Wade Belak Traded, Matthias Recalled

First, happy Thanksgiving. I was busy again so I'm way behind, here. Should be good next week, but through Sunday, I'm going to be away from a computer most all day.

The Panthers have traded Wade Belak to the Nashville Predators for Nick Tarnasky. You may remember Tarnasky from his days with the Lightning.

Florida gets much younger with this trade, although Nick is certainly not a fighter of Belak's caliber. Still, he's a big guy and he will fight. He's much more of a pest than Wade Belak is.

Is that a good thing? I don't know, but it definitely changes things a bit. Tarnasky can chip in offensively a little and his hockey ability is, overall, much better than Wade Belak.

Florida loses a guy with a great room personality and that's tough to replace, but when you're sitting at the bottom of the league, you've got to do what you've got to do.

You could wonder why Nashville didn't just claim Belak when they could have had him for nothing off waivers, but that would just take up another roster spot and add a salary. You don't want that, so the trade was the more feasible option for Nashville.

Tarnasky is only 24 and his 2008/2009 salary is $525k, whereas Wade Belak was at $650k. Next year, Tarnasky will make $550k, so the Panthers do save some money with this trade as well.

It's a shame to see Wade go, but unfortunately an enforcer that can't get anyone to fight him just isn't going to work out. Maybe he'll have better luck in Nashville. Hopefully.

Beyond that, Jacques has recalled Shawn Matthias. The 20-year-old will make his second trip to the Panthers already, despite his significant AHL struggles. Through 19 games, Shawn has 4 points, but is also a team-worst -19. He'd been dropped to the Amerks' fourth line for some time, so I guess it's a better decision to recall him than one of the players that has been producing lately since the Amerks really need any production that they can get.