By Gavin Lindahl
Assisstant Sports Editor
The NHL trade deadline is always a crazy day for any hockey fan. There’s always sure to be a few big name players getting dealt, but there’s always the smaller, close-to-home deals. Hockey fans got to see a little bit of both today.
Even before the deadline, big deals went down. On Tuesday, longtime Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo was dealt to the Florida Panthers due more to bad blood between Luongo and management than reflection of play, according to analysts.
Luongo’s trade triggered a chain reaction of goalie swaps leading to many fans claiming that no goalie was safe this year.
But perhaps the biggest story of the day was Tampa Bay Lightning captain and veteran Martin St. Louis and New York Rangers captain Ryan Callahan getting swapped. While fans saw it coming, it was still shocking as St. Louis has spent all of his 13 seasons in Tampa Bay (barring the 2004-05 lockout). So I guess I won’t be getting that St. Louis Lightning jersey now.
But a bulk of the day was spent observing the trades like first-year Buffalo GM Tim Murray executed. Murray made three trades and picked up one player off waivers, a day that Murray said was exciting and good for the organization.
The day started with picking up forward and Canisius College product Corey Conacher off waivers. Conacher, who has had his fair share of struggles in his young career, was placed on waivers by the Ottawa Senators Tuesday. Although it may not be a huge addition, it’s low risk, and Conacher has had mild success in the league after all.
The Sabres then moved on to ship AHL defenseman Brayden McNabb and two second-round draft picks to the Los Angeles Kings for prospects Hudson Fasching, an 18-year-old college winger, and AHL winger Nicolas Deslauriers. The two picks sent with McNabb were acquired last season from Kings when the Sabres sent defensemen Robyn Regehr. So, in effect, the Sabres traded McMabb and Regehr for Fasching and Deslauriers.
After the McNabb deal, it was announced the Sabres had moved forwards Matt Moulson and Cody McCormick to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for center Torrey Mitchell and two second round picks. Moulson, who has been one of the more offensively productive Sabres, was acquired from the New York Islanders earlier this season under previous GM Darcy Regier’s reign. Regier bagged Moulson, a conditional first round pick in either the 2014 or 2015 draft, and a 2015 second round pick for the price of forward Thomas Vanek – one of the leagues’ most talented scorers.
Vanek, for as much value as he bagged earlier this season, was dealt by the Islanders along with a conditional 2015 pick to the Montreal Canadiens for prospect Sebastian Collberg and a conditional second-round pick. In short, the drop off between what the Sabres got for Vanek and what the Islanders got was steep. So, given that value, Sabres fans shouldn’t feel too bad about Moulson and McCormick’s departure.
The day closed out for the Sabres when they shipped goalie Jaroslav Halak plus a 2015 third round draft pick to the Washington Capitals for defensemen Rostislav Klesla and goalie Michael Neuvirth. Halak was acquired a week ago along with forward Christ Stewart in a trade that sent all-star and longtime Sabres goalie Ryan Miller and captain Steve Ott to the Blues.
The day was alright for the Sabres, although there were plenty of disgruntled fans. The value of the market this season was a little low, so the return for the Sabres – who were obvious sellers in the cellar sitting last in the league – wasn’t too bad.
The Sabres may not have made any big splashes by retaining players like Tyler Myers, Christian Ehrhoff, Drew Stafford and Chris Stewart – all linked to trade rumors – but they made good moves to arm up for a draft-and-prospect-orientated rebuild.
Gavin Lindahl is the assistant sports editor of The Bona Venture. His email is lindagh12@bonaventure.edu.
