Dustin Byfuglien Dealt To Thrashers

 

UPDATE (x2): The trade to send Dustin Byfuglien to Atlanta is now official, according to TSN. And as Bob McKenzie mentioned, the holdup was simply a matter up Atlanta going over the 50-contract limit.

The trade is now a nine-player deal sending packaging Brent Sopel, Ben Eager and Akim Aliu with Byfuglien to the Thrashers in exchange for Marty Reasoner, Jeremy Morin, Joey Crabb and the first (24th overall) and second (54th overall) round picks acquired from the New Jersey Devils in the Ilya Kovalchuk trade.

In order to meet the NHL limit on maximum contracts, the Thrashers sent forward Brent Sterling, defenseman Michael Vernace and a 7th round pick in this weekend's draft to the San Jose Sharks for future considerations.

UPDATE: TSN's Bob McKenzie is reporting that a holdup in this pending trade might not be the fact that the NHL Awards Ceremony was tonight, but that the Thrashers will have too many contracts.

It is my understanding Chi-Atl trade hold up is indeed because Atl would have 51 contracts with trade. Atl has to move a contract first. - Bob McKenzie

McKenzie also mentions that they could just remove Aliu from the deal for now. Either way, he doesn't expect the trade to become official until Thursday or Friday.

ORIGINAL: The cost-cutting has begun for the Chicago Blackhawks. Just hours before the NHL Awards Ceremony, TSN announced that Chicago was sending playoff standout Dustin Byfuglien to the Atlanta Thrashers in a six-player deal that would, in part, net the 2010 Stanley Cup Champions the 24th overall selection in Friday's draft - originally acquired by the Thrashers from New Jersey in the Ilya Kovalchuk trade. The Blackhawks will also receive the 54th overall pick in the draft (also obtained in a swap of second rounders with New Jersey in the Kovalchuk trade), 33-year old center Marty Reasoner and 19-year old prospect Jeremy Morin, who scored 47 goals and 83 points last year with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League. In addition to Byfuglien, Atlanta gets defenseman Brent Sopel, depth forward Ben Eager and 21-year old right wing prospect Akim Aliu. According to TSN, the deal is not official just yet:

"The only hold-up on trade call appears to be tied to waiting for league personnel to land in Los Angeles. After that, the trade should be made official."

The big chip here is obviously Byfuglien, who established himself all of the last season and especially during the playoffs as a gritty big-sized forward proficient at getting to the front of the net for a screen or to put the puck in off his own stick. This move is, unfortunately, a salary dump for Chicago, who one would have to imagine would otherwise love to keep such a key piece to their championship drive if it wasn't for the fact that they were sitting right up against the salary cap. The 24th overall pick is decent compensation, but not nearly a replacement for the big guy.

For the Thrashers, this was a steal of trade. They acquire some salary here, but they can afford it much better than Chicago. And with the addition of Byfuglien, Atlanta keeps building up pieces to move past the Kovalchuk era of their franchise. He should pay immediate dividends as a much-needed big body to provide physical play. He's not a pure offensive threat, but will still be a leading scorer for the team as the roster stands now.