Fantasy Analysis: Anaheim trades Evgeny Artyukhin to Atlanta for defenseman Nathan Oystrick and a conditional 2010 draft pick.

Anaheim gets: depth on the blue line in the organization.

Atlanta gets: a huge winger who is often criticized for not using his size enough. Artyukhin is a rare player who could be a 45-point, 200-PIM guy if he could put the entire package together. But he can’t. Or won’t.

Fantasy Players Impacted: In Atlanta, Artyukhin finds himself back on a team that is not very deep up front. If Atlanta trades Colby Armstrong, as they are expected to, Artyukhin could find himself on the third line. Now 26, he is in his prime and if ever there was a time to perform it would be now. He has a penchant for starting strong on a new team. With 22 games left, don’t be surprised to see nine points and 45+ penalty minutes. Meanwhile, Oystrick in the Anaheim system gives them another alternative to Brian Salcido when it comes to recalls. Salcido is still just 24, but is starting to look like an Oystrick. That is to say – an offensive defenseman with promise, but who is fading.

Players this deal helps, in order:

1. Evgeni Artyukhin

2. Dan Sexton

3. Mike Brown
4. George Parros

Players this deal hurts, in order:
1. Brian Salcido