NHL Trade Deadline: Tomas Kaberle and the 10 Surprising Players in New Homes

As the trade deadline approaches in the NHL, a lot of moves have already taken place.

Some were expected, like the Florida Panthers having a fire sale of their unrestricted free agents that don’t fit into their long-term plans.

Other moves have come as a complete shock to people across the NHL and the ramifications have been immense.

The following slideshow is of the 10 most surprising moves of the season.

10. Brent Sopel

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NEWARK, NJ - DECEMBER 31: Brent Sopel #3 of the Atlanta Thrashers skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on December 31, 2010 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Thrashers 3-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The Montreal Canadiens acquired Brent Sopel and Nigel Dawes for Ben Maxwell and a fourth-round draft pick.

The big piece in this move is Brent Sopel going to Montreal.

With the latest string of injuries to the defense for Montreal, acquiring a veteran defender with Stanley Cup experience is always a solid move.

The Thrashers moved Sopel because he is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and they had no plans for signing him long term.

9. Cory Stillman

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NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 25: Cory Stillman #61 of the Florida Panthers skates during the third period against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on January 25, 2011 in New York City. The Panthers defeated the 4-3. (Photo by Christopher Pasatieri/

The Carolina Hurricanes acquired Cory Stillman for Ryan Carter and a fifth-round pick in 2011.

As we will see moving towards the trade deadline, the Florida Panthers will be major sellers.

Stillman is one of many unrestricted free agents that will be moved at the deadline by the Panthers.

The Hurricanes give up a solid young player in Ryan Carter, but get back a veteran who could make the playoff run more successful.

8. Ian White

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PITTSBURGH, PA - FEBRUARY 23: Ian White #9 of the San Jose Sharks during the NHL game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Consol Energy Center on February 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Sharks defeated the Penguins 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by C

The San Jose Sharks acquired Ian White from the Carolina Hurricanes for a second-round pick in 2012.

For the Hurricanes, they didn’t plan on signing White long term and a second-round draft pick was too good to pass up.

The San Jose Sharks needed another defender big time, and Ian White was the short-term solution the team could get behind.

White is a solid defender and may help the team make a bigger splash in the playoffs than they would have made without the defensive help.

7. James Neal

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PITTSBURGH, PA - FEBRUARY 23: James Neal #18 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the NHL game against the San Jose Sharks at Consol Energy Center on February 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Sharks defeated the Penguins 3-2 in overtime. (Photo b

The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired James Neal and Matt Niskanen from the Dallas Stars for Alex Goligoski.

This deal was a win-win situation for both teams and what they both needed as a shot in the arm.

The Penguins are looking for more depth at forward and James Neal and his 39 points will be a welcomed addition to an injury depleted team.

The Stars needed depth at defense and they acquired Alex Goligoski and his 34 points.  He instantly became the top blueliner on the team.

6. Eric Brewer

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SUNRISE, FL - FEBRUARY 8: Eric Brewer #4 of the St. Louis Blues waits for a face off against the Florida Panthers on February 8, 2011 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. The Blues defeated the Panthers 2-1. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images

The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired Eric Brewer from the St. Louis Blues for Brock Beukeboom and a 2011 third-round pick.

This move came out of necessity for a St. Louis Blues team that knew they weren’t going to sign soon to be unrestricted free agent Eric Brewer to a long-term deal.

St. Louis’ move alleviates the problem of just letting Brewer walk while getting some solid pieces in return.

Tampa Bay struck gold, though. Eric Brewer is a solid defender who will add leadership and grit to a team that lacks a real presence on the blue line.

5. Alex Kovalev

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TORONTO, CANADA - FEBRUARY 26: Alexei Kovalev #72 of the Pittsburgh Penguins shoots during warmup before game action against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre February 26, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Abelimages/Getty Images)

The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Alexei Kovalev from the Ottawa Senators for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2011.

I thought they outlawed highway robbery but the Penguins just pulled it off.

Alex Kovalev might not be the flashiest pickup, but when he has motivation, he can be super dangerous.

Acquiring him for a seventh-round draft pick is nothing and they should send the Senators a thank you card.

The Senators were going to let him walk at the end of the season anyway, so anything was better than nothing.

4 Craig Anderson

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BUFFALO, NY - FEBRUARY 25: Craig Anderson #41 of the Ottawa Senators makes a save against Tyler Ennis #63 of the Buffalo Sabres as Zack Smith #15 of the Senators looks on at HSBC Arena on February 25, 2011 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Get

The Ottawa Senators acquired Craig Anderson from the Colorado Avalanche for Brian Elliott.

This move was definitely a little surprising.

While Anderson wasn’t performing at the level he did last season, the blame had to partially fall on the shoulders of the poor-playing defense.

The move was the best thing for both goaltenders and organizations, and the new home for Craig Anderson would be good for him.

Brian Elliott will also get a fresh start in a new city, but will face even more trouble in Colorado even he doesn’t perform.

3. Tomas Kaberle

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CALGARY,CANADA - FEBRUARY 22: Tomas Kaberle #12 of the Boston Bruins battles with Jarome Iginla #12 of the Calgary Flames during their NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome, February 22,2011 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.(Photo By Dave Sandford/Getty Images)

The Boston Bruins acquired Tomas Kaberle from Toronto Maple Leafs for Joe Colborne, a first-round pick in 2011 and a conditional second-round pick in 2011.

If the Boston Bruins weren’t one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference before this move, they are now.

Tomas Kaberle is one of the best two-way defensemen in the league, and his addition to the Bruins makes their defense one of the best in the NHL.

For the Maple Leafs, they move Kaberle before he leaves on his own through free agency and get a quality prospect and some good picks.

2. Kris Versteeg

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PHILADELPHIA - FEBRUARY 22: Kris Versteeg #10 of the Philadelphia Flyers plays the puck in front of Andrew Ebbett #26 of the Phoenix Coyotes on February 22, 2011 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Coyotes defeat the Flyers 3-2 in O

The Philadelphia Flyers acquired Kris Versteeg from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a first- and third-round pick in 2011.

For a Flyers team in first place in the Eastern Conference, any move would be surprising.

Not only did they surprise everyone going after Kris Versteeg, they helped Toronto re-supplement the picks they traded away in the Phil Kessel deal.

Kris Versteeg is a solid two-way forward who will be good in the playoffs for the Flyers. The Maple Leafs get some good picks and have a good place to start rebuilding.

1. Erik Johnson/ Chris Stewart

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DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 23: Erik Johnson #6 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the Edmonton Oilers at the Pepsi Center on February 23, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Oilers defeated the Avalanche 5-1. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

The St. Louis Blues acquired Chris Stewart, Kevin Shattenkirk and a conditional second-round pick in 2011 or 2012 from the Colorado Avalanche for Erik Johnson, Jay McClement and a conditional first-round draft pick in 2011 or 2012.

This deal was by far the biggest blockbuster of the season so far, and it involved a few players that were thought to be unobtainable.

Colorado gets a former first overall pick in Erik Johnson, who may see a big-time jump in production in a different system. The Avalanche also start the rebuilding process with another first-round pick.

The Blues, on the other hand, have really taken a chance. Chris Stewart will be a damn good player, but they had to give a lot up to get him.

Stewart and Shattenkirk will be big pieces to the rebuilding process and could be part of the foundation moving forward.