The Vancouver Canucks have traded Marco Sturm and Mikael Samuelsson to the Florida Panthers for David Booth, Steve Reinprecht, and a 3rd round draft pick. At first glance I thought that this was a terrible hockey move for Florida, but it makes sense from a financial standpoint. Marco Sturm was on his last legs 2 years ago and last season the Canucks were a better team when Samuelsson was injured. However both are on expiring contracts and sure to attract some attention at the trade deadline. The Canucks get the best player in the deal in Booth who is only 26 and nearing his prime, while also re-acquiring their own 3rd round pick this summer. Reinprecht was a salary dump. The Canucks will eat his salary in the minors.
Florida does not make their team immediately better, and it won't be until the trade deadline that we can fully evaluate who won or lost this deal. I live in Vancouver and get to see a lot of Canucks games on TV; Sturm and Samuelsson just aren't that good anymore. For Florida it was a business move and they clearly hope to flip these assets if there is a feeding frenzy. The Panthers have started the season 4-3, but their roster is not good enough for extended success with Jose Theodore as their best goaltender. If they remain in contention maybe they'll hold on to these guys, but this roster will NOT win a playoff series. I'd put money on that.
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