By Ray Flowers
July 9, 2008 2:01pm CDT

We've already discussed the majority of the big free agent signings that have occurred thus far in the offseason, and we thought now would be a good time to delve into some of the trades that have taken place over the past week or so. In what follows are some thoughts on a few of these key moves.


Boyle to San Jose
Sharks Get: D Dan Boyle, D Brad Lukowich
Lightning Get: D Matt Carle, D Ty Wishart, a 2009 first-round pick, a 2010 fourth-round pick
The Sharks wasted little time in filling the void on their blueline created when Brian Campbell chose to join the Blackhawks for a bazillion dollars (actually it was just $57.1 million) by moving to acquire the biggest name on the trading block who called the blueline home in Dan Boyle. "Dan is one of the elite offensive-minded defensemen in the league today," GM Doug Wilson said "Being able to acquire an elite player in his prime that has won a Stanley Cup will help this organization get to where we want to go." Boyle, for his part, waived his no-trade clause to facilitate the deal and had many an angry word for the lack of respect he felt he was shown by the Lightning, who basically forced him out the door. The Sharks also picked up Brad Lukowich, though he is irrelevant in fantasy given his completely defensive-minded game (just seven points last season).

Boyle skated in only 37 games last season due to a freak accident that occurred when a skate in his locker fell on his wrist and severed a tendon. He still managed to score 25 points in the 37 games in which he skated, this after a career-best season of 20 goals and 63 points in 2006-07. In fact, over the previous four seasons (2002-06), Boyle averaged 52 points per season, a total he figures to have little trouble matching in his first year in San Jose given the fact that he will lead the power-play from the point. With Patrick Marleau, Jonathan Cheechoo and Joe Thornton up front, that unit could be lethal to the opposition. Boyle is also the rare right-handed shooting defensemen, something the Sharks have been searching for as far back as one can remember. Boyle will be no worse than a second defensemen, albeit one who easily possesses the upside of a D1.

The Lighting picked up a defenseman with a bright future in Wishart, a 20-year-old who led Western Hockey League defensemen with 67 points (16-51-67), though he is still a ways away from contributing at the NHL level. The player who figures to make an immediate fantasy impact is Matt Carle, who, oddly enough, may be asked to fill the role of the man he was traded for as a point shot on the #1 power-play unit. Carle was hideous last year with only two goals and 15 points in 62 games, this after a rookie season of 11 goals and 42 points. Carle has all the skills necessary to be a dominating offensive defensemen, and perhaps being able to find a fresh start with an immensely talented group of forwards in Tampa will allow him to return to the levels he reached in 2006-07.


Rivet to Buffalo
Sabres Get: D Craig Rivet, a 7th round pick in 2010
Sharks Get: Second-round drafts picks in 2009 and 2010
The Sharks needed some salary relief after taking on Boyle and Rob Blake (the duo will make roughly $12 million in 2008), so they were forced to trade their most consistent blue liner of a year ago in Craig Rivet. The Ontario-born defensemen really took to life on the west coast after working in the pressure cooker that is Montreal for 12 years, and the Sharks truly were sad to see him go. On the ice, Rivet was never afraid to step up for a teammate (leading to 104 PIM), and he was also a potent weapon on the power-play with 20 PP points. The Sharks will be completely capable of covering up his loss with the Blake and Boyle, and in an ironic twist, Rivet will be asked to fill the role that Brian Campbell used to fill in Buffalo before being traded to the Sharks. Rivet is nowhere close to being as physically gifted as Campbell, but he brings just enough production to be an excellent fourth defensemen in fantasy circles and one that could match last year's production if given a substantial role with the Sabres, which should happen.


Bernier to Vancouver
Canucks Get: Steve Bernier
Sabres Get: A second-round pick in 2009, and a second-round pick in 2010
Another former Shark was on the move in Steve Bernier, who was sent to the Sabres as part of the deal that gained the Sharks Campbell last season. Bernier had a fairly successful stint in Buffalo with three goals and nine points in 17 games, and he will now take his rough and tumble game to Vancouver, where he figures to be on one of the team's top-two scoring lines now that Markus Naslund has moved on to the Rangers. Bernier is a physically imposing winger who stands 6'2" and weighs 225 lbs, and he has a nose for the net and the drive to go into the tough areas to score. This will be his fourth NHL season, and in his previous three seasons he has scored 14, 15 and 16 goals despite skating in more than 65 games only once (last season - 73). If the Canucks stick to the plan and give Bernier time on the power-play, he could easily produce his first 20-goal season with the potential to possibly reach the 30-goal level. He is certainly worth a look late in deep mixed drafts, especially if he somehow manages to skate with the Sedin Twins, though rumors are flying that the Canucks will sign Pavol Demitra to take up residence on the line with the twins.


Zherdev to New York
Rangers Get: F Nikolai Zherdev and F Dan Fritsche
Columbus Gets: D Fedor Tyutin and D Christian Backman
The only player worthy of fantasy notice here is Zherdev, who might be asked to take Jaromir Jagr's spot as the first line right wing, though he more likely will skate on the second line, with newly signed Markus Naslund skating on the top line. Regardless, Zherdev will skate with either Chris Drury or Scott Gomez as his center, and both of those fellas are major offensive weapons that figure to enhance the ability of Zherdev to put up points.

Zherdev scored 27 goals in 2005-06 but regressed to just 10 scores in 2006-07. He contemplated going back to Russia but stuck it out, worked harder, actually played some defense, and ended up returning to prominence with 26 goals and a career-best 61 points. Few skaters are as physically gifted as Zherdev and he should be counted on, at the very least, to duplicate his production of last season now that he is in the Big Apple, though there is the ability here for a potential 40-goal type season if things break right.

The rest of these players are a motley fantasy crew. Fritsche has scored 22 goals the past two years, but his game isn't one that possesses top-flight offensive gifts. Tyutin is the consummate defensive defenseman who has scored a grand total of 66 points in 250 NHL games, while Backman has been only slightly better with 72 points in 246 games. None of these three warrants being selected in drafts at the start of the season.