Columbus trades Blackburn for prospects, cash

Columbus, OH

Columbus Blue Jackets President and General Manager Peter Dell'Olio announced that the team has traded struggling goaltender to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for goaltender Johan Hedberg, prospect forward Chris Bourque, defenseman Petr Svoboda, as well as prospect prospect defensemen Dennis Wideman and Scott Lehman.

The Jackets also receive cash compensation of around 4 million dollars. The trade completed over the course of a full day, has given the Jackets more financial flexibility than they have had in years. " Winning is not the only thing important to a sports franchise....being fiscally sound is also quite important to the future of our club and this trade helps us reach that goal. It also helps stockpile more young talent for the future, and with our recent trades our future has never been brighter." said an exhuberant Dell'Olio at the Blue Jackets practice facility outside Ohio State University.

In Wideman, the Jackets acquire a young two way defenseman who at some point could play top line minutes for Columbus. He's versataile and young, with alot of experience behind him already. Chris Bourque, a young forward, and son of former pro hockey defenseman Ray Bourque, has tons of upside also, either at center, or wing, Bourque is a talent young playmaking forward, and will spend some time with Columbus for many years to come.

Johan Hedberg joins Fred Braithwaite between the pipes and brings veteran leadership as Corey Crawford and Yann Danis continue develop at the junior level. Hedberg has recently won two straight starts and has looked pretty solid with the game on the line.

Petr Svoboda adds depth to the blue line for Columbus and will likely be moved at the deadline.