The NHL trade deadline is on Wednesday and teams around the league are scrambling to make moves ahead of the playoffs, including the St. Louis Blues, who made one of the biggest deals by acquiring Calgary Flames defenseman Jay Bouwmeester.
According to the Associated Press, the Blues acquired Bouwmeester for two young prospects in defenseman Mark Cundari and goaltender Reto Berra along with a first-round pick. The team will also get a fourth round pick in the upcoming draft if the Blues fail to make the playoffs, while the first round pick will be pushed to the next year. There were rumors that Bouwmeester would be traded and those rumors intensified after the Flames traded franchise star Jarome Iginla to the Penguins.
Bouwmeester is considered to be one of the top defensemen in the league and he has a $6.68 million salary attached to him. The trade came ahead of the 3 p.m. Wednesday trade deadline and Bouwmeester will provide the Blues with strong blue line play as they make a playoff push. Bouwmeester has scored six goals and nine assists this season and had been with the Flames since 2009.
Bouwmeester was a top five draft pick for the Florida Panthers and he has played 10 seasons in the NHL, scoring 71 goals and notching 229 assists. The Flames officially started their rebuilding process for the future, as they traded their two best players for prospects and picks while also shedding salary.
Iginla was traded to the Penguins after it appeared a deal was reached with the Bruins and Pittsburgh needs him now more than ever after Sidney Crosby suffered a serious jaw injury. The 35-year-old had spent his entire career in Calgary and he now joins a team that is one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup. Iginla had to waive a trade clause for the deal and the Flames received a 2013 first round pick and the rights to two college players.
The San Jose Sharks also got involved in the trading game, as the team sent Michal Handzus to the Western conference-leading Chicago Blackhawks for a fourth round pick, according to ESPN.com. The team had already traded Douglas Murray to the Penguins last week and now has added three draft picks in the process altogether.
There are a number of players that could be moved at teams that are looking to make deals, including the New York Rangers, who need to bolster their defense to help make a playoff run as well as try to add a forward that can score. The Penguins so far have improved themselves the most and the Blues did that with their deal as well.
