Trade Deadline Day!

The first trade of the day and the Ottawa Senators trade Antoine Vermette to the Columbus Blue Jackets for goalie Pascal LeClaire.



Winner: Ottawa! Vermette is an average goal scorer but a great penalty killer. But, the Senators got the best penalty killer of all, a good goaltender!

Goaltending always seems to be a problem in Ottawa, but LeClaire just might be the answer!

The second trade of the day brings former Flame defenseman Jordan Leopold back to Calgary for a couple of minor leaguers and a draft pick. This is a great deal to solidify the blue line in Calgary.



Buffalo Sabres were in action early and their most important deal of the day was not a trade but a contract extension to sniper Tim Connolly who would have become a free agent on July 1. The Sabres probably overpaid but not wanting to lose another star to free agency and receive nothing in return Buffalo management signed Connolly to a two year deal worth about $9 million.

Fearing that Patrick Lalime was not the goalie to get them to the playoffs (Ryan Miller is injured and there are questions about his return date) the Sabres sent a 4th round pick to Phoenix for Mikael Telqvist. Later, the Sabres spent another draft pick for Dominic Moore, the feisty center for Toronto.



For the most part the Toronto Maple Leafs were going to be sellers today, trying to unload unrestricted free agents Dominic Moore (see above) and Nik Antropov. Antropov was dispatched to the New York Rangers for a draft pick. But, in a surprise move the Leafs claimed Martin Gerber from Ottawa on waivers. Then the club announced that Toskala would undergo season-ending surgery.



Stay tuned, check out the next post when I will continue coverage of Trade Deadline Day.