Updated:
Evander Kane has been traded to the San Jose Sharks.
The Sabres receive a conditional first-round pick in 2019, a conditional fourth-rounder in 2020 and prospect Dan O'Regan.
Elliotte Friedman confirms the trade as a pure rental.
I’ve told you about San Jose’s interest in Kane. I like Kane adding even strength scoring to a Sharks lineup that desperately need it.
Here’s the deal:
More to come.
To Sharks
F Evander Kane
To Sabres
2019 Cond, 1st Round Pick 2020 Cond. 4th Round Pick F Daniel O'Reagan
••••
Told ya so. The St. Louis Blues are an organization in flux right now. Losers of four straight games, and sinking like a Western sunset, the Blues are making changes.
BIG changes.
Blues GM Doug Armstring has traded veteran center Paul Stastny to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for a 2018 first round pick, a 2018 fourth round pick and prospect Erik Foley.
TRADE ALERT: #stlblues have acquired a first-round pick, a fourth-round pick and prospect Erik Foley from Winnipeg in exchange for Paul Stastny.
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) February 26, 2018
DETAILS: https://t.co/4FzpuJutnt pic.twitter.com/JYdhFqMkOV
This is an excellent trade for Armstrong who moves out a 32 year old pending UFAs who had been a $7M AAV this season. Stastny has scored 40 points in 63 games this season.
I don't see Doug Armstrong throwing in the towel in St. Louis. I see Mike Yeo moving rookie Tage Thompson to his natural center position to replace Stastny. Perhaps Armstrong has a trade in the works that will move a veteran pivot to The Loo before 3pm today.
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) February 26, 2018
Are the Blues in it to be in it? Or, are they in it to win it?
I see Mike Yeo moving rookie Tage Thompson to Stastny's third line center role moving forward. Thompson has been playing the wing this season. Perhaps Armstrong hjas a deal in mind to add a veteran cebter at the trade deadline to replace Stastny.
The Jets were known to be hot and heavy on adding veteran forwards Rick Nash, Derrick Brassard and Michael Grabner. However, those three players opted to play for other team. Nash ended up in Boston, Brassard in Pittsburgh and Grabner in New Jersey.
The Stastny acquisition moves Winnipeg into my top three teams in the West:
1. Vegas Golden Knights 2. Nashville Predators 3. Winnipeg Jets.
Before the Blues traded Stastny, Nashville added more scoring and grit to their lineup by acquiring forward Ryan Hartman and a fifth-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a first-round and fourth-round pick in this year's draft and forward Victor Ejdsell.
If Stastny and Hartman were traded for first round picks plus assets, Evander Kane, Max Pacioretty, Mike Hoffman trades will also have to include first round picks in 2018. The market has spoken.
This is how I see it at 12:20 pm EDT on trade deadline day.
I think this trade has increased the collective blood pressure of the GM of contending teams in the Western Conference.
The Calgary Flames, LA Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild are good teams, however, they are not great teams in the same class as Vegas Knights, Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets.
If the Western contenders want to catch the top three, they need to trade premium prospects, a first round draft choice and roster players to keep pace with the Big 3 out West.
Sopeaking of the Blues, they find themselves one point out of a wild card spot on trde deadline day. Is Armstrong going to sell off more assets and call it a season, or, is he going to re-tool on the fly by adding an impact forward like Evander Kane, Max Pacioretty or Mike Hoffman?
It's not too late for Amrstrong and Mike Yeo to make a heroic run for a wild card berth. They will have to trade premium assets, including a first rounder to make it happen
Blues now have a 2018 first round pick to invest in a top six forward. If Winnipeg's pick is numbers 1-3 (won't be ;) ) Blues will receive Jets' first-rounder in 2019. Otherwise, they will get it this year.
Armstrong also has top prospects Jordan Kyrou (C), Jordan Schmaltz (D), Robert Thomas (C), Tage Thompson (C), Klim Kostin (RW) to use as currency at the trade dealine.
**
More bad news regarding Pittsburgh Penguins goaltending.
Matt Murray left practice early and will be available.
Coach Sullivan says that Matt Murray left the ice early today and is being evaluated.
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 26, 2018
If he hasn't done so already, Jim Rutherford better call Jason Botterill and make a trade for Sabres starting goalie Robin Lehner as an insurance policy.
Were it not for playing Murray and Marc Andre Fleury during the past two playoff runs, the Penguins do not win two Stanley Cup championships in a row.
How will Rutherford and Mike Sullivan make a serious run at a three-peat if Murray in injured? Sorry, Tristan Jarry. You aren't in Murray or Fleury's class as a goalie yet