WOLVES CLAIM TRADE SUCCESS AT DEADLINE

Thunder Bay, ONT- Despite rumours of vast changes, the Thunder Bay Timberwolves made subtle moves in the days leading up to the trade deadline for the future.
>>>Feb. 20th-
>>>To THU: Springfield's 2nd round pick
>>>To ND: Bryan McCabe
>>>McCabe was a tough pill to swallow for the Timberwolves to move. He lead the d-corps in points and played vital minutes on the top pairing with Sheldon Souray. But being in his mid-30s and Thunder Bay getting a second round pick in return. It was a deal that made sense for a club that is clearly looking beyond this season.
>>>Feb. 23rd-
>>>To THU: Jason Garrison (prospect)
>>>To LNZ: Dean McAmmond
>>>For the second year in a row, Dean McAmmond was signed in the offseason by the Timberwolves to a one-year deal and then dealt at the trade deadline.
>>>This trade is specific to what the Timberwolves are in the midst of. McAmmond was not a regular in the lineup. Although a fan favourite, and held in high regard by Blake Wendt and the Timberwolves brass. He is in his late 30s, a free agent and had not secured his spot in the lineup.
>>>The return of a blueliner prospect like Garrison, who has a legitimate upside and pro future, was above and beyond the best move possible for Wendt to move McAmmond.
>>>Feb. 25th-
>>>To THU: Antti Miettinen (pictured)
>>>To REK: Thunder Bay's 4th round pick
>>>It's not often that a team that covets draft picks like the Timberwolves do, would trade a pick at the deadline for a roster player. But Wendt believes again, that the acquisition of Miettinen is one that makes his hockey club better next season and for the future.
>>>"Antti is a highly underrated player in our opinion. He's very hockey smart, has deceptive speed and knows how to get himself and the puck in the right spot consistently. He's versatile enough to grind it out on the bottom lines. Or savvy and skilled enough to take the game at you on the scoring lines. We believe in our scouts that we would still get a very nice player with that fourth. But Miettinen is everything we want in a player right now.
>>>So in the end, how did the Timberwolves do at the 2010 CCHL Trade Deadline?
>>>They gave up a thirty-six year old unrestricted free agent, a top-pairing but thirty-four year old defenseman and a fourth round pick.
>>>What they got back was a twenty-nine year old versatile forward that can be re-signed cheap, a big, bruising defenseman prospect that will fight for a roster spot as early as next season, and a second round pick.