NHL trade rumors: Jason Pominville headed to Sabres
By Adam Stocker
One day before the start of free agency, the Buffalo Sabres and Minnesota Wild have reportedly completed a four-player trade.
The Buffalo Sabres and Minnesota Wild have reportedly completed a four-player trade on the eve of free agency. The Sabres have sent Tyler Ennis, Marcus Foligno and a 2018 third-round pick to Minnesota for Jason Pominville, Marco Scandella and a fourth-round pick in 2018.
Pominville was drafted by Buffalo in 2001 and played for the Sabres from 2003 until he was traded to Minnesota at the trade deadline in 2013. In 2011, he was named the captain of the Sabres. Last season, Pominville scored 13 goals and had 34 assists in 78 games. Pominville’s contract is for $5.6 million and expires after the 2018-19 season.
#Sabres make trade official: Scandella, Pominville and a 4th for Ennis, Foligno and a 3rd. Both picks in '18. No salary is retained.
— Mike Harrington (@ByMHarrington) June 30, 2017
Scandella is the second defenseman new Sabres general manager Jason Botterill has acquired since being hired on May 11. The stay at home defenseman has played his entire career with the Wild after they drafted him in 2008. Scandella is signed through the 2019-20 season with a $4 million cap hit. Last season, Scandella recorded 13 points in 71 games.
Ennis has struggled with injuries the past few seasons but a change of scenery could reboot his career. Ennis has scored more than 20 goals three times in his career but has missed the majority of the past two seasons with injuries. If Ennis can stay healthy he could be a nice addition to Minnesota’s top two forward lines. The diminutive forward has played both wings and center while with Buffalo and signed through 2019 with a cap hit of $4.6 million.
The Minnesota #Wild save $5,000,000 against their cap this up coming season by shedding Scandella & Pominville's cap hits in the trade.
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) June 30, 2017
Foligno was a fan favorite in Buffalo because of his physical style of play. The Buffalo native was drafted by the Sabres in 2009. Foligno scored a career-high 13 goals last season and will be looking for a raise as a restricted free agent.
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The trade should improve Buffalo’s blue line next season. The Sabres struggled defensively last year and the addition of Scandella should help solve some of those problems. Minnesota gains some valuable cap space, which allows them to dip into the free agent market.