Mega Deal: Hossa For Heatley

The Atlanta Thrashers have sent Dany Heatley to Ottawa for Marian Hossa and defenseman Greg de Vries. Earlier in the day Hossa had signed a 3-year, $18m deal. Heatley, a restricted free agent, signed a 3-year, $13.5m deal with Ottawa after the trade. At first blush, it looks as if Ottawa made out like bandits in this deal, shedding nearly $4m in net salary this season and acquiring a franchise winger in Heatley. Hossa is the better (and two years older) player right now, and the loss of de Vries hurts the Sens' blueline, but with the money saved, Ottawa GM John Muckler should be smiling to himself tonight.

In smaller moves, the Coyotes acquired winger Mike LeClerc from the Ducks and the Blackhawks signed defenseman Todd Simpson, late of Ottawa. And in another late, salary-dumping move, the Ducks have shipped Steve Rucchin to the Rangers for a bucket of pucks.

Finally, the Caps signed "the other" Petr Sykora today. A player with plenty of upside, Caps fans will undoubtedly believe it when they see it, or at least when it finally comes across the pond.