Trading Pace Picks Up as Deadline Nears

One day before the NHL’s trade deadline, general managers are becoming busier and busier as teams with playoff hopes attempt to pry impact players away from non-contenders.

Monday’s trading saw the Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils and Dallas Stars grow in talent and depth.

The Flyers made perhaps the biggest move of the day, acquiring right wing Tony Amonte from the Phoenix Coyotes for left wing Guillaume Lefebvre, a third-round draft pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and a second-round pick in 2004.

Amonte has just thirteen goals and thirty-six points this season after signing with the cash-strapped Coyotes over the summer.

The Devils picked up veterans Richard Smehlik and Grant Marshall from the Atlanta Thrashers and Columbus Blue Jackets, respectively.

Smehlik signed with Atlanta this season after starting his career with the now-bankrupt Buffalo Sabres. The defneseman has two goals and eleven points this season. He was acquired for a fourth-round draft pick in the 2003 Draft.

Marshall, a veteran of the Dallas Stars’ Stanley Cup team of 1999, has eight goals and twenty-eight points this season. The Blue Jackets received a conditional draft pick in 2004 for the right winger.

The Dallas Stars increased their depth on the blue line and at center witht he acquisition of Lyle Odelein from the Chicago Blackhawks and Stu Barnes from Buffalo.

Odelein came at the cost of young defenseman Sami Helenius and a conditional draft pick. He has seven goals and eleven assists this season.

Barnes has eleven goals and thirty-two points this season. He was acquired in return for prospect Mike Ryan and a second-round pick.