NHL Trade Deadline: Columbus Trades Vermette to Phoenix for McElhinney and Picks

While it might not be the Rick Nash deal everyone wants to know about, Columbus is still conducting an all-out fire sale this deadline as the Blue Jackets traded center Antoine Vermette  to the Phoenix Coyotes for goaltender Curtis McElhinney, a 2012 second round draft pick and a 2013 fifth round draft pick.

The 2012 draft pick is actually Ottawa's that Phoenix had acquired through another trade, and the 2013 draft pick will become a fourth round pick if Phoenix wins a playoff series this year.

The deal broke at around 12:15 CST, with multiple reports coming in from Pierre LeBrun and Bob McKenzie.

This deal is interesting because, frankly, I don't think many people believed that Columbus would be looking for a goaltender that has only played two NHL games. Columbus has publicly stated that they wanted an NHL ready goaltender, and I don't know if Curtis McElhinney is the answer. Goaltenders have stunned the world after not being ranked highly as prospects (see Brian Elliot), but I would think Columbus would want a goaltender for the present, not the future.

The draft picks, though, will definitely come in handy for Columbus. Ottawa is having a good year, so their second round draft pick may not be as high as it normally is, but any draft pick in the early rounds is a nice asset.

With the number one spot nearly locked up, Columbus should be able to reel in a good set of picks in the early rounds. It is too early to tell how the 2013 draft pick will turn out because it depends on the teams' play next season.

Phoenix is the clear winner of this trade on paper. They give up some picks and an irrelevant goaltender in their system for Columbus' 3rd leading scorer. Granted, it's Columbus, but Vermette will be the 6th leading scorer on the Coyotes. Vermette will most likely be centering Phoenix's top line, feeding the puck to Ray Whitney and Radim Vrbata. 

Phoenix is looking to make what could the the final push into the playoffs that will keep the team in Phoenix for the years to come. Trading for Vermette was step one.