Buffalo Sabres fans will remember Jason Pominville for the huge overtime goal he scored, shorthanded, to beat the Ottawa Senators during his rookie season.  And they'll remember him for the incredible class he showed game in and game out over the years thru some tough times when he always met with the media to answer questions.  But it's the other guy the Sabres acquired in Friday's trade with Minnesota who's the key to why the Sabres made the trade in the first place.

Marco Scandella is a 6'3", 208 pound defenseman who just completed his seventh season with the Wild who's going to be a huge addition to the Sabres' back end.  And he'll likely be paired with Rasmus Ristolainen to take off some of the pressure on Buffalo's top defenseman.

Scandella has been one of Minnesota's best offensive defenseman over the years, but he had a comparatively poor season after hernia surgery last summer.  But during the playoffs he was one of the Wild's best players, so to me it's a surprise that Minnesota would be willing to give him up.

Scandella, along with Pominville and a fourth round draft pick in the 2018 draft head to Buffalo in exchange for Marcus Foligno, Tyler Ennis and a third round pick in 2018.

Tough to give up on Foligno - a guy who was never shy about being physical, but never has been dependable offensively.  And Ennis has spent so much of the past two seasons recovering from injuries.  He's an elusive skater, but you just never know if he'll ever fully recover and regain the scoring touch he once had.

You have to give up somebody to get somebody, but I think the Sabres did very well in this trade.  After earlier acquiring Nathan Beaulieu from Montreal, Buffalo's weakest link; their defense, will be decidedly improved.  I'm excited for the season to begin.

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