NHL Trade Deadline: Jackets Stun the League Add Gaborik, Comeau

Author : Robert D. Cobb

The Columbus Blue Jackets must be tired of being the sellers at the trade deadline. They have acquired superstar Marian Gaborik from the New York Rangers right before the trade deadline Wednesday afternoon.

In exchange, the Rangers get forwards Derick Brassard and Derek Dorsett along with defenseman John Moore and a sixth round pick in the 2013 draft.

Gaborik has scored nine goals and 19 points in 35 games so far this season. He's a three-time 40 goal scorer and 76 points in 2011-12 (41 G, 35 A).

With the eighth seed up for grabs in the Western Conference, Columbus is only one point out and sitting in 11th place with a 15-14-7 record. They have gotten points in 15 of their last 17 games including a five-game winning streak in the beginning of March.

Their problem has been a lack of offense due to the loss of Rick Nash, who is still in a Rangers' uniform.

Right now, the Jackets are tied for the second-worst with 87 goals scored this season. The team who holds the league-worst is ironically the Rangers with 82 goals.

Gaborik brings speed and skill to Columbus at both even strength and on the power-play which ranks 27th in the league at 13.3 percent.

In addition this move, the Jackets have also swapped goaltenders with the Philadelphia Flyers by trading Steve Mason in exchange for Michael Leighton.

Their third deal of the afternoon was the acquisition of forward Blake Comeau from the Calgary Flames for a 2013 5th round pick. This move seemed to be to replace any depth they lost in the Gaborik trade.

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