Sydor Traded

Justin Maffei | Pittsburgh Penguins

Nov 16, 01:19 PM | Hype this story!

TSN is reporting that the Penguins have traded veteran defenseman Daryl Sydor to the Dallas Stars. In return, the Penguins will reportedly receive veteran defenseman Philippe Boucher.

Sydor has appeared in 8 games this season, recording 2 points (1 G, 1 A). Boucher has played in 16 games for the Stars this season, registering 3 assists.

This is a relative wash for both teams. Sydor, 36, and Boucher, 35, are both in the final year of their contracts. Each will be paid $2.5 million. The big difference between the two is +/-. Sydor is a +5 while Boucher is a -4.

Comments

  1. Eric

    Nov 16, 02:12 PM

    This is too much of a lateral move for it to make sense to me.

    I would’ve liked to see them solve a logjam situation at D, and pick up something else. Let alone a pretty similar player.

  2. TheOneandOnlySurge

    Nov 16, 02:59 PM

    What the heck?

  3. Alex Kirshner

    Nov 16, 03:34 PM

    Surge, be happy.

    This is a good trade.

  4. Ray

    Nov 16, 04:09 PM

    The way to look at this is in how it can set up the team for future moves.

    Bissonette was sent down to the WBPens supposedly to play. Can’t have people sitting all the time, so I’d say they are not too worried they will need a D on very short notice.

    Whitney is skating and looks to be on schedule to return. Also, Gologoski looks to be progressing well enough to keep his regular turn even after Whitney is reactivated.

    Could a solid stay-at-home D—and if memory serves—signed through next year be the trade bait to shore up another part of the team that is not meeting its pre-season expectations?

  5. Ads7

    Nov 16, 04:14 PM

    The other difference between the two is that Boucher is a right-handed shot.

  6. DaBich

    Nov 16, 05:02 PM

    Weird move to me.

  7. Ray

    Nov 16, 05:05 PM

    Thanks, ADS7,

    What research on Boucher that I did did not reveal him to be a right-handed shot. If we see him playing, then that is likely a key reason for his acquisition.

  8. Matt Bodenschatz

    Nov 16, 06:24 PM

    Just one additional positive that very well may come into play here..

    Boucher was younger than 35 when he signed his contract, meaning he can be waived and/or demoted to create salary cap relief. Sydor fell into the category of players who signed a contract at an older age that requires a team to eat his salary regardless of his status with the team.

    If Boucher is the odd-man out when Whitney returns, he can be waived and his slary won’t count against the cap.

    Just some food for thought…

  9. Doc Nagel

    Nov 16, 07:11 PM

    Boucher is a right-hander with some offensive ability, good point shot. He’s a bit breakable. With bunches of injuries on the Stars’ defense a couple years ago, he played a much bigger role, and handled it well.

    The question is, will he be more comfortable than Sydor as a reserve player? Or will someone else be shifted into that 7th spot (at least until Whitney returns)?

    Will the Pens need cap relief when Whitney and Gonchar come back?

  10. Moq

    Nov 16, 07:53 PM

    The Pens won’t need cap relief when they return, because Gonchar and Whitney are already counting against the cap.

  11. Luke

    Nov 17, 12:34 AM

    About the cap relief If we would be in the market come the trade deadline would the extra 2.5 mil not come in handy? It seems crosbey’s winger is ok for now but who knows what the future will hold.

  12. Matt Bodenschatz

    Nov 17, 09:35 AM

    Doc, as Moq said, the Pens won’t “need” cap relief to facilitate a return of Whitney and Gonchar, as both of their contracts are counting agaisnt the cap even as they are on IR. So any moved made right now include those two under the cap.

    But, Luke hit the nail on the head regarding a trade down the line. If trading for a player with a large cap hit, Boucher’s $2.5 million easily can come off the books simply by waiving him.

    I think this is a solid trade because it brings in a righty who has been logging plenty of minutes in Dallas doing everything the Pens do on defense: hit and block shots — plus he has a nice outlet pass and could potentially work the PP.

    Sydor wasn’t happy here, so trading him was a necessity, and getting a defenseman back also was a necessity, as the team would have been relegated to six healthy defenders otherwise. So, by adding Boucher, the Penguins at least have a guy whose salary can come off the books if need be.

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