Jim Kelley: Kyle McLaren to Philadelphia for a 6th round pick. McLaren once had some cache in this league but the number attached to the pick tells you all you need to know about this one.

Jim Kelley: Hard to understand what the Lightning is doing here, but now they’ve got Noah Welch and a third-round pick left from deals that started with Dan Boyle. Boyle, now in San Jose, is one of the better offensive defencemen in the game today. Like I said, hard to figure. Welch and that pick will never match that.

Jim Kelley: This is a pretty nice pickup for Buffalo, especially if the Sabres can get Moore signed. That might be tough given he wants Top 6 money, but at least the Sabres have insurance if the oft-injured Connolly goes down again and in the interim they get a decent third-line player who can move up. Buffalo sent a message to its team that it’s not giving up on the playoffs. Toronto piles up the second-round picks it’s been giving away for years.

Jim Kelley: Derek Morris was a prize that lost some luster as the day went along. Still this is a good pickup for the Rangers who don’t have enough offence coming from their back end. The only thing the Rangers have to fear is whether or not Morris comes to play like he can, or like Wade Redden does. The Rangers pretty much gave up some of their mistakes and disappointments for Morris. Dmitri Kalinin started out well in Buffalo but faded there and has done the same in New York. Nigel Dawes, 19 points in 52 games, might still have an upside, but Petr Prucha has faded as fast as Kalinin. Change of scene could help, but there is reason for Phoenix to be concerned.

Jim Kelley: The Leafs get rid of a player that their GM trashed and for less than they hoped for. Hard to figure anything went down here other than Nik Antropov laughing all the way to New York. What’s the condition: that Antropov sign the deal he turned down with Toronto?

Jim Kelley: The Coyotes rid themselves of a tough guy because, well, the Flyers are always looking for tough guys and the Coyotes get the better player but beware. Nashville gave up on Scottie Upshall because they thought he had peaked and wouldn’t do what was necessary to get to another level. Philadelphia moves him after one season. Maybe to make room, but even if that’s the reason, it doesn’t bode well for Upshall and the ‘Yotes.

Jim Kelley: We all knew it was happening, but now we know where it will be. The Penguins have finally found someone to replace Marian Hossa and the failed Miroslav Satan and Bill Guerin must be thrilled. Guerin goes from the basement to a team that has finally moved into playoff contention and, with him in the lineup, should well be able to hold onto a spot. It's a prorated deal, 5th to 3rd depending upon where the Pens end up. Miss the playoffs it's a fifth, make it and it's a fourth. Win a round and it's a third. Nice structure for the Islanders who are no doubt now rooting for the Pens.

Jim Kelley: Not much has been happening in the East so far, but the Boston Bruins made a move of some significance when it ransomed Mark Recchi from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Sure he's old, and sure, he moves seemingly every year. But he’s a competitor and he’s done enough with a bad team to reinvent some interest in his game. He might not be a scoring threat for the Bruins, but he brings experience and for a team that went from nowhere to first in the East in one year -- and is perceived as a Stanley Cup contender-- that experience is useful. The Lightning didn’t do badly on this deal. Matt Lashoff is considered a definite NHL defenceman down the road and Martin Karsums is a left winger who has shown a scoring touch in the AHL and also projects to have an NHL future.

Jim Kelley: Still time left for other teams to respond, but Calgary just shoved itself to the front of the line for teams stocking up for a Cup run. Olli Jokinen comes with baggage having never played a playoff game, but he’s big, strong and great on faceoffs. He now has the best team he has ever played for around him. Matthew Lombardi and a first-round pick seems like a high price to pay, but the pick won’t be that high and it’s a lot less than Phoenix paid to get Jokinen. Phoenix has a choice on the first-round pick coming their way, either this summer or next.

Jim Kelley: Further proof that the Ducks are looking toward the future: Dallas takes Brendan Morrison and $2.75 million in cap space off the Anaheim roster. There are those who argue that Morrison is through as an elite player, but Dallas has big injury problems in the forward ranks with Brendan Morrow and Brad Richards both nursing injuries. Having Sean Avery off the books(thank you New York Rangers), freed up the money to make this happen.

Jim Kelley: Pittsburgh picked Craig Adams off the waiver wire from Chicago as a depth move, but they might keep him around for a look given that Miro Satan hasn’t worked out as a scoring threat on Sidney Crosby’s wing. Adams isn't much of a scorer but he's got near 500 NHL games on his resume and he can bang around a bit and the Penguins are shy in that area.

Jim Kelley: Don’t expect Martin Gerber to be a fixture in Toronto for long. The Leafs picked him off the waiver wire because Vesa Toskala is now out for the remainder of the season and because Justin Pogge needs to get regular playing time be it with the Leafs or the Marlies. GM Brian Burke will sort out his goaltending issues in the off-season, but none of the above are the Leafs goalie of the future. Rest assured the Senators are happy to have Gerber off the books.

Jim Kelley: Don’t believe for a moment reports that Mikael Tellqvist is ticketed for regular duty with the Buffalo Sabres. Buffalo picked up the former Leaf for a fourth-round pick to help out Kevin Dineen, coach of their minor league affiliate in Portland Maine. Prospect Jonas Enroth has struggled in Portland after a good start and there is no one behind him. Dineen has been reduced to scouring the streets for goalies while Enroth has backed up Lalime in Buffalo. Tellqvist may get a look, but the Sabres are committed to Lalime.

Jim Kelley: Jordan Leopold used to play alongside Robyn Regehr and that was a shut-down pairing for Calgary when general manager Darryl Sutter was coaching the team. Leopold could also create some offence from the back end. This is a nice pick-up, but it also may do two other things: take Calgary out of the running for D-man Derek Morris and allow them to concentrate on landing the centre they need. Clearly the Flames are planning on a long run.

Jim Kelley: This trade looks balanced with the second-round pick going Ottawa’s way, but the Blue Jackets may have the edge. Columbus gets Antoine Vermette, a forward who has struggled this season but has a quality reputation and he can win faceoffs, something that’s been an issue in Ohio. The Sens get a decent goaltender, but one that’s had injury issues this season and who lost his job to Steve Mason. Columbus likely isn’t done and will look for a goalie prospect for their system. Wade Dubielewicz and Dan LaCosta are there, but aren’t the answer behind Mason.