VISNOVSKY FOR WHITNEY
The Anaheim Ducks acquired defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky from the Edmonton Oilers for defenseman Ryan Whitney and a sixth-round draft pick in 2010.
What does it give the Anaheim Ducks
Visnovsky upgrades the Ducks blue-line significantly. He should provide what Anaheim was hoping Whitney would provide, but hasn't. He'll likely play on the top power-play unit and provide a ton of support for captain Scott Niedermayer. The addition of both Visnovsky and Aaron Ward today should give Anaheim a huge boost on defense.
What does it give the Edmonton Oilers
Whitney was inconsistent in Anaheim, which is also what he was in Pittsburgh. Now, he will get a chance to reset with the Oilers and their rebuilding plan. As long as they don't ask too much of Whitney, the Oilers should be pleased with him. If anything, they reduced salary a bit with this transaction, since Whitney's cap hit is $1.6 million less than Visnovsky for the next three seasons. The sixth rounder is a bonus in this trade.
Fantasy impact