Canucks And Panthers Announce Four Player Trade

Trade Details:

The Vancouver Canucks have acquired David Booth, Steve Reinprecht and a third round draft pick in 2013 from the Florida Panthers in exchange for Mikael Samuelsson and Marco Sturm.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vancouver Canucks Acquire:

LW- David Booth CONTRACT: $4,250,000 Cap-Hit. Includes A Limited NTC (Expires: 2015) Important Facts: - Has had some MAJOR concussion problems that have affected his career dramatically  - Of his five NHL seasons, three had him finish the year with at least 20 goals. - During the 2010-11 season, he had the second worst plus/minus in the NHL with a -31

LW- Steven Reinprecht CONTRACT: $2,050,000 Cap-Hit (Expires: 2012) Important Facts: - Currently playing in the AHL - Last season was loaned to Adler Mannheim of the DEL - 11 year NHL veteran

Third Round Draft Pick (2013) Important Facts: - Originally Vancouver's own pick

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Florida Panthers Acquire:

RW- Mikael Samuelsson CONTRACT: $2,500,000 Cap-Hit (Expires: 2012) Important Facts: - Has had at least forty points in each of his last four seasons and at least fifty points in each of his last two seasons. - During the 2009-10 playoffs, he led the Canucks with 15 points in 12 playoff games.

LW- Marco Sturm CONTRACT: $2,250,000 Cap-Hit (Expires: 2012) Important Facts: - Injuries have been a huge problem especially with his knee.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Analysis:

This trade left me scratching my head a bit especially from the Panthers perspective. For the Panthers, they move out salary (which is probably the main motive behind the move), but lose a quality player in David Booth as well as a mid-round draft pick. Booth has struggled with concussions in his career, but has proven himself as a consistent producer at the NHL level. Last year he was able to play a full 82 game season, concussion free, and put up 40 points on an awful 2010-11 Panthers team. With a more talented Vancouver team, he should do even better. Ultimately I think the Panthers traded Booth because of the money he makes and the length of his contract. He makes $4.5 Million per year for the next four years which was a little more than the Panthers were willing to pay for a "post-concussion" version of  Booth. Along with Booth, the Canucks acquired Steven Reinprecht which is basically dead money, because Reinprecht will be playing in the AHL, but because he has a one-way deal the Canucks will have to pay his entire $2.05 Million salary while he plays in the minors. As Bob McKenzie pointed out, the third round pick that the Canucks also received was probably included to persuade them to accept a deal including Reinprecht which McKenzie called "buying a draft pick". On the other side the Panthers acquired two veteran wingers in Mikael Samuelsson and Marco Sturm. Samuelsson is a thirty-four year old winger who is going to really help this young Panthers club. He will put up a good amount of points especially with the increased minutes that the Panthers will give him. Along with his solid offensive production, he is very good in his own zone. He plays a very strong two-way style that makes him valuable to a team that needs some versatile players. The other player acquired by the Panthers was Marco Sturm, who has really struggled thus far. The Canucks decided to take a chance on the thirty-three year old winger, and were extremely unimpressed with his play in the first six games. Maybe with some increased ice-time he will find his game, but honestly I am not sure if he has much more in the tank. Both of the players that were sent to the Panthers will be UFA's following this season which means they will have a lot of extra cap space if they decide to let them go. All-in-all this trade see's a very high quality player in David Booth and a third-round pick move to Vancouver for a pair of aging wingers who are probably just place holders for the Panthers.