The Columbus Dispatch reports the Blue Jackets have traded a 3rd round pick in 2010 to the Calgary Flames for defenceman Anton Stralman. Stralman, 23, has a strong upside and the Jackets hope he can become the offensive minded puck-moving dman they have been looking for for quite sometime. Stralman was originally drafted in 2005, by the Maple Leafs. The Leafs had high hopes for Stralman and there were rumblings of him being the best Swedish defender since Nicklas Lidstrom. Like many other young players, Stralman fell victim to the enormous amount of pressure that is placed on young players in Toronto and never lived up to outrageous expectations. He was dealt to Calgary this offseason. Columbus should be a nice fresh start for the young Swede. As a response to this trade the Jackets released D Martin Skoula. Skoula was with the team on a tryout.
UPDATE: Skoula has signed a one-year, $575,000 contract with Pittsburgh.
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