A busy day of moves in the National Hockey League and it’s not even 2:00 p.m. as Tomas Kaberle has been officially traded to the Boston Bruins. The Bruins landed their coveted puck moving defenseman and the Maple Leafs will receive prospect Joe Colborne, the Bruins’ first round pick in 2011 and a conditional 2nd round draft pick in 2012, if Kaberle resigns in Boston which is a strong possibility or if the Bruins reach the Stanley Cup Final.
Toronto has acquired two first round picks for the 2011 draft, in a matter of days.
To make room for Kaberle, the Bruins as expected shipped off Blake Wheeler and defenseman Mark Stuart.
Wheeler and Stuart have been dealt to Atlanta in exchange for Rich Peverley and defenceman Boris Valabik.
Wheeler has 11 goals and 15 assists with a plus-8 rating through 58 games. He was coveted by several teams.
Atlanta had been very active in the trade market, looking for a top-6 forward.
Chicago and Nashville were also in the mix for Stuart.
Elsewhere around the league, the Ottawa Senators and Colorado Avalanche swapped goaltenders, with Brian Elliott going to Colorado in exchange for Craig Anderson.
The wheeling and dealing is not expected to be done for today. The Carolina Hurricanes have offers on the table for Ian White and the Mark Stuart situation had been holding up a deal as teams in on White were also in on Stuart. White is expected to be moved within the next 24 hours. Check rumor chart for teams showing interest in White.
Updated: Ian White has been dealt to the San Jose Sharks for a 2nd round pick. The Sharks have been actively seeking a defenseman.
Other moves to go down today was St. Louis shipping captain Eric Brewer to the Tampa Bay Lightning inexchange for a 3rd round pick and prospect.
As for the Penguins…
there continues to be no indications that the Penguins are close to any deals of significance. The team though is actively involved in talks. An internet report from Hockeybuzz.com indicated Thursday night that the Penguins and Minnesota Wild were close to a deal.
Sources refuted early Friday morning that a deal was close or that the two teams were even involved in talks.
