Toronto, ON). Today Toronto pulled off two major deals that will transform the lineup for the Wolfpack. First, Toronto traded premier checker and scorer Brian Rolston, steady defender Mark Stuart, and $500K to Suffolk Fox for Patrick O'Sullivan and a second round draft pick. The deal reduces Toronto payroll significantly and changes the Wolfpack lineup dramatically as Rolston was playing on the PP and PK for Toronto. The Wolfpack pick up prime prospect Patrick O'Sullivan who can play either wing position on a cap friendly contract.
Tom Welch said, " we have been floudering in the standings for some time. We felt this move improves us for the future and opens up playing time for some of our younger players. Patrick has progressed well thus far in his career and we suspect he will continue to do so in Toronto.
In his second deal of the day, Toronto dealt off some young talent in positions that had significant depth in the system. Toronto dealts Matthew Lombardi, Ryan Callahan, Mark Methot, and Jose Theodore to Saskatoon for Peter Budaj, Jeremy Roenick, and 2009 2nd and 3rd round Saskatoon selections. This deal seems lopsided in the favor of Saskatoon but again addresses needs for Toronto. Tom Welch GM for the Wolfpack said, " we have depth with Kyle Wellwood and David Krejci coming into our center position so Matthew would have been riding the pine in our system. Losing Callahan hurts as his career is on the upswing, however you have to give to get. We love the draft picks in this deal to replenish our system".
Toronto clearly has tilted toward the rebuild mode prior to the deadline. There may have been too much tinkering with the roster in Toronto after dealing away franchise goalie Fleury early in the year, but Welch decided to go with veteran Nabakov, the results have been disappointing.
It appears most of the deals are likely done in Toronto with GM Tom Welch likely beating his fellow GM's to the punch. Suffolk however adds a prime piece to their HB Cup run with Brian Rolston, the question is will the division leaders follow suit in their quest for the HB Cup.
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