In an unlikely deal announced late in the day, the Buffalo Sabres are sending their second-round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft to the St. Louis Blues. In exchange, they receive sniper Brad Boyes in an attempt to add some offense, as they continue their push to make the top eight and claim a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The move comes as St. Louis, which has been one of the most active teams in the league in the weeks heading up to tomorrow's trade deadline, had recently acquired power forward (and right winger) Chris Stewart from the Colorado Avalanche. They would have to consider either moving Boyes to another team or reconsidering his position as a top-six forward with the Blues.
Stewart has six goals in his first six games with the Blues, making Boyes expendable. The former first round draft pick and 40-goal scorer will look to regain his scoring touch with Buffalo, which has experienced trouble this season producing offense since the season-ending injury of top line center Derek Roy.
Despite the offensive contributions of players such as Thomas Vanek and Drew Stafford, the Sabres will most likely look to Boyes to jump-start their offense and help put them over the edge and into the playoffs this spring.
For the Blues, despite being only seven points out of the playoffs, this move is yet another in what appears to be the beginnings of a rebuild. They've already shipped away their former captain Eric Brewer to Tampa Bay and their former first overall pick Erik Johnson to the Avalanche as they continue to stockpile younger players and draft picks for a chance at future success.
The move comes off a 1-0 loss tonight at Calgary that saw the Blues shut out by Flames net minder Miikka Kiprusoff.
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