Smyth, Guerin, Bertuzzi all change teams on deadline day
By IRA PODELL, AP Sports Writer
February 27, 2007
The New York Islanders kept their leading scorer and stole the one that makes the Edmonton Oilers go.
Just minutes before the NHL trading deadline expired Tuesday afternoon, the Islanders plucked Ryan Smyth away from the Oilers after deciding to hold onto Jason Blake.
The big deal trumped those made earlier in the day that sent Bill Guerin from the St. Louis Blues to the San Jose Sharks, Todd Bertuzzi from Florida to Detroit, and longtime Kings captain Mattias Norstrom from Los Angeles to Dallas.
Staying true to form, the final dealing day of the season was super busy. Coming on the heels of the most active deadline day in 2006 when 25 trades were completed, at least 20 went down in the final hours Tuesday.
Islanders general manager Garth Snow is still a novice in his job after serving as the team's backup goalie just last season, but he pulled off a trade that could propel New York into the postseason. He mulled offers for Blake, an impending unrestricted free agent this summer, and then pounced when Smyth became available when contract talks with the Oilers broke down.
"Wow. That's shocking," said Guerin, Smyth's teammate with the Oilers for four seasons. "He's a guy that I thought would be there forever, and he probably thought that, too. He gave everything he had to the organization, but sometimes it just doesn't work out."
The price was steep for the Islanders, especially if the 31-year-old left winger, signs elsewhere after the season. Smyth leaves Edmonton after 11-plus seasons in which he grew into the heart and soul of the Oilers and less than a year after he helped the club to a surprising run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals.
New York sent first-round picks Robert Nilsson (2003) and Ryan O'Marra (2005), along with the Islanders' first-round choice in this year's draft to Edmonton for Smyth, who has 31 goals and 53 points in 53 games this season.
While that one came as a surprise, Guerin's departure didn't. The rugged forward's days in St. Louis were clearly short because of his upcoming unrestricted free agent status, and it became more clear that he wouldn't be staying once the Blues dealt Keith Tkachuk to Atlanta a few days before the deadline.
"I'm thrilled," Guerin said. "This is one of those teams that was on my radar. I am very happy to be going there. You have certain expectations and places that you want to go, so it was easy (to agree to the trade). When it was presented to me, it was a no-brainer."
Two days earlier, the Sharks acquired veteran defenseman Craig Rivet from the Montreal Canadiens for defenseman Josh Gorges and their own first-round pick.
The Sharks, who entered the day tied for fifth in the Western Conference after a recent slump, sent left wing Ville Nieminen, college forward Jay Barriball and New Jersey's first-round pick, which they acquired last year, to the rebuilding Blues.
"Billy has been a true professional on and off the ice this season and we felt it was in the best interest or him and the Blues to trade him to a playoff contender," Blues president John Davidson said.
Bertuzzi, best known for his blindside hit to the head of former Colorado player Steve Moore that drew the rugged forward a 17-month suspension, was traded by the Panthers after playing only seven games with them in an injury-plagued season.
The Panthers acquired forward Shawn Matthias and up to two conditional draft picks in the deal. If Bertuzzi signs with Detroit after this season, the Red Wings will part with one pick this year and another next year.
Bertuzzi, acquired by Florida from Vancouver for top goalie Roberto Luongo on draft day last year, hasn't played since he had lower back surgery in November.
"Bertuzzi is a huge, talented man that adds the dimensions of size and skill that we need on one of our top two lines," Detroit coach Mike Babcock told The Associated Press.
The Buffalo Sabres took a big step toward replenishing their injury-ravaged lineup by making four deadline-day deals. The biggest brought forward Dainius Zubrus to town from Washington.
The Sabres also dealt backup goalie Martin Biron to the Philadelphia Flyers for a second-round pick and then acquired Columbus Blue Jackets' backup goalie Ty Conklin for a fifth-round pick in this year's draft.
Along with Zubrus, a consistent offensive forward, Buffalo also landed prospect defenseman Timo Helbling. The Sabres dealt rookie forward Jiri Novotny, who's ready to return from a high ankle sprain, and a first-round pick to the Capitals.
The Sabres then traded a fourth-round draft pick to Nashville for minor league defenseman Mikko Lehtonen.
Norstrom, the Kings captain since 2002, was sent with right wing Konstantin Pushkarev and two draft picks to the Dallas Stars for defenseman Jaroslav Modry and three draft choices.
Norstrom is the team's career leader in games played among defensemen with 780. He has two goals, seven assists and 40 penalty minutes in 62 games this season.
"Mattias solidifies our defensive group and also adds character and veteran leadership to our locker room," Stars general manager Doug Armstrong said. "We look for him to make an immediate impact on this hockey club as we push towards the playoffs."
The New York Rangers, on the outside of the Eastern playoff race, made two deals Tuesday. They sent Aaron Ward to the Boston Bruins for fellow defenseman Paul Mara, and traded newly acquired forward Pascal Dupuis to the Atlanta Thrashers for a third-round draft pick and prospect Alex Bourret.
Ward, a member of the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes last season, was in the first year of a two-year deal with New York that pays him $2.75 million in each season.
The Pittsburgh Penguins took steps to win now, adding veteran leadership and muscle to their young forward lineup.
Joining blossoming stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, are 40-year-old Gary Roberts and noted fighter Georges Laraque.
To land Roberts, who waived a no-trade clause, Pittsburgh sent defenseman Noah Welch to Florida. Forward prospect Daniel Carcillo and a 2008 third-round pick were shipped to Phoenix for Laraque. The Penguins then dealt Dominic Moore to Minnesota for a third-round pick and acquired defenseman Joel Kwiatkowski from Florida for a fourth-round choice.
"We want to win," coach Michel Therrien said. "We want to be part of the playoffs. That was our plan, and right now we've put ourselves in a position to be there."
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Originally Posted by Halladay_is_God
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