NHL draft trade roundup: Flames get their goalie

[June 25, 2016]  The Sports Xchange
 
 In a relatively quiet draft day trade-wise, Calgary acquired goaltender Brian Elliott from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for the Flames' second-round pick (No. 35 overall) on Friday and a conditional third-round pick in 2018.

The Flames were intent on adding a goalie in the draft after taking a step back this past season with Jonas Hiller, Karri Ramo and Joni Ortio playing 37, 26 and 22 games, respectively, in net. Only Ortio remains on the roster and figures to back up Elliott.

The 31-year-old Elliott, a native of Newmarket, Ontario, played 41 regular-season games for St. Louis in 2015-16 and ranked in the NHL's top five in goals-against average (2.07) and save percentage (.930) with a record of 23-8-2. He also led the Blues to the Western Conference Finals in '15-16, posting a 2.44 GAA and a .921 save percentage in 18 playoff appearances.

In more than 323 career regular-season games for three NHL clubs, Elliott has a 165-99-32 record, a 2.40 GAA and a .914 save percentage. In 37 postseason games, he has a 2.49 GAA and a .911 save percentage. He was originally drafted by Ottawa in the ninth round in 2003.

--The Chicago Blackhawks acquired two second-round picks (39th and 45th overall) in Friday's draft from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for forward Andrew Shaw.

The 24-year-old Shaw had 14 goals and 20 assists this past season, but he is set to become a restricted free agent on July 1 and reportedly is seeking $4.5 million per season on his new deal. That is more than the cap-strapped Blackhawks were willing and able to pay, hence the trade.

Shaw has 70 goals and 67 assists in 322 career regular-season games and 16 goals and 19 assists in 67 postseason games, all with the Blackhawks.

--Montreal was not done trading, then flipping center Lars Eller to Washington for the Capitals' second-round pick in next summer's draft and a second-rounder in 2018 as well.

The 27-year-old scored 13 goals while adding 13 assists in 79 games with the Canadiens last season.

--In a move to clear the cap space of Pavel Datsyuk, who bolted for the KHL with a year left on his NHL contract, Detroit sent its No. 16 overall pick (defenseman Jakob Chychrun) to Arizona for depth center Joe Vitale and the Coyotes first-round (No. 20) and second-round picks (No. 53 picks) in the 2016 draft.

The move clears $7.5 million of cap space for the Red Wings, who are now expected to be major players in free agency while keeping the cash strapped Coyotes above the cap floor.

Datsyuk had a no-trade clause. The Red Wings could not have moved his contract without his consent, which he reportedly signed off on June 17.

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