go ahead and say what everyone else is thinking: Patrick Kane.\r\n\r\n&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n\u2022&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;The Panthers have been the unexpected success story of the first half. Which team will catch everyone by surprise on the back nine?&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n&lt;strong&gt;MB:&lt;/strong&gt; Has anyone noticed the Maple Leafs are &lt;em&gt;8-3-2&lt;/em&gt; since December 5? Or that Jonathan Bernier got his groove back? He\u2019s stopped 117 of his last 120 shots, a .975 save percentage. That\u2019s clearly not sustainable, but the improved structure around him and partner James Reimer has the team showing up on the right side of some of the fancy stats. And while they may not have the depth of talent to make a playoff run, we\u2019re clearly seeing Brendan Shanahan &amp;amp; Co.\u2019s plan taking some shape in Year One of Mike Babcock\u2019s tenure.\r\n\r\n&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;SP: &lt;/strong&gt;The Oilers could have a nice second half, especially if they get Connor McDavid back sooner than later. They\u2019re in striking distance of third place in the pitiful Pacific Division\u2014only four points out. They have a talented netminder in Cam Talbot who could go on a run, bringing his numbers closer to last year\u2019s. And most crucially, they have a new management and coaching regime in place that knows the days of fading down the stretch and looking forward to the lottery have to end. &amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n&lt;strong&gt;AM:&lt;/strong&gt; Both excellent choices, boys, but I'm here to issue a Hurricane warning. Coach Bill Peters is quietly doing exactly what his old boss Babcock is earning heaps of praise for in Toronto. Like Babs, he doesn\u2019t have a lot of talent to work with, but he has this team buying into a sound defensive structure and focusing on the details. The Canes have allowed just 19 goals in their past 11 games (1.73 per) and that\u2019s with Cam Ward and Eddie Lack between the pipes, for cryin\u2019&amp;nbsp;out loud. No, they can\u2019t score worth a lick, but they\u2019re just a few bounces away from going on a tear. And if you\u2019re a believer in the predictive value of the PDO stat, they sit second last at just 97.6. Those breaks are overdue.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Rise of Hurricanes fueled by six American defensemen&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u2022&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;Speaking of the second half, it\u2019s a good bet that Jaromir Jagr will find his way into the news at some point. Predict his signature moment.&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;AM:&lt;/strong&gt; I say he drops the gloves with John Scott on his opening shift of the All-Star Game, earns a game misconduct after getting abusive with the official on the way to the penalty box, and is on a plane to the Bahamas for a relaxing 48 hours of sun and surf before returning to South Florida to help the Panthers extend their 19-game winning streak.\r\n\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;MB:&lt;/strong&gt; After spending the season bringing back his glorious mullet, he chops it all off in the most celebrated donation Locks of Love has ever received.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;SP:&lt;/strong&gt; I think Jagr will embarrass some top young defenseman in the playoffs and people will go crazy, because no one outside of Florida watches Florida during the regular season.&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n&amp;nbsp;\r\n&lt;/p&gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.si.com/nhl/2016/01/08/nhl-roundtable-seth-jones-ryan-johansen-winner-first-half-mvp-second-half-surprise>