Lots of moving, and seems like more than in years past. This new salary cap is really messing with the old strategy of free agency. Teams no longer can afford to stockpile top players like Detroit and Colorado did in the 90s, and seem more focused on young talent through prospects and draft picks, built around maybe one or two franchise players and a cheap talented goalie. Anyone else see the reaction when the Wild acquire Demitra from the Kings during the draft? Thought it was pretty funny to see Bettman squirm.

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Wild trade for Demitra; Flames grab Tanguay, Leafs get Raycroft on draft day

June 24, 2006

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- The Calgary Flames and Minnesota Wild added some offense while the Toronto Maple Leafs traded for a No. 1 goalie at the NHL draft Saturday.

The Leafs, who are expected to cut loose veteran Ed Belfour before the end of the month, traded for 2004 Calder Trophy winner Andrew Raycroft of Boston. The Bruins received Finnish goaltending prospect Tuukka Rask, Toronto's first-round pick last June.

"We had a chance to acquire a 26-year-old goaltender who has already proven himself to be a No. 1 goalie, he's a former rookie of the year and it really fits in well to our group and what we're trying to do going forward," said Leafs GM John Ferguson.

Hannu Toivonen took over the starter's job in Boston last season while Tim Thomas is a competent backup so the Bruins were looking to move Raycroft, a restricted free agent who made $1.35 million last season.

The Wild acquired star forward Pavol Demitra from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for their first-round pick, 17th overall, in Saturday's entry draft as well as prospect Patrick O'Sullivan.

The 31-year-old Demitra will be a nice compliment to fellow Slovak star winger Marian Gaborik.

"I think it'll help them both be productive," Wild GM Doug Risebrough said. "They both are a good fit, they'll feed off each other. We think Marian's the best player on the team and we're trying to find ways to make him better."

Gaborik is a restricted free agent while Demitra, who had 62 points in only 58 games last season, arrives in Minnesota with two more years left on his deal at $4.5 million per season.

A day after the Vancouver Canucks landed star goalie Roberto Luongo from Florida for troubled forward Todd Bertuzzi, the rival Flames grabbed the spotlight early in the draft by acquiring winger Alex Tanguay from Colorado in exchange for defenseman Jordan Leopold, a second-round pick this year and a conditional second-round pick in 2007 or 2008.

The Flames were 27th out of 30 teams in goals scored last season and will welcome Tanguay's soft hands.

"It gives us a No. 1 left-winger, that's what it does," said Flames GM/coach Darryl Sutter. "That's how he's perceived in the league and that's how we perceive him. He's a guy that produces number-wise."

The 26-year-old former first-round draft pick (12th overall) was second in scoring for the Avalanche last season with 29 goals and 49 assists in 71 games.

Tanguay has scored 25 or more goals in four of his last five seasons.

The cap-challenged Avs are trying to re-sign star defenseman Rob Blake and now will have more flexibility to do so without Tanguay, a restricted free agent who is due a $3.23-million qualifying offer by Monday's deadline.

In the first deal of the day, the Dallas Stars send Nikko Kapanen and a seventh-round draft pick this year to the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for defenseman Jaroslov Modry and forward Patrick Stefan, the No. 1 draft pick in 1999.

It's a deal that clears some salary cap space for the Thrashers.

Modry, Atlanta's top scoring defenseman last season with seven goals and 31 assists in 79 games, has another year left on his contract at $1.9 million.

Stefan is a restricted free agent who earned $1.064 million this past season. He had only 10 goals and 14 assists in 64 games last season and has been a bust since Atlanta made him the first overall pick seven years ago.

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June 24, 2006

LEAFS LAND RAYCROFT
The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired goaltender Andrew Raycroft from the Boston Bruins for goaltender Tuukka Rask.

DEMITRA TO MINNESOTA
The Minnesota Wild acquired forward Pavol Demitra from the Los Angeles Kings for center Patrick O'Sullivan and a first-round draft pick in 2006.

TANGUAY TO CALGARY
The Calgary Flames acquired winger Alex Tanguay from the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Jordan Leopold, a second-round draft pick in 2006 and a conditional draft pick in 2007 or 2008.

STEFAN TO DALLAS
The Dallas Stars acquired center Patrik Stefan and defenseman Jaroslav Modry from the Atlanta Thrashers for center Niko Kapanen and a seventh-round draft pick in 2006.

ANDERSON TO FLORIDA
The Florida Panthers acquired goaltender Craig Anderson from the Chicago Blackhawks for a sixth-round draft pick in 2008.

June 23, 2006

LUONGO-BERTUZZI
The Vancouver Canucks acquired goaltender Roberto Luongo, defenseman Lukas Krajicek and a sixth-round draft pick in 2006 from the Florida Panthers for right wing Todd Bertuzzi, defenseman Bryan Allen and goaltender Alex Auld.