JasonPominville

Fantasy Impact: The Buffalo Sabres have traded Jason Pominville to the Minnesota Wild for prospect forward Johan Larsson and prospect goaltender Matt Hackett.

The Sabres get: An excellent two-way forward prospect in Larsson, who is a potential second liner and who we could see full time by next season. Get the full fantasy profile of Larsson right here.

The Sabres also land, in Hackett, a potential future starter. Where Jhonas Enroth probably tops out as a backup, Hackett could wind up being a starter. Enroth is an RFA in the summer, so Hackett could end up backing up Ryan Miller in 2013-14. Miller has one year left on his deal and if Hackett impresses, then Miller will be moved and the torch will be passed. Get the full fantasy profile of Matt Hackett right here.

The Wild get: a proven first liner and a (now) former captain. Just what the doctor ordered for this young team.

Fantasy Players Impacted: Pominville is a right winger, a position occupied by Charlie Coyle, occasionally Dany Heatley, Devin Setoguchi and Pierre-Marc Bouchard. Look for Heatley to move to the left side for good, Pominville to slide onto the top line, Setoguchi to perhaps also move to the left side and Bouchard to stay put, while Coyle slides down the depth chart for now. Potential line combos:

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Zach Parise – Mikko Koivu – Jason Pominville

Dany Heatley – Matt Cullen (when healthy) – Devin Setoguchi

Cal Clutterbuck – Kyle Brodziak – Pierre-Marc Bouchard

Larsson out of the pipeline makes it easier for Coyle to stick, and Jason Zucker and Mikael Granlund to make the jump next year.

Meanwhile, over in Buffalo, the loss of Pominville means a ton of ice time is freed up for Nathan Gerbe. I don’t think they Sabres break up the Tyler Ennis – Marcus Foligno – Drew Stafford line, as they have been together forever. So Gerbe is the best candidate to play with Cody Hodgson and Thomas Vanek. His opportunity is now, he needs to seize it.

Fantasy Players this helps, in order:

1. Gerbe

2. Zucker/Granlund

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Fantasy Players this hurts, in order:

1. Heatley

2. Setoguchi

3. Bouchard