Even though the NHL's trade deadline has already passed, deals are still being announced because, as ESPN describes it, there's been a log jam at the NHL's fax machine. For some reason the idea of the NHL, in this world of modern technology, still using a fax machine on its biggest day of the regular season is somewhat hilarious. Does the league still hammer out salary cap details with an abacus? Does Gary Bettman get his trade alerts via beeper? One of the deals being announced is a four-team trade that involves Erik Cole returning to the Carolina Hurricanes, Edmonton receiving Patrick O'Sullivan and Ales Kotalik, Los Angeles picking up Justin Williams, and Buffalo getting a draft pick. If only it were that simple.
More Coverage: NHL Trade Deadline Tracker
It seems the deal originally started with Carolina picking up O'Sullivan for Williams, which ultimately led to the Hurricanes flipping O'Sullivan for Cole. And that's when things took a turn. Here's ESPN's Pierre LeBrun to sort it all out:
The Carolina/L.A./Edmonton thing gets even more complicated. A source told ESPN.com that Buffalo traded forward Ales Kotalik to Carolina for a second-round pick. The Hurricanes then traded Kotalik to Edmonton for a second-round pick. In the end, the Oilers get both Kotalik and Patrick O'Sullivan today.
******
Edmonton receives: Patrick O'Sullivan and Ales Kotalik
Carolina receives: Erik Cole, second-round pick
Los Angeles receives: Justin Williams
Buffalo receives: second-round pick
******
Cole spent the first six years of his career with the Hurricanes, and was shipped to Edmonton prior to this season in the deal that sent Joni Pitkanen to Carolina.
The Kings' willingness to deal a promising 24-year-old forward in O'Sullivan is confusing, especially when they're doing so for the oft-injured Williams. Sure, he's a two-time 30-goal scorer, but he's been derailed by injuries playing in only 69 games the past two seasons.
O'Sullivan is signed through the end of the 2011 season at just under $3 million per year, while Kotalik is an unrestricted free agent following the season.
