Hockey's Trading Week Ends With a Flurry (not Theo)

Time to wrap up your NHL Trade Deadline deals and as usual, there were quite a few of them. This year though, outside the Martin St. Louis to the Rangers deal, no earth shakers.

Let's start with the aforementioned Mr. St. Louis.

The long-time Tampa Bay Lightning sniper, age 38, leaves sunny Florida for the New York Rangers. In return, the Bolts get Ryan Callahan and a couple of draft picks.

There was friction in Tampa between St. Louis and team G.M Steve Yzerman and Callahan, a soon to be unrestricted free agent, wasn't able to come to a contract extension in New York.

Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars swapped goaltenders. Tim Thomas leaves Florida and Dan Ellis leaves Dallas. The Stars are battling for a playoff berth and believe Thomas gives them some stability along with fellow goalie Kari Lehtonen.

The last "Name" move was Jaroslav Halak moving to his 3rd team this season. Halak, recently acquired by Buffalo in the Ryan Miller trade with St. Louis--not San--louie. The Sabres sent Halak to Washington for a 2015 3rd round pick.

Oh, and Columbus sends former all-star Marion Gaborik to Los Angeles for a couple draft picks and forward Matt Frattin

Those are the biggies--How did your team do? Let us know what you think....

Meanwhile, the nattily dressed Barry Melrose breaks down the St. Louis deal on ESPN:

And It Begins: Ryan Miller To St. Louis

Trade Deadline Day is just around the corner... and we now have our first salvo in the run...

Ryan Miller and Jaroslav Halak were straight up dealt to and from Buffalo and St. Louis

The full deal is:

Ryan Miller and captain Steve Ott to St. Louis for Halak, forward Chris Stewart, prospect William Carrier, a 2015 first-round pick and a 2016 third-round pick.

When asked about it yesterday, Miller said: "I'm trying not to be too sentimental.I think everyone in Buffalo kind of knows how I feel about the city. [I've] always enjoyed the people, I've always enjoyed the city."

Sabres General Manager Tim Murray had talked with teams about a deal for Miller. “The route that we’re looking at is to get value for him, to put him in a position to succeed,” Murray said. He went on to call Miller a “good soldier” two days ago when all this was initially discussed...

Ott and Miller are both unrestricted free agents after this season- Ott makes $3.2-million and Miller $6.25-million

Stewart has one more year left on his deal at $4.2-million. Carrier is under an entry-level deal in the minors. Halak is an unrestricted free agent after this season at $4.5-million.

The Sabres now possess 10 picks in the first two rounds of the 2014 and 2015 Drafts.

The larger question for the Sabres is who may be next out the door by Wednesday- Tallinder, Ehrhoff, and Moulson all may be in someone's crosshairs by the time we're done. Murray admits that there are no untouchable players and that this is a complete rebuild.

Murray appeared on Hockey Central to admit that Miller says its time to go...
((HT: Sportsnet))

Halak Had A Hell Of A Time In Net

((HT: Sportsnet/MSG))

Jaroslav Halak had one of those nights... as did Blues goalie Brian Elliott...

The New Jersey Devils were in the process of blowing out the St. Louis Blues last night 7-1 when Eric Gelinas let this shot go...

“I saw the puck,” Halak told reporters postgame. “I knew the guy was going to dump it in the corner. He shot it and unfortunately it went off Petro’s pants. I tried to get in front of the puck, but it hit my stick and went over me. It just went in.”