havelid

…and so it begins.

Today the Thrashers moved 35-year old UFA veteran D-man Niclas Havelid and prospect Myles Stoesz to New Jersey. In return, the Devils sent back 24-year old Anssi Salmela, a puck-moving defensive prospect. According to Ben Wright, Salmela is recoving from a minor injury and will start in Chicago. The plan is to bring him up to the big club for next week’s road trip starting in Colorado.

Perhaps the most interesting facet of this trade is that Waddell turned down 2nd round draft picks for Havelid. It would seem that he has full confidence in Salmela earning a spot full-time on the Thrashers. And why shouldn’t he? Anssi worked his way up to the Devils this year, playing 17 games with them. If he can crack the talented Devils roster, why shouldn’t he make our own?

Let’s be clear here: Havelid was not part of this team’s future. Even if he did resign with us in the offseason, Havelid’s only got enough gas in the tank for a few more good years. Salmela fits in much better with the overall age of our defensive corps. Let’s take a look at what we have on the table now:

• Ron Hainsey, 27 years old, signed through 2013
• Garnet Exelby, 27 years old, signed through 2010
• Nathan Oystrick, 26 years old, RFA
• Anssi Salmela, 24 years old, RFA
• Tobias Enstrom, 24 years old, signed through 2013
• Boris Valabik, 23 years old, RFA
• Zach Bogosian, 18 years old, RFA in 2012

In addition, both Grant Lewis and Artus Kulda show NHL-level talent. (Grant Lewis will join the Thrashers for the time being.)

This leaves the Thrashers with the ability to move another defenseman before the deadline, perhaps packaged with another player to bring back top-6 talent. It’s no secret that the Thrashers are hurting at RW: both top-6 RWs are natural centers. Bringing back a 2-way RW – and this is where we really miss Hossa – should be a priority. In return we can send a defenseman and a prospect at forward, I would suggest a center.

And before you call me crazy for wanting to ship out a center, remember that we still have some talented centers on their way up. Both Esposito and Machacek will likely earn an NHL roster spot in the next few years. Rich Peverley is strongest at center (and pretty good in the faceoff circle – 50.4% this year) and could make the move.

My guess is that Don Waddell hasn’t yet closed the roster for the season.