Sabres Acquire Cody Hodgson from Canucks for Zack Kassian

The Buffalo Sabres have acquired center Cody Hodgson and defenseman Alexander Sulzer from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for right wing Zack Kassian and defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani. In 63 games so far this season, Hodgson has 16 goals and 17 assists for 33 points, while Sulzer has one assist in 12 games. Kassian has three goals and four assists for seven points in 27 games with the Sabres. He also appeared in 30 games with Rochester of the AHL, scoring 15 goals and 11 assists for 26 points. Gragnani has played in 44 games so far this season, scoring one goal and 11 assists for 12 points.

This is quite the unexpected trade for both teams, as neither Hodgson or Kassian had figured into any trade rumors as of late. Buffalo gets a highly skilled center in Hodgson, who could gain some consideration for the Calder Trophy as rookie-of-the-year. He has lots of goal-scoring upside, good playmaking skill, and some two-way ability. He should take on an immediate top-six role in Buffalo and will make the team's offense much stronger. As for Sulzer, he will likely play a sixth or seventh defensive role for the remainder of the season. In Kassian, the Canucks get a power forward who plays with a lot of aggression and has good size, lots of strength, and scoring upside. However, Vancouver gave up a highly skilled player in Hodgson to land Kassian, and if Kassian can't make a physical impact on the team, the Canucks will lose this trade hands down. As for Gragnani, he has some offensive upside and plenty of puck-moving skill, so he could be a good fit for Vancouver.

Sabres Re-Sign Marc-Andre Gragnani to One-Year Deal

The Buffalo Sabres have announced that they have re-signed defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani to a one-year contract. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In nine games last season with the Sabres, he had one goal and two assists for three points. He also added one goal and six assists in seven playoff games. He also appeared in 63 games with Portland of the AHL, scoring 12 goals and 48 assists for 60 points. Not a bad depth signing for the Sabres, as Gragnani has plenty of offensive upside and is effective on the power play. However, with the off-season additions of Robyn Regehr and Christian Ehrhoff, it may be tough for Gragnani to secure a roster spot for the 2011-12 season. Look for him to start the season in the minors and be one of the first defensive call-ups if injuries start to mount on the Buffalo blueline.

Sabres Re-Sign Gragnani and Mancari

The Buffalo Sabres have announced that they have re-signed defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani and right wing Mark Mancari to one-year contracts. The financial terms of both deals were not disclosed. These aren't bad depth signings for the Sabres. Gragnani has lots of offensive skill on the blueline, is excellent on the power play, and has some size. Mancari also has some offensive upside and plays with a little toughness. Both players will likely be battling for a roster spot for the 2010-11 season when training camp opens in a couple weeks.