Bruins Deal Ward To 'Canes For Pick And Eaves; Waive Eaves

The Boston Bruins traded defenseman Aaron Ward to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday, receiving right wing Patrick Eaves and a fourth-round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft in return.

[notgettinthisone]

Ok, so I'm confused. Why would Boston trade Ward for a player they don't want? Maybe there is something I am missing, but they received Eaves (plus a 4th round draft pick: not exactly a big deal) and then put him on waivers in order to buy out his contract? That doesn't make sense to me. They traded a guy so that they can get another guy, and all they do is give him money to go away? What does Boston get out of the deal?

[Jack Tupp]

notgettinthisone wrote:

Ok, so I'm confused. Why would Boston trade Ward for a player they don't want? Maybe there is something I am missing, but they received Eaves (plus a 4th round draft pick: not exactly a big deal) and then put him on waivers in order to buy out his contract? That doesn't make sense to me. They traded a guy so that they can get another guy, and all they do is give him money to go away? What does Boston get out of the deal?

Foremost, Boston gets a fourth-round draft pick; clears cap space from its payroll by eating just a percentage of the Eaves' contract; and allows them to sign a more physical player in FA Derek Morris, at a cheaper cost.