Let the deals begin!...Hurricanes and Senators start the party.

TSN.ca reports that the Ottawa Senators and the Carolina Hurricanes have made a deal. The particulars...


-- Ottawa receives defenseman Mike Commodore and forward Cory Stillman




-- Carolina receives defenseman Joe Corvo and forward Patrick Eaves.


Ottawa gets perhaps the best player (Stillman, although he's only 3-4-7, -11 in 17 games in 2008), Carolina gets younger. So, from the Southeast race perspective...what's in it for Carolina?

Well first, let's look at it from Ottawa's point of view...both Commodore and Stillman are UFAs after this year, so you'd think Ottawa was going for a specific short-term remedy. Size on the blue line, additional offensive potential and veteran experience to give some relief to the top line of Heatley-Spezza-Alfredsson. Given that Ottawa is 5-8-0 in their last 13 games, a shake-up seemed to be in order, too. This would qualify.

For Carolina, this is a bit of a curious deal...one that suggests the future in mind, not the present. Eaves is a restricted free agent after this year; Corvo is signed through the 2009-2010 season. If nothing else, the Hurricanes get quicker (and a bit younger) in the short term. But on balance, we're wondering how this deal helps Carolina in the 2007-2008 race to the playoffs.

Given the Caps' success against the Senators this year, this might not be the worst of deals that could have taken place.