Calgary/Detroit

[HeyHeyHockeytown]

To Calgary:
Valtteri Filppula (70)
Jason Williams (51)
Ville Leino (68)
Matt Hunwick (62)

To Detroit:
Mikael Backlund (80)
Kirk Maltby (82)
Brian McGrattan (70)
Adam Pardy (76)
Steffan Kronwall (74)
CGY 3rd Round Pick 2010

Detroit confirms.

Reasoning behind this: We save about 3.25 million in cap relief. Get rid of Valtteri's multi-year contract. Williams, and Leino were not going to return to Detroit next year anyways and Hunwick is not my prototypical #7 defenseman. Coming into Detroit are good contracts. Backlund is a good young kid while Kirk Maltby makes his return home. McGratton is a bruiser who will play on line 4. Pardy and Kronwall are my prototypical #7 defensemen and the pick is of value. Calgary needed some more established guys to make a run, I still want to make a run, but saving money on the way. Both teams in need of shakeup.

[FlamesGM]

Confirmed. Backlund is a good young player, but Loktionov and Nemisz will be my core centres for the future, so I can afford to lose Backlund in return for Filpulla who will go right into my second line. Losing Maltby, McGrattan, Pardy and Kronwall is quite a few decent names. But, Pardy and Kronwall aren't necessary. Both were logging time in the AHL, and my defensive core is pretty set at the moment, especially once Phaneuf comes back... hopefully in time for the playoffs, we'll see. Williams will see some time, have to find who he will work best with (could find a place with Filpulla if the chemistry works). Leino hasn't hit his potential yet, and could become a great goalscorer, just have to develop and see if he can reach his potential.

Needed to get in at least one deal before the deadline to try and make some changes and right the ship after 3 annoying losses since the Olympic break. Need to cling on to this playoff spot.

[Tuo-SabresGM]

This deal is Approved and entered.