Come and gone
Plenty of trades at the NHL's trading deadline
March 12, 2008
Derek Pease
Just like every other year, the NHL’s Trade Deadline Day began very slowly; yet, by the end of the day, 25 trades took place with a total of 45 players or draft picks changed teams.
The day started off with a few minor trades before two of the day’s blockbusters occurred. 2004 Conn Smythe winner Brad Richards was traded from the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Dallas Stars, while ex-Buffalo Sabre became a San Jose Shark. Soon after, the Montreal Canadiens shocked everyone by shipping starting goaltender Cristobal Huet to the Washington Capitals for a second round draft pick. After aleady bolstering their line-up with the signing of former league MVP and Peter Forsberg, the Colorado Avalanche further bettered their team by acquiring defenseman Ruslan Salei and two-time Stanley Cup winner and Olympic Gold Medal winner Adam Foote.
The Pittsburgh Penguins showed the hockey world that they are truly committed to winning now. The Pens landed superstar Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis, while shipping Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, prospect Angelo Esposito and a 2008 first rounder to the Atlanta Thrashers. The Pens also acquired defenseman Hal Gill from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a couple of draft picks.
Aside from the Huet deal, there wasn’t much in the way of blockbuster trades involving Canadian teams. Matt Cooke was dealt out of Vancouver for Matt Pettinger, while the Ottawa Senators picked up Martin Lapointe from the Chicago Blackhawks for a sixth round pick. The Leafs picked up a second and fifth round selection in the Hal Gill deal, and sent Chad Kilger and Wade Belak away for a third and fifth round pick. The Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames remained dormant.
Now you go...
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