TA: Campbell to San Jose

The first major move of yesterday's Trade Deadline was defenseman Brian Campbell and a 7th round pick going from the Buffalo Sabres to the San Jose Sharks for right winger Steve Bernier and a 1st round pick.

The winner for now is clear: San Jose. They acquire a very talented, puck-moving defenseman who will tremendously help their Powerplay and facilitate the transition into the offensive zone, while the Sabres lose a major piece of their lineup, which will surely cost them a birth in this year's playoffs.

That being said, they also gain a very big and quite skilled right winger in Steve Bernier who will only get better with time, as well as an extra 1st round pick in this year's Entry Draft, which could be used to pick a very talented youngster, especially with this year's very deep pool of talent.

If Campbell re-signs with San Jose, the Sharks will have won this trade for sure.
But if he does not, it comes down to where the Sharks go in the Playoffs.
If not deep, the Sabres look like geniuses, even though they lost their no.1 defenseman.

Campbell may remain a Sabre

Campbell participated in his 2nd consecutive All-Star Game on January 27th

According to the Buffalo News, Brian Campbell seems optimistic he will not be dealt by the Sabres.

“Yeah, that’s the only way I can look at it, though,"he said. “I can’t look at it any other way. I think we’re still in a playoff spot or we’re close, and we’ve got a lot of work to do. It’s not going to be easy, and I hope I can be around for that.”

"We’ll see what happens over the next couple months", referring to his status after July 1st.

The 28-year old defenseman has been the subject of numerous trade rumors over the last week since he has not come to an agreement on a new contract with the Sabres and due to the Sabres reluctance to lose Campbell to Free Agency, and therefore getting nothing in return for him, especially after the Briere and Drury incidents.

With this declaration, though, it seems odd Campbell hasn't come to an agreement on a new contract with the Sabres... who knows, he might only be downplaying the situation?

In the end, the decision ike, it is Darcy Res not his to magier's, and since the later does not want to lose Campbell for nothing, he might be forced to deal him by the Deadline.