TSN (Darren Dreger):
The Edmonton Oilers have created some financial flexibility by dealing hard-hitting left winger Raffi Torres to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for 21-year-old centre Gilbert Brule.
Habster:
This is a good trade for both teams as Kevin Lowe is able to shed some salary off his cap total in preparartion for the UFA market place (talk about cutting it close!!) while Columbus gets a player who will crash and bang along the boards and gives them more grit/toughness.
With Torres’ salary gone, Lowe has cleared approximately $2-$2.25 million per year off his cap total for the next two years while adding the multi-talented Gilbert Brule to his roster.
Brule has had injury problems over the last couple of seasons but there is no denying he has a higher upside than Torres if he can remain healthy………I certainly have to give Kevin Lowe the edge on this deal.