With the NHL trade deadline still weeks away, the Buffalo Sabres and Winnipeg Jets got the season started with a couple of big names being dealt.
Winnipeg sent winger Evander Kane, defenseman Zach Bogosian and goaltending prospect Jason Kasdorf in exchange to Buffalo for defenseman Tyler Myers, winger Drew Stafford, prospects Joel Armia and Brendan Lemieux, plus a 2015 first-round pick (which ever is higher between STL & NYI).
What this blockbuster trade means for both teams.
In Buffalo it means GM Tim Murray was speeding up the rebuilding process. Instead of waiting on prospects to pan out, Kane is an NHL ready player that has superstar upside. Although he won’t be ready this season (shoulder surgery), he’ll be ready to go when camp comes around. The 23-year-old, drafted fourth overall in 2009, has 109 goals and 222 points in 361 games. The 6-foot-2, 198-pounder scored 30 goals in 2011-12.
Bogosian is a big body that they desperately need on defense. The 24-year-old, 6-foot-3, 225-pound defenseman, was drafted third overall in 2008, and 24-year-old has three goals and 10 assists in 31 games this season.
Rounding out the trade for Buffalo is goalie Jason Kasdorf. The 22-year-old, 6-foot-4, 200-pounder is still playing college at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is 9-14 with a .900 save percentage and 2.94 goals-against average this season.
In order to get the players the Sabres wanted, they had to give up quite a bit.
The former rookie of the month, Tyler Myers was the key piece. The 25-year-old still has room to have solid upside. He has four goals and 13 points in 47 games, including two goals in the last three outings. He is 6-foot-8 but doesn’t really play that big, with that size you’d think he’d hit like Chara but doesn’t.
Drew Stafford is on the decline. He’s still a serviceable winger, only 29-years-old, 6-foot-2, 212 pounds.
Now the prospect talent the Jets received in this trade is superb. Armia, a first-round pick in 2011, is adjusting well to the North American game during his second season since arriving from Finland. Though injured often, the winger has 10 goals and 25 points in 35 games in Rochester.
Lemieux, son of Claude, was regarded as a steal with the 31st overall draft pick last season. The 18-year-old has 35 goals and 50 points in 46 games with Barrie of the Ontario Hockey League this season.
It’s hard to judge the long term of this trade, but the Jets look to be the winners if Lemieux and Armia live up to the hype.
Looking at the move for the Sabres, they appear to be all in for the McDavid-Eichel race for #30. After this tank of a season though, the Sabres look to have sped up the rebuild, and quite quickly too.
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