Zubrus and Heward Dealt at Deadline

Danius Zubrus to Buffalo for Jiri Novotny and a 1st Round Pick

To For

Overall this is an amazing return for a player that has proven that he is nothing more than a second line center or better yet a right wing. The problem with Zubrus has never been his skill level, where at times he has displayed what a dominate player he can be. He has just never been able to provide the consistency needed to be a first line player, as he has a tendency to disappear for extended periods. While it would have been nice to keep him in Washington for his leadership, his contract demands at the moment did not make that possible.

In Novotny, the Caps get the young center that they coveted who is a former first round pick of the Sabres in 2001. He is a player that has excelled at every level he has played at, but with the quality depth in Buffalo, he has yet to receive an opportunity to play a key role at the NHL level. In Washington he will definitely get that opportunity as he should step right in to the top line with Ovechkin. Novotny's profile from The Internet Hockey Database:

Jiri Novotny

Center
Born Aug 12 1983  -- Pelhrimov, Czech Rep.
Height 6.02 -- Weight 194 -- Shoots R


Selected by Buffalo Sabres round 1 #22 overall 2001 NHL Entry Draft

                                      --- Regular Season ---  ---- Playoffs ----
Season   Team                        Lge    GP    G    A  Pts  PIM  GP   G   A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000-01  Ceske Budejovice HC         Czech  19    0    4    4    2  --  --  --  --  --
2001-02  Ceske Budejovice HC         Czech  41    8    6   14    6  --  --  --  --  --
2002-03  Rochester Americans         AHL    43    2    9   11   14   3   0   1   1  10
2003-04  Rochester Americans         AHL    48    1   14   15   16  13   0   1   1  10
2004-05  Rochester Americans         AHL    61    5   20   25   36   9   2   2   4   4
2005-06  Rochester Americans         AHL    66   17   37   54   40  --  --  --  --  --
2005-06  Buffalo Sabres              NHL    14    2    1    3    0   4   0   0   0   0
2006-07  Buffalo Sabres              NHL    50    6    7   13   26
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    NHL Totals                         64    8    8   16   26   4   0   0   0   0

Jamie Heward to Los Angeles For a Conditional Draft Pick in 2008

    To  

This seems to be nothing more than move to make some space on the Capitals blue line. With the recent return of Pothier, Erskine, and Muir from injuries, the team had too many defenseman. This opens up a spot for Eminger to get back into the lineup after he had been a healthy scratch for the past 6 games. It also means that Jeff Schultz has solidified his spot in the lineup for the rest of the season. The conditional draft pick most likely is contingent on whether Heward resigns with the Kings over the summer.