Trades Accomplished What Was Wanted

General Manager Jack Ferreira said he is pleased with last week’s trades and the direction the team has taken during its three-game unbeaten streak. He plans no further trades.

That probably means defenseman David Karpa will not be sent to Toronto any time soon. The Maple Leafs were said last week to be interested in acquiring him.

“We accomplished what we wanted,” Ferreira said of deals that brought Brian Bellows from Tampa Bay and Shawn Antoski and Dmitri Mironov from Pittsburgh. “We have more toughness up front with Bellows and it’s the same with Mironov on defense.”

“Did I think I’d have to make this many trades coming off last year? No.”

The three new additions have enabled Coach Ron Wilson to stick with four lines and three defensive pairings instead of shuffling personnel constantly in hopes of finding combinations that will click.

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Goaltender Guy Hebert has a 0.97 save percentage and a 1.00 goals-against average in his last three games.

“The other big difference is Guy, let’s face it,” Ferreira said. “When you get a goaltender who can settle things down, it gives your team a lot more confidence.”