Visnovsky to Anaheim for Whitney

Fantasy Analysis: Edmonton sends Lubomir Visnovsky to Anaheim for Ryan Whitney and a sixth-round draft pick.

The Ducks get: a top offensive defenseman who is signed for three more seasons at $5.6 million per. He will be the quarterback of the future.

The Oilers get: a young defenseman with 45-point upside who is having a bit of an off year. This move cuts $1.6 million off the books per season.

Fantasy Players Impacted: I think both Visnovsky and Whitney benefit here. The new environments suit. Whitney joins a young rebuilding team (perfect) and Visnovsky joins a team much further along. Most importantly, I think this sends a message that the Oilers will ride Tom Gilbert as their future power-play quarterback. Think about it – Visnovsky is out. Denis Grebeshkov is out. Sheldon Souray will certainly be out in the summer. That leaves Whitney and Gilbert – and Gilbert is built to be a pure QB, despite this season’s poor showing.

Players this deal helps, in order:

1. Tom Gilbert

2. Lubomir Visnovsky

3. Ryan Whitney

Players this deal hurts, in order:

None.