Players On Move Saturday At Vancouver

It was a busy Saturday at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver. While St. Louis was making American stud defenseman Erik Johnson the number one overall selection, general managers were working the phones looking to swing deals.

While some just involved moving up or down, four centered around established NHLers changing rosters. Three were made during the draft. The first such move took place after NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was booed by the crowd at GM Place.

Taking the usual mocking in stride, he announced that they had a trade, turning the boos to cheers to which he sarcastically remarked, "Now you cheer."

The first trade saw Colorado send star left wing Alex Tanguay to Calgary in exchange for defenseman Jordan Leopold, a 2006 second round pick (Cody Burki) and a conditional second rounder in 2007 or 2008.

This deal addresses the Flames' need for more offense. The 26 year-old Tanguay finished '05-06 with 29 goals, 49 assists for 78 points in 71 games for Colorado. He was an integral part of the Avalanche's second Stanley Cup in 2001, amassing 21 points including two goals in the deciding Game Seven over the Devils.

Calgary Coach/GM Darryl Sutter is looking for similar contributions to an offense which scored only 218 goals this past season, ranking last among 16 playoff teams and 27th overall.

They'll hope the 2004 NHL All Star can team with star power forward Jarome Iginla to form a dynamic duo.

For the Avalanche, acquiring the 25 year-old Leopold should be a welcome addition to the blueline. The former '01-02 Hobey Baker Award winner had 20 points along with a plus-six rating in 74 games for Calgary in '05-06.

Though his offensive production was down from the nine goals and 33 points he totaled two years ago, the ex-Golden Gopher star is a solid puckmoving D who can jump into the play. He'll be asked to team with John-Michael Liles and could be insurance in case new team Executive VP and GM Francois Giguere cannot re-sign Rob Blake.

The second deal involving an NHL star during the draft was struck in the middle of the first round when the Kings sent Pavol Demitra packing to the Wild for Patrick O'Sullivan and the 17th overall pick (Trevor Lewis).

By receiving the 31 year-old Demitra who totaled 62 points in just 58 games in one season with LA, Minnesota GM Doug Risebrough is hoping to reunite the Slovakian star with Marian Gaborik. At this year's Olympics, both had a solid chemistry in leading their country to a perfect preliminary record in Group play before falling to the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals.

The question is will this persuade Gaborik to re-sign long term with the club. The 24 year-old RFA already turned down a significant offer. If he does return, it should make the Wild a much more exciting team to watch.

Meanwhile, new Kings GM Dean Lombardi freed up cap space by getting rid of Demitra's contract. He was set to make $4.5 million next season.

What Lombardi got back was potential in the 21 year-old O'Sullivan. The former Wild 2003 second round pick was splendid in his first pro season for AHL affiliate Houston- lighting the lamp 47 times and adding 46 helpers for 93 points. He will now be a big part of the Kings' future and could make a splash this fall.

Also on the move Saturday was Boston goalie Andrew Raycroft. The former 2004 Calder winner was traded to the Maple Leafs straight up for Tuukka Rask.

With Toronto GM John Ferguson expected to buyout veteran star Ed Belfour, he swung the deal for the 26 year-old Raycroft to address a team need.

The question is will it pay off? After a great '03-04 in which he won 29 games with a 2.05 GAA, .926 save percentage plus three shutouts, the Belleville Ontario native struggled mightily this past season winning just eight times in 30 games, finishing with a dismal 3.71 GAA and .879 Save Pct. That must turn around in a hurry at pressure packed Toronto or it will be a second consecutive postseason miss.

With Boston feeling comfortable with Hannu Toivonen in net, interim GM Jeff Gorton parted with Raycroft and acquired Rask. Rask, 19, was Toronto's '05 first round selection. The Finnish product could have a bright future. In his first full season for Ilves Tampere in the Finnish Elite League, he went 12-8-7 with a 2.09 GAA, .926 save percentage and two shutouts.

Without a doubt, the Bruins should be set in net for a long time with Rask following the 22 year-old Toivonen.

One other deal which was made prior to the start of the draft took place between Dallas and Atlanta. The Stars sent forward Niko Kapanen and a seventh round pick (Will O'Neill) to Atlanta in exchange for center Patrik Stefan and defenseman Jaroslav Modry.

Stefan, 25, was a former first overall selection by the Thrashers in 1999. He never fulfilled the potential in Atlanta but will try to be an asset with his new club. A two-way pivot, the Czech native finished '05-06 with 10 goals and 24 points along with a plus-three rating in 64 contests. In 414 career games, he has 59 goals and 118 assists for 177 points.

Also included in the deal was 35 year-old vet Modry. The defenseman contributed seven goals and 38 points for Atlanta last season. The move could signal that Dallas GM Doug Armstrong won't be able to re-sign Willie Mitchell. Acquired from the Wild this past season, he's set to become a UFA July 1st.

In Kapanen, the Thrashers received a two-way forward in Kapanen who can be used in a checking role. In '05-06, the 28 year-old Finn established career highs in goals (14) and points (35). He was also part of Finland's Olympic team which took silver in Torino.

Atlanta will look for a similar progression from the former Stars' 1998 sixth round pick in '06-07.