The Sabres continued their overhaul on Deadline Day moving spare parts to contenders. Forward Chris Stewart went to the Wild for a 2017 second round pick. Stewart has 11 goals and 14 assists. Most coming in the past two months following heavy criticism from coach Ted Nolan, who called Stewart ‘lazy.’ Not exactly the kind of label you want to have headed into unrestricted free agency.

Stewart will get a chance to increase his market value with the Wild, who currently are in the second wildcard with 73 points. Three clear of Calgary and Los Angeles, who are battling for third in the Pacific. The Flames were dealt a big blow losing Norris front runner Mark Giordano for the season with a torn biceps.

Buffalo continued to remain active unloading Michal Neuvirth to the Islanders for Chad Johnson and a 2016 third round pick. This from a team that already traded Jhonas Enroth to Dallas for Anders Lindback. So, their goalies are two average backups for the rest of the season as they continue their tank push towards Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel. Is this really good for the NHL? Never mind.

The Sabres kept the wheel going sending Torrey Mitchell to arch rival Montreal for forward Jack Nevins and a 2016 seventh round pick. Who is Nevins and does he have any chance of being a regular? It’s bad enough that Buffalo purged both goalies but they even helped out the hated Canadiens in their Cup chase. Imagine that happening between the Devils and Rangers. The two Hudson rivals have never made a single trade.

They weren’t done also sending character forward Brian Flynn to the Canadiens for a 2016 fifth round pick. So, both Mitchell and Flynn go from the worst team in NHL history to a Stanley Cup contender with the most points in the East. Not bad. If they win a Cup, will Buffalo get a share? Don’t answer that.