CarterHud

             After trading two defensemen in Mikhail Sergachev and Nathan Beaulieu, the Montreal Canadiens have acquired a defenseman in David Schlemko from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a 2019 5th rounder. The night before, Schlemko was selected by the Knights in the expansion draft from the San Jose Sharks. Him and Trevor van Riemsdyk are the first two expansion draft players to be traded away.

             Schlemko, 30, scored 18 points (two goals and 16 assists) in 62 games for the Sharks in his first season in San Jose. He has scored 87 points (17 goals and 70 assists) in his 360 game career for the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes, Dallas Stars, Calgary Flames, New Jersey Devils and Sharks.

             The Habs get another defenseman, which they need, and don\’t give up much. The Knights get another draft pick, but it isn\’t very likely to turn out to be a star, or a regular NHL player. That\’s why I think the Habs win this trade.

          The Vegas Golden Knights have already traded one of their selections in the 2017 expansion draft. Defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk, who was selected last night from the Chicago Blackhawks, is headed to Carolina after the Golden Knights traded van Riemsdyk and a 2018 7th rounder to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a 2nd rounder in 2017.

          van Riemsdyk, 25, is the brother of Maple Leafs LW James van Riemsdyk. Trevor scored 16 points (five goals and 11 assists) in 58 games in 2016-17. He has scored 31 points (eight goals and 23 assists) in his 158 game NHL career, all for the Blackhawks. The Canes will receive an established defenseman who\’s still fairly young. He might not be there for long, because the Canes have many young prospect defensemen.

          The Knights have been stockpiling on draft picks, and now have three seconds this year. The deal works out for them, since they drafted a lot of defensemen, so they can afford to trade van Riemsdyk.

           I think the Vegas Golden Knights win the trade. \”TVR\” is good, but not worth a second rounder. But, Carolina can automatically win if the second rounder doesn\’t become anything good.

              We have our first blockbuster trade since the trade freeze was lifted. This time, it\’s the New York Islanders acquiring RW Jordan Eberle from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for C/RW Ryan Strome.

               Eberle, 27, had a disappointing 2016-17 season, but still managed to score 51 points (20 goals and 31 assists) in 82 games. He\’s a five time 20 goal scorer, and a one time 30 goal scorer. The Oilers drafted him 22nd overall in 2008. He has 382 points (165 goals and 217 assists) in 507 career NHL games, all for Edmonton.

               Strome, 23, has also had some disappointing seasons recently, scoring just 30 points (13 goals and 17 assists) in 69 games in 2016-17. The former 5th overall pick by the Islanders in 2011 has scored 126 points (45 goals and 81 assists) in his 258 game NHL career, all for the Isles.

                This trade is pretty good for both teams. While Eberle is the better player, he has a cap hit of six million, according to capfriendly.com. Also, he has two more years left, so the Oilers free up some cap room for when centers Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are RFAs. Strome has one more year left of a two year, $5 million deal, so his cap hit is just an affordable $2.5 million. The Oilers are hoping a change of scenery helps him. The Islanders, after trading Mikhail Grabovski to Vegas on Wednesday, had $9 million in cap space. So, they had enough to acquire Eberle and his giant contract. Also, they needed another skilled winger to play alongside captain John Tavares, and Eberle, who played with Tavares in the juniors, works out. He has a rough history with new Isles assistant coach Kelly Buchberger, but that shouldn\’t be a huge problem.

             Due to an allergy to his hockey equipment, Chicago Blackhawks winger Marian Hossa will miss all of the 2017-18 season, he announced.

              \”While I am disappointed that I will not be able to play, I have to consider the severity of my condition and how the treatments have impacted my life both on and off the ice,\” Hossa said via NHL.com.

             Hossa said this has been monitored by the team doctors for a few years, and has had treatments. At 38 years of age, it looks like Hossa will announce his retirement soon.

              \”Because of the dramatic nature of the medications required and their decreasing effectiveness, we strongly support his decision to not play during the 2017-18 season,\” team doctor Michael Terry said. \”We feel in the most certain terms this is the appropriate approach for Marian in order to keep him functional and healthy in the short-term and throughout his life.\”

               \”This is extremely difficult for us, because we all know the incredible person and player that Marian Hossa is.. competitive, loyal and humble,\” Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman said.

                Hossa scored 45 points (26 goals and 19 assists) in 73 games in 2016-17. In his long, 1,309 game NHL career, Hossa has a whopping 1,134 points (525 goals and 609 assists). He has played for the Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins, Atlanta Thrashers (now Winnipeg Jets) and the Ottawa Senators in his NHL career.

                In a surprising move, the Philadelphia Phillies have designated RHP Jeanmar Gomez and OF Michael Saunders for assignment.

                Saunders, 30, has a .205 batting average with six homers and 20 RBIs in 214 Plate Appearances this year. He has a career batting average of .233 with 81 home runs, 262 RBIs and 55 stolen bases in 2727 Plate Appearances for the Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners.

                Gomez, 29, after being their closer last year, has a horrid 7.25 ERA with 21 strikeouts and two saves in 22.1 innings this year. He has a career 4.39 ERA with 321 strikeouts and 40 saves in 515 innings for the Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians.

                 The Phillies also added LHP Hoby Milner and OF Cameron Perkins to the 40 man and 25 man roster. Both were at Lehigh Valley (AAA).

                  Milner, 26, has never played in the MLB. He has a 2.60 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 27.2 innings for Lehigh Valley this year. He has a minor league career ERA of 3.48 with 392 strikeouts in 511.2 innings.

                   Perkins, also 26, also hasn\’t played in the MLB. He\’s hitting .298 with six homers, 21 RBIs and one steal in 241 Plate Appearances for Lehigh Valley this year. He has a minor league career batting average of .283 with 38 HRs, 265 RBIs and 36 stolen bases.