Feb 8, 2015; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres goalie Michal Neuvirth (34) makes a save on a breakaway by New York Islanders left wing Harry Zolnierczyk (16) during the third period at First Niagara Center. Islanders beat the Sabres 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Michal Neuvirth to the New York Islanders for Chad Johnson and a Third Round Pick in 2016
Overall Grade = B
Michal Neuvirth was given the starter position by Ted Nolan when Jhonas Enroth was shipped out to Dallas last month, and his play was stellar in that time since. He gets traded to a New York Islanders team where they have a solid number one goaltender in Jaroslav Halak and Neuvirth provides a much more stable backup to him. Neuvirth has the positioning and the skill to play as a number one goaltender, and that promise will be interesting come playoff time for the Islanders and Free Agency time for the Buffalo Sabres.
Chad Johnson and a third round pick in the 2016 NHL draft come the Buffalo Sabres’ way and this was done for similar reasons in the Enroth trade. Johnson is a proven capable backup goaltender in the NHL and his presence will most likely be just that. The third round pick gives the Buffalo Sabres another asset to either use or trade away in the future and it provides them with some solid leeway as far as potential prospects go.
Since Neuvirth was traded to the Buffalo Sabres at the trade deadline last season, Tim Murray must have liked something in him to potentially have him replace Ryan Miller. That being said, there is no reason to rule out a possible resigning of him in the offseason. That reason is why the Buffalo Sabres got a good deal for this trade.