San Jose has traded the underperforming Dany Heatley to Minnesota in exchange for Martin Havlat. Heatley has three more seasons at a cap hit of $7.5 million, while Havlat has four more at a cap hit of $5 million, saving San Jose $2.5 million per season (math can be fun).

Fantasy Players Impacted:

I love these purely hockey trades – no futures, no salary dumps, no conditions. Two top line forwards exchanged straight across the board. Heatley looked lost in the 2011 playoffs – he was playing through a few injuries, but he hasn't been the same player ever since recording back-to-back 50 goal seasons with the Senators a few seasons ago. He will likely skate on the top line with Mikko Koivu. The other spot is up for grabs – Devin Setoguchi and Pierre-Marc Bouchard are the most likely candidates to fill it.

I'd probably opt for Bouchard in the spot. He has battled the concussion bug lately, but there aren't many players in the league as naturally gifted offensively as the pint-sized winger. The obvious loser would be the player shifted down to the second line to play with Kyle Brodziak or Matt Cullen – a bit of a drop off from Koivu.

In San Jose, Havlat adds speed to a team that needs it. He has a solid track record in the postseason, and he's still only 30 years old. He's a natural right winger and will likely skate on the top line with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. His fantasy value increases more than Heatley does. Havlat and Koivu never really clicked on or off the ice in Minnesota, which left Havlat to play with the second center in Minnesota. According to our Frozen Tools, Havlat played almost every single shift with either Kyle Brodziak or Matt Cullen as his center.

Since this is a one-for-one trade, it doesn't really affect the chances of the prospects on either team making the jump in 2011-12.

Potential Minnesota top six:

Bouchard-Koivu-Heatley

Clutterbuck-Brodziak/Cullen-Setoguchi

Potential San Jose top six:

Marleau-Thornton-Havlat

Clowe-Couture-Pavelski

I assume Pavelski will move to wing with the Handzus signing. Torrey Mitchell can play center, as well. San Jose was wasting Pavelski’s abilities on the third line.

Fantasy Players this helps, in order:

1. Havlat (According to Frozen Tools, Havlat played almost every shift with either Cullen or Brodziak. Upgrade, much?)

2. Thornton (Heatley never really clicked on the top line)

3. Bouchard

Fantasy Players this hurts, in order:

1. Brodziak

2. Cullen