With just more than a day to go until the 2013 NHL trade deadline, the Tampa Bay Lightning made their first trade of the season, sending defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a 7th round draft choice in 2013 and forward… Adam Hall? The Adam Hall?
Bergeron, the proverbial 7th defenseman, being moved does not surprise me at all, though his lack of production while on ice this season. Bergeron was in the lineup all of 12 games this season, posting a goal and 4 assists.
Hall, who the Lightning lost to a waiver claim by Carolina just a matter of weeks ago, played six games in a Hurricanes uniform. Adam never scored in that time and was a minus-2. Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune reports that Hall will be placed on waivers by the Lightning immediately with the intention of sending him to the Syracuse Crunch.
Excuse me while I scratch my head. I know the Crunch need reinforcements, but this does get baffling. The Lightning pick up a draft pick in this exchange and potentially lose Hall once again to waivers… This is a team short on center’s at the moment who can use Hall’s faceoff skills.
Of course, Hall makes less than Bergeron, and that means it’s a cost savings move… At the same time,with Hall going directly to Syracuse, Hall’s cap hit is negligible. Hall being included in the deal is Carolina washing their hands of him.
The move of Marc-Andre Bergeron means Andrej Sustr takes over the role of 7th defenseman full-time, or at least until the Bolts make another roster move. Sustr, the college free agent, has played all of one NHL game, making his debut against the Devils last Friday night.
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