Rangers-Flames Trade

Darren Dreger is reporting that the stalled trade between the Rangers and Flames that would send Olli Jokinen and Brandon Prust to the Rangers for Christopher Higgins and Ales Kotalik is still very much alive and could be announced after the Flames Flyers game tonight at the Saddledome.

https://twitter.com/DarrenDreger/status/8519364449

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=308607

Now that we have had a bit of time to review this trade, I am still perplexed as to why Calgary would do this trade. Higgins is a UFA to be and Kotalik has another 2 years at 3 mil per left on his deal for a very talented albeit underachieving UFA-to-be in Olli Jokinen and a young fireplug gritty forward in Brandon Prust. I just do not see what Calgary stands to gain from this unless there is another move in the works where they get a forward in return that has yet to be mentioned.

As a Ranger fan, you have to be thrilled to get out of the Kotalik contract that can free up much needed cap space for the summer where Marc Staal (RFA) will need a new contract, as well as the unrestricted superstar sniper Ilya Kovalchuk, whom the Rangers will undoubtedly go all out for.

Anyway, as we sit here and wait for this trade to either be completed or fall apart I would love to hear your thoughts on the trade and what else can be in the works for both teams.