TRANSACTION RECAP FROM THE WEEK

G Craig Anderson and D Tomas Kaberle were the big names moving this week

The NHL trade-deadline may not be until February 28th, but there was a flurry of action this week. Lets start off by going back to Tuesday...

-Atlanta signs Dustin Byfuglien to a five year contract extension worth $26 million: Atlanta is clearly trying to build a cheap, effective team (based on moves we'll see later in the week) and have decided to make Byfuglien a center piece. He's certainly earned it so far (17 goals, 27 assists), and if they ever acquire too many defenseman, Byfuglien can always move back to the wing.

-Toronto acquires F Aaron Voros from Anaheim for a conditional 7th round pick: Voros is a Brian Burke type of player and it cost the Leafs almost nothing. Anaheim gets another pick for a guy they hardly use, everyone wins

-Boston acquires Chris Kelly from Ottawa for a 2nd round pick: Boston needed a center, and they got a quality one in Chris Kelly (12 goals, 11 assists). He may be a -12, but he's played on an awful Senators team. The Bruins were hoping for a top-flight center, but Kelly gives them the depth up the middle that they wanted. Ottawa gets a high pick, as they are clearly in rebuilding mode.

WEDNESDAY - NOTHING OF NOTE

THURSDAY:

-Anaheim acquires F Jarkko Ruutu from Ottawa for a 6th round draft pick: The Ducks replaced the tough guy they lost in Voros with Ruutu. Ruutu can play every night (unlike Voros) and he plays a little bit of offense. Ruutu is a pest, and in a very tight Western Conference, he should be able to draw some penalties to give the Ducks more power play opportunities. Ottawa continues to add to their collection of draft picks.

-The Islanders signed a one year contract extension with F PA Parenteau: He's played well for the Isles this year (14 goals, 21 assists) and has earned another year with the squad.

FRIDAY (a busy day):

-Colorado acquires G Brian Elliott from Ottawa for G Craig Anderson: this trade makes ZERO sense for the Avalanche. Craig Anderson is a quality goaltender. While the Avs have been slumping lately, they are VERY alive in the playoff race. Giving up Anderson for a goalie who is a decent back-up and can be effective in small bursts is not the way to get to the playoffs (and it's not like Peter Budaj is a viable option either). As for Ottawa, goaltending has been an issue for them for a few seasons, and while they are rebuilding the rest of the team, they now have the goalie to build around.

-San Jose acquires D Ian White and future considerations from the Hurricanes for a 2nd round pick in 2012 and D Derek Joslin: San Jose needed some help and depth on the blueline, and Ian White gives you both. He can control the puck and is responsible in his own end. I'll never question Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford (one of the best in the league), but this move is a little head-scratching. Carolina is very alive in the playoff race and I can't imagine why he'd think White wouldn't be a help to the team down the stretch. That being said, Joslin is a young prospect for a team who has a young and very promising blueline. White is playing for his 4th time in a year (Toronto, Calgary, Carolina, San Jose).

-Tampa Bay acquires D Eric Brewer from St. Louis for D Brock Beukeboom and a 3rd round pick: The Lightning are clearly going for it this year and addressed the one area of need they had yet to address. Their squad of rearguards was good, now it's very good. The Blues have clearly given up on this season (as you'll see in a bit), but get a very good D prospect and another pick.

-Atlanta acquires F Blake Wheeler and D Mark Stuart from Boston for C Rich Peverely and D Boris Valabik: The Bruins wanted a quality center, and Peverley provides them with what they need (wins face offs, can move the puck, passes well), get some cap relief with sending Wheeler out of Beantown, and get a useable D-man in Valabik. Atlanta gets a quality gunner in Wheeler and a very good young defenseman in Stuart. This is one of those rare times where both sides get what they need.

-Boston acquires D Tomas Kaberle from Toronto for F Joe Coloborne, a 1st round pick, and a conditional pick in 2012: With this deal, the Bruins are officially ballers in the Eastern Conference. They needed a puck-moving defenseman and they got one of the best in the league. After years of Kaberle "on the move" rumors, it finally happened. As for Toronto, they get a talented, but raw prospect in Colborne (41 points in 39 games in his last season at the University of Denver) and get the Bruins 1st round pick (Boston still holds Toronto's 1st round pick from the Phil Kessel trade). Leafs GM Brian Burke is stockpiling picks and prospects, Boston is going for the Cup this year. While seeing a trade where both sides win is rare, it's even rarer to see a deal like that happen between division rivals and Original 6 rivals.

SATURDAY:

-St. Louis acquires F Chris Stewart, D Kevin Shattenkirk, and a conditional 2nd round draft pick in 2011 or 2012 from Colorado for D Erik Johnson, F Jay McClement, and a conditional 2011 or 2012 1st round draft pick: This deal confuses the hell out of me for Colorado. While Erik Johnson is a top-notch defenseman and McClement gives you some quality depth on the wing, they sent out their top goalie earlier in the week. It's like they're shoring up for the playoffs while rebuilding at the same time (which never works). Avs GM Greg Sherman may have something else up his sleeve, but his moves this week contradict one another. As for the Blues, they're making quality moves to be a good playoff team next season. They were ravaged by injuries this season, so trying to make moves for this season would have been silly. They get a big, tough, productive winger in Stewart. Captain Kirk has had a fantastic rookie season and good be one of the game's best blueliners in the foreseeable future. They sent out quality D-Men in Johnson and Brewer, but they get back a young D man they can use now in Shattenkirk and someone they can use in a year or two in Beukeboom.