Deadline Day Eve News *UPDATED* | 
In a move that will make most Maple Leaf fans happy, forward Alexi Ponikarovsky has been traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for 4th-round prospect Luca Caputi, and defenseman Martin Skoula.
Ponikarovsky, who is only four goals behind his career mark of 23, has been having an excellent season for the blue and white, but just did not fit into Brian Burke’s rebuilding structure. As one of the longest serving Leafs on the roster, Ponikarovsky gives the Penguins an experienced top-six forward and someone who will most likely skate on Evgeni Malkin’s wing.
Going the other way is Caputi, who has put up 47 points in 54 games for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL. It remains to be seen where Caputi will fit into the Leafs immediate plans. Signs point to him joining the AHL’s Marlies, but don’t rule out him being called up to the big club for the remainder of the season, especially since the team is no where near the playoffs.
Skoula, the journeyman defenseman who is now joining his sixth team in 12 seasons, was thrown into the deal to accommodate the salary of Ponikarovsky under their salary cap crunch. TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports that the Leafs could try to flip Skoula in a deal tomorrow before the 3 pm deadline.
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Chris Chelios could be suiting up in the NHL as soon as this weekend.
The Atlanta Thrashers has signed the 48-year-old blueliner for the remainder of the season. He has spent the past 44 games with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL amassing five goals and 21 points.
The three-time Norris trophy winner has to clear waivers before suiting up with the Thrashers. He was placed on waivers earlier today after being signed.
Chelios was a second-round pick 40th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 1981. This will be his fourth NHL team (Montreal, Chicago and Detroit) over 26 seasons. He has won three Stanley Cups, two with Detroit and one with the Habs.
Atlanta sits two points out of the final playoff spot in the East.
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In other news today the Ottawa Senators deal with a familiar friend to get another defenseman.
The Sens shipped out a second-round pick to the New York Islanders for veteran d-man Andy Sutton.
Sutton, who turns 35 next week, is a defensive defenseman who has five goals and 12 points in 54 games so far this season with the Isles.
Last season the Sens dealt a first-round draft pick and Dean McAmmond for another Islanders defenseman, Chris Campoli and Mike Comrie.
The Senators currently sit one point ahead of the Buffalo Sabres for first in the Northeast division and third in the conference.
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The Minnesota Wild have ending speculation that they are shopping veteran offensive defenseman Marek Zidlicky by signing him to a new contract.
The 33-year-old signed a three-year, $12 million contract that has a limited no trade clause earlier today.
Zidlicky is coming off a strong performance at the Olympics for the Czech Republic registering five points.
He has 52 goals and 253 points over six seasons split between the Wild and Predators.
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The Philadelphia Flyers will likely be in play for one of the many available goalies tomorrow after announcing that Ray Emery is done for the remainder of the season.
The 28-year-old has hip issues and will have a bone graft done to alleviate the problem.
That leaves the Flyers with Mike Leighton and Brian Boucher to lead them into the playoffs.
Marty Turco, Dan Ellis, Chris Mason and Martin Biron could all be available for the right price. However, the Flyers are running into cap issues.
The Flyers sit in sixth in the East four points up on the ninth place Thrashers.
Topics: Trade, Trade Deadline
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