Kings, Senators and Canadiens Lead the Trading on Draft Day

After another disappointing playoff, the Ottawa Senators changed the coach and promised more changes to come. True to their word, the Senators were the most active traders draft day, dispatching veteran center Radek Bonk and goaltender Patrick Lalime.

Bonk, considered an overpaid disappointment in Ottawa, was sent to Los Angeles for a third round-draft pick. The Kings then packaged Bonk and goaltender Cristobal Huet to Montreal, getting top goaltending prospect Mathieu Garon and a third-round pick in return.

Bonk, who scored 44 points and made $3.5 million in 2003-04, will be a restricted free agent on July 1.

Lalime is now a St. Louis Blue, with the Senators receiving a conditional draft pick in 2005. Lalime was Ottawa's starting goaltender for the last four season, but the team lost confidence in him after a mediocre performance in this year's playoff loss to Toronto. He is expected to take over the top job in St. Louis, pushing Chris Osgood aside.

The Anaheim Mighty Ducks continue to remake their blue line. Defenseman Niclas Havelid was sent to the Atlanta Thrashers, with Anaheim getting defensive prospect Kurtis Foster in return.

The Canadiens traded defenseman Stephane Quintal to Los Angeles for future considerations. Quintal will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, so the likelt result of the trade is that the Kings will receive the compensatory draft pick when Quintal signs elsewhere.