Tangradi to Habs for Budaj and Holland
– According to Darren Dreger, he has tweeted that the Montreal Canadiens and the Winnipeg Jets have completed a trade which is sending veteran goaltender Peter Budaj and prospect American leaguer Patrick Holland in exchange for forward Eric Tangradi.
Budaj, a nine year veteran in the NHL has spent his last three seasons with the Montreal Canadiens. In 24 games played in 2013-2014, Budaj had a respectable record of 10 wins and 8 losses with 3 overtime losses. He recorded a 2.51 goals against average and .909 save percentage. His role in Montreal was entirely as a backup to the no.1 goalie Carey Price. Last year, Budaj had some difficulties in net, when price was injured following his tenure in the Winter Olympics. It was further confirmed that Budaj would be likely waived or traded when prospect goalie Dustin Tokarski took over for Price when he got injured in the Montreal – New York Rangers Eastern conference final. Tokarski did very well despite losing in 6 games to the Blue Shirts.
As for Holland, he was acquired in the Mike Camalleri trade to the Calgary Flames in 2012 with forward Rene Bourque. he has played his last two seasons with the Hamilton Bulldogs. in 2013-2014, Holland compiled 6 goals and 11 assists in 57 games played. Holland played in only 5 games with the Montreal Canadiens.
As for Tangradi, he was waived by the Winnipeg Jets on Friday and was not claimed. He recorded 3 goals and 6 points in 55 games played with the Winnipeg Jets in 2013-2014. Tangradi was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, 42nd overall. Tangradi also had a stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2009 to 2013.
Boychuk and Leddy traded
The inevitable had to happen and it happen on Saturday.
First, solid defenceman Johnny Boychuk from the Boston Bruins was traded to the New York Islanders in exchange for three draft choices which two are second round draft picks in 2015 and 2016 and a conditional third round draft pick. The conditional draft pick will only go to the Boston bruins if Boychuk was to be traded to an Eastern Conference team. For Boston, this Boychuk trade puts the team at a salary cap of $68,667,476, according to capgeek.com that’s $332,524 under the cap.
For Peter Chiarelli, this trade was necessary and didn’t sit well with Johnny Boychuk. The defenceman who was a plus +/-31 last year, felt at home in Boston. Chiarelli declared that it was not by choice that he had to trade his blueliner. Chiarelli declared that both he and Boychuk were disappointed in the trade but the Bruins who were above the salary cap with young players to sign had no choice. Boychuk was making 3.36 million this year.
As for Nick Leddy, he was also traded to the New York Islanders by the Chicago Blackhawks. Leddy was traded to the Islanders in exchange for defenceman Ville Pokka, defenceman T.J. Brennan and the rights to goaltender Anders Nilsson. Leddy, 23, appears to be a solid investment for the Islanders. He recorded seven goals and 24 assists for 31 points last year with the Hawks while keeping a plus-10 rating in 82 games played. In addition Leddy during last year’s playoff, he scored one goal and assisted on four others in 18 playoff games played.
In the case of the Blackhawks salary cap, the Leddy trade brings them slightly under the salary cap at $67,522,628 which gives them $1,477,372 in cap space according to capgeek.com.
Editor’s Note: For Garth Snow, who had the cap space to make these moves, they were wise ones. In Boychuk, he is immediately solidifying a shaky defense while adding Nick Leddy, they get to add a solid defenceman with endurance (he has played his last three seasons in their entirety) and with playoff experience. Thse two moves in one da may make the Islanders a playoff contender for this season. They have a potable offence in Tavares, Strome, Okposo and Frans Nielsen while they have now Boychuk, Leddy and Hickey with Halak in the net.
