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The Buffalo Sabres have acquired forward Michael Frolik from the Calgary Flames in exchange for the fourth round pick Buffalo recently acquired for Marco Scandella. Frolik, 31, has struggled this season, with 5 goals, 5 assists, and 10 points through 38 games, while averaging only 11:55 TOI per game. He is in the final year of a deal with a $4.3M cap hit. Who won?

A post shared by Best Hockey Account On IG (@hockeycoverage) on Jan 2, 2020 at 3:49pm PST

Jason Botterill has flipped the 4th round pick he received from Montreal to Calgary.

The Sabres have acquired veteran forward Michael Frolik.

The Buffalo Sabres have acquired forward Michael Frolik from the Calgary Flames in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft (originally owned by the San Jose Sharks). pic.twitter.com/qzIHVJ33UF

— Sabres PR (@SabresPR) January 2, 2020

Frolik, 31, is a $4.3M AAV this season and is a pending UFA on July 1. Frolik plays boith wing positions.

Frolik has a modified no trade list of 10 teams that he will not accept a trade to.


In 38 games played this season, Frolik has just 5 goals and 5 assists. He is -10 and is averaging 11:55 TOI.


In 831 career regular season games, Frolik has scored 158 goals and 222 assist for 380 points. In 47 career playoff games, Frolik has scored 7 goals and 12 assists.

Trading Scandella's $4M AAV for Frolik's $4.3M AAV is a push as it concerns money.

I see Frolik as a bottom six forward. His addition will render Evan Rodrigues obsolete. Rodrigues has requested a trade out of Buffalo. Jason Botterill will accomodate the trade requests of Rodrigues and Zach Bogosian.

Jason Botterill said Thursday night that he likes Frolik's "championship pedigree". Frolik won a Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks. Botterill also said Frolik is going to help the Sabres PK as well as at 5v5.

Frolik was drafted by Florida Panthers
(Round 1, #10 overall 2006 NHL Entry Draft). Frolik may make his #Sabres50 debut against the Panthers on Saturday afternoon #90sDay @BuffaloSabres

— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) January 3, 2020

Does he help? Yes. Bottom six. Goodbye Evan Rodrigues

— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) January 3, 2020

TRADE : Here's Michael Frolik with the @BuffaloSabres pic.twitter.com/I94Fhj5MLD

— TradedNHLPortrait (@NHLPortrait) January 2, 2020

**

The Buffalo Sabres have acquired a fourth-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft (originally owned by the San Jose Sharks) from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Marco Scandella. pic.twitter.com/UQHxDEQjww

— Sabres PR (@SabresPR) January 2, 2020

Getting a fourth rounder for a rental is a decent return for the Sabres.

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Your name must be Coca Cola, because you're soda-licious.⁣ Marco Scandella | Buffalo Sabres⁣ #hunksofhockey #iwouldpuckwithyou #sabres #letsgobuffalo #buffalosabres #sabreshockey #marcoscandella @buffalosabres

A post shared by Hunks of Hockey🏒 (@hunksofhockey) on Mar 29, 2019 at 10:30am PDT

The Montreal Canadiens opened up left defense roster spot on Thursday afternoon by trading Mike Rielly to division rivals Ottawa in exchange for a 2021 fifth-round pick and AHL forward Andrew Sturtz.



Marc Bergevin made the Rielly trade to set up a Marco Scandella trade to his hometown Habs.


An hour later, Bergy bought another left D at a bargain price.

Is Marco Scandella heading home to Montreal? #Sabres50 res50 https://t.co/Dt9mFMossc

— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) January 2, 2020

Scandella, 29, will be UFA on July 1.


He is earning $4M AAV this season.

Scanedella will add puck movement and sand paper to the Candiens' blue line that incluses Shea Weber, Victor Mete, Jeff Petry, Ben Chiarot, Brett kulak, and Chistian Folin.


Jason Botterill is sitting two NHL defensemen every night while six others play.


Botterill has known for months that he has to trade a defenseman or two.


Last month, Zach Bogosian demanded a trade from the Sabres. Colin Miller has been a healthy scratch multiple times this season.

Scandella left Buffalo before he skated away as a UFA. Botterill needed to get an asset in exchange for Scandella like Bergevin did in the Mike Rielly trade.


Botterill just cleared out $4M AAV in salary cap space. I expect Botterill to make another trade for a top six orward in the very near future.

Keep your eyes on Kris Kreider, Tyler Toffoli, Rickard Rakell, Tomas Hertl, Alex Tuch and Kyle Palmieri as trade targets for the Sabres.



Tonight against Edmonton, Ralph Kreuger will roll 7D and 11 forwards.



More to come.....

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