AccuScore
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AccuScore NHL analyst Tim Williams follows all of the moves leading up to and beyond the 3:00 PM trade deadline.
The NHL trade deadline is today, March 4, at 3:00 PM EST. I will be tracking all of the moves as they happen leading up to, and beyond the trade deadline. 11:07 PM: Wrapping It Up Pretty much nothing came in from 2:00 to close to 3:00, then everything exploded, with 14 moves being announced right at the deadline. I was busy for a few hours writing some breakdowns for ESPN Insider, followed by dinner, followed by some Wii Fit, and now I'm back to wrap it up with the rest of the moves. -My Antoine Vermette to Columbus and Bill Guerin to Pittsburgh analysis on ESPN Insider 2:17 PM: Penguins add Bill Guerin from Islanders The Pittsburgh Penguins have made another move for their playoff push, adding Bill Guerin from the New York Islanders for a conditional draft pick. Guerin will probably join Chris Kunitz and Sidney Crosby on the top line when Crosby is healthy, giving the Penguins their replacement for Marian Hossa. Guerin and Kunitz are similar players, both physical wingers who can win the positional battle in the front of the net and score goals. Guerin, who is 38, also will provide some veteran leadership for a young Penguins team. The Penguins don't give up much in this deal. They lose a fifth round pick if they miss the playoffs, a fourth round pick if they make the playoffs, or a third round pick if they win a playoff series. 2:07 PM: Boston gets Mark Recchi and Steve Montador The first place Bruins are adding for their run to the Stanley Cup, trading for Steve Montador and Mark Recchi. Montador was acquired from Anaheim for Petteri Nokelainen, and gives the Bruins some defensive depth and some toughness. Recchi is a veteran winger who can help on the power play, and provide solid leadership to the Bruins. Tampa Bay recieves Matt Lashoff and Martins Karsums in exchange for Recchi. 1:15 PM: Phoenix trades Olli Jokinen to Calgary for Matthew Lombardi, Brandon Prust, and a first round pick Calgary makes the first big move of the day, landing Olli Jokinen. The Flames have been bounced from the playoffs in the first round the last three years, and this move is sure to increase their chances of advancing in the playoffs. Jokinen will probably center the top line, with Jarome Iginla on his wing, and Dion Phaneuf paired with the line on defense, giving Calgary a big boost to their offense. Phoenix gets Calgary's first round pick, Lombardi, who they can use as a top six forward, and enforcer Brandon Prust. Good move for each side. 12:31 PM: Waiver Claims - Dallas gets Brandon Morrison, Toronto gets Martin Gerber, Pittsburgh gets Craig Adams Dallas is banged up with injuries, and gets Morrison, who had ten goals and 12 assists in 62 games with Anaheim. Toronto claims Martin Gerber, who has a 2.86 GAA this year in just 14 starts for Ottawa. Gerber could possibly take over starting duties for Vesa Toskala, who has a 3.26 GAA this season in 53 games. Pittsburgh claims Craig Adams from Chicago. The Penguins lost Ryan Malone, Georges Laraque, and Jarkko Ruutu in the off-season, and have been lacking grit ever since then. Adams is a minor pick up to replace these guys. 12:20 PM: Buffalo trades a 4th round pick for Mikael Tellqvist The Sabres are three points out of the number eight spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race, but their top goalie, Ryan Miller, is injured, and possibly out for the remainder of the season. Tellqvist gives the Sabres another option in net while Miller is out, along with Patrick Lalime. 11:54 AM: Calgary trades Ryan Wilson, Lawrence Nycholat, and a 2dn round pick for Jordan Leopold Calgary gets some defensive depth in Jordan Leopold, who will probably be a third or fourth defender. Leopold was traded by Calgary to Colorado before the 2006 season for Alex Tanguay. Leopold could help on the powerplay, where he scored 36 points in the first three years of his career with Calgary. 11:54 AM: Pittsburgh trades Danny Richmond to St. Louis for Andy Wozniewski Nothing to see here. Just a swap of defenders. Wozniewski is four years older, makes about $200,000 more. 10:43 AM: Columbus trades Pascal Leclaire and a 2nd round pick to Ottawa for Antoine Vermette This deal works out well for both teams. Ottawa has no shot for the playoffs this year, and Leclaire wouldn't help them with his leg injury, but has a chance to be the number one goalie they need. Leclaire had a down year this year, with a 3.83 GAA and an .867 save percentage. This deal will work out great for Ottawa if he returns to the 2008 version that posted a 2.25 GAA and a .919 save percentage. Plus they get Columbus' second round pick. Columbus gets Antoine Vermette, who is also having a bit of a down year, with nine goals and 19 assists in 62 games. That puts Vermette on pace for 11 goals this season, after averaging 21 goals the last three seasons, and scoring 24 goals last year. Vermette could be a top six forward in Columbus, with the potential to get extra playing time on the power play and penalty kill units. The change in scenery, and the increased roles could be enough for Vermette to return to his 2008 numbers, giving Columbus a good push for the playoffs. A few moves have already taken place leading up to today, and they are as follows: 2/26: Pittsburgh trades Ryan Whitney to Anaheim for Chris Kunitz and Eric Tangradi (Read My Analysis on ESPN Insider )
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