The lightning and rangers are familiar trade partners and with the lightning being desperate to win now they make another trade with a familiar GM. The lightning get back Zucc at half salary for the end of the season and playoffs who can play on their top line with Kuch and Stam and set them up with his playmaking ability. They also get rid of callahan's terrible contract in the process. The rangers get back a very good RHD prospect to add to their arsenal of the future.

Labanc is a local guy from brooklyn, looks like he can be a middle 6 player . Meier is the big piece in this trade and will play in the rangers top 6 for years to come. the rangers are trying to get pieces for the future and so they are content giving up the draft picks and hayes/Names for meier and Labanc who can be part of their future. San Jose would have some difficulties locking these guys up long term with EK getting his big pay day this season.

With Jumbo Joe in and out of the lineup, this allows the sharks to fill their top 6 with a versatile C/W that can play a very similar game to Thorton for a much smaller cap hit for this season and the ability to resign him for the future.... and is only 26yo. They also receive Namestnikov who never seemed to mesh with the Ranger's organization but has show to be a very skilled winger when put into the right situation. He can take the place of Timo meier in the top 6 and still wouyld have another year on an extremely cap friendly deal. With the rangers rebuilding and having a log jam at center it allows the rangers to play their young guys in their intended roles.