Earlier today the league announced that the Flames had made 3 seperate trades to help the team make the playoffs at the expense of the future. The biggest of the deals was the Flames landing top young LW Rick Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Last year in the now defunct NHL, Nash had an amazing 44 goals as a 19 year old. A task that's not been accomplished by many players in the NHL's history.
"Left wing was our shallowest position by far," Flames GM Jamie Hoover replied to why Nash, "He's a guy that not only will be there for us for many years, he's going to be a big part in helping us make the playoffs this year. We're excited about his arrival and to see what he can do on our top line here."
Going to Columbus are three excellent prospects, one of which being Evgeni Malkin who the Flames were billing as the franchise forward.
"It was very very difficult to deal the kid. In our minds he's the second best prospect in the world and will eventually be a top ten player in this league. However, he is still a prospect, and it'd be a few years before he'll have any kind of impact for us. We like Malkin so much I could certainly see a future deal with Columbus bringing the talented youngster back at some point. The same could be said for the other two even. We didn't deal them because we didn't like them. We dealt them because we got Nash."
Later in the day the two clubs started talking again, and Allison's name came up. The Flames were a little hesitant to make any kind of deal for the often injured centerman, but the idea of keeping Nash together with his playmaker and throwing Guerin on their other wing became something the organization decided to venture into a little more.
"The price was alright... I think we lose the deal. But I want to make the playoffs, and a line of Nash, Allison and Guerin has the potential to explode, so we look forward to what the three can do together. If they click we're going to be scaring some top seeds in the first round."
What was the deal you ask? Another center prospect to go with Malkin in Hennessy and Boston's 1st round pick in the 2005 draft. Calgary also picks up LA's 3rd round pick in the same draft.
And the team's third blockbuster of the day saw them add RW Eric Nickulas for an 8th round pick in the 2006 draft earlier aqcuired in a similar deal for Dave Lowry(almost identical, players play opposite wings however).
"We wanted a little depth on the RW for if we do make the playoffs and we get an injury or two. Eric is a great player and we're extremely happy to have him in the organization. We most certainly will be looking to resign him in the offseason."
All in all, an interesting day for the Flames. After making several deals trying to land picks and prospects over the last while, they suddenly dropped the hammer. Here's a summary of the day's in and outs.
IN:
LW Rick Nash, C Jason Allison, RW Eric Nickulas, LA 3rd '05
OUT:
C Evgeni Malkin, D Ladislav Smid, D AJ Thelen, C Josh Hennessy, BOS 1st '05