Vezina trophy winner to Pittsburgh

To Panthers: Burke, Drake, Olausson and Mertzig

To Penguins: VanBiesbrouck, Dvorak, Wesley and Higgins

It's easy to see that the teams swaped keepers, right wingers, defenders and prospects. So let's break the deal down and analyze it shall we?

Burke for Beezer. A clear advantage to the Penguins here. Burke has better ratings and that's weird but come next season the Beezer should boost his ratings now that he dominates in the net for the Flyers in NHL. Beezer has been THE key for succes down in Florida the past two seasons and it's a little surprising that he got traded away. Beezer is the kind of keeper that wins game on his own. If he turns it on, then the other team has lost. Sure he mixes those plays with less impresive starts but come playoffs Beezer is a winner. Burke is more of a solid keeper. He seldom shines but hardly ever plays badly. Pens get a winner and Panthers get a solid keeper. In game 7 in the playoffs who would you like in goal out of these two?

Drake for Dvorak. It's hard to say. Dvorak is a better player. More skilled. But players like this are unfortunatly held back in ratings in LML because of players like Drake. Big, strong, gritty and without talent. Drake will fight, he will sweat bullets for you and that's enough for a 70+ rating in LML... Dvorak is more of a player. He isn't great but young and promising to bloom. Also czechs have a good history under GM Löfkvist so he's in good hands. Drake will bring to Panthers what they have always loved. Grittyness, hard workingess, loyalty and zero skill. Panthers have always in LML played the defensive game trying to grind the opponents down and that has proven a good style for them as they have won their division once. On the downside for them is that with Beezer out of town that kind of play will probably win them less game with Burke in goal. Current winner Panthers, but Dvorak should outshine Drake asap...

Olausson for Wesley. Split? Olausson has better ratings in defence which is surprising but Wesley outskates him. They are both reliable defenders who teams can depend upon. Wesley is a personal favorite so I hold Pens as winners but in LML this is an even swap.

Mertzig for Higgins. Two prospects change clubs. Mertzig higher rated but that means little. both players will probably not play many games this year in the pro's so this is for the future. Pens need defenders so they surprised the LML by trading away a young defender this quickly. But they do get Higgins who is improving so maybe they have something in mind for him?

All in all I'd say that the Pens win here, but the win is established with the coming of Beezer. With him they solve their goalkeeping dilemma and they do it without giving up much, some would say without giving away nothing. Panthers aren't losers on the trade as they get better rated players in Burke, Drake and Mertzig but somehow the gathering of players that the Penguins gain look more inspiring. Drake will fit well with the style of hockey that Panthers play but one wonders about how Burke will like it to be the one everybody expects to win the games?