Canucks acquire Nikita Zadorov from Flames in rare trade between divisional rivals

This just in, the Vancouver Canucks have acquired defenseman Nikita Zadorov from the Calgary Flames in exchange for a 5th round pick and a 3rd round pick.

Check it out:

The 5th round pick heading to Calgary was acquired by the Canucks earlier this week in a trade that sent forward Anthony Beauvillier to the Chicago Blackhawks. So, in effect, the Canucks have traded Beauvillier and a 3rd round pick in order to acquire Zadorov. As an added bonus, the Canucks have actually lowered their cap hit with this shuffle. Both Beauvillier and Zadorov are pending unrestricted free agents on their final seasons of their deals, with Beauvillier earning $4.15 million and Zadorov earning $3.75 million.

All in all, this is a tidy bit of business from Canucks GM Patrik Allvin.

He added a very capable top six defenseman and managed to reduce his team's salary commitments. With the likes of Brock Boeser, Andrei Kuzmenko, Ilya Mikheyev and Conor Garland all holding down spots on the wing on the team's top scoring lines, Beauvillier simply couldn't find a place to fit in with the team. Zadorov though, he'll fit in like a hand to a glove. The Canucks needed some grit on their back end and now boast a defense corps that features the likes of Quinn Hughes, Filip Hronek, Tyler Myers, Zadorov, Ian Cole and Carson Soucy. To me, that's a very solid defensive core.

The 28 year old Zadorov had requested a trade from Flames GM Craig Conroy earlier this season, following the team's slow start. Don't be surprised if this trade sparks a bit of an exodus from the Flames, especially on the blue line. Conroy still has to decide what to do with pending unrestricted free agents Chris Tanev, Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm.

“First, I’d like to thank Nikita for his commitment to the Flames and his professionalism through this process,” said Conroy is a prepared statement on the team's official website.

“Our hockey operations group works every day to find opportunities that make our team better today and for the future. This trade provides us with important draft assets, cap space and the opportunity for another one of our young prospects to prove himself in the NHL.”

Again, don't be surprised if this deal sparks more action in Cowtown.