After two years of baseless speculation, the Florida Panthers finally traded away team captain Olli Jokinen, but not to the teams he was often linked to in trade rumors.

Instead of landing in Calgary, Minnesota or Vancouver Jokinen was shipped to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for defensemen Nick Boynton and Keith Ballard and the second round pick (49th overall).

Panthers GM Jacques Martin wanted to bolster his defense corps and Boynton and Ballard should help in that regard, but this move also significantly depletes the Panthers offensive production. Panthers fans probably won’t be happy about this return.

Boynton was once a highly touted blueliner with the Boston Bruins but injury and contract squabble diminished his status, so much so that it was rumored throughout last season the Coyotes tried unsuccessfully to move him.

Ballard however has far more potential, a 25-year-old blueliner who can play a physical style but also contribute offensively. His offensive production has steadily dropped in his first three seasons but his defensive game has improved.  

If that 49th overall pick should blossom into a star player down the road this deal could work more in the Panthers favor. Having bolstered his defense (possibly in hopes of enticing RFA Jay Bouwmeester into re-signing a long-term deal), Martin will be hard pressed to replace the gaping hole at center.

Coyotes fans have to be thrilled about this move, as they’d now got a bona fide first line center for winger Shane Doan’s line, giving the Coyotes considerably more offensive punch than they’ve had in recent years.

Losing Ballard and Boynton bites into their defensive depth, but with Ed Jovanovski, Derek Morris and Zbynek Michalek  already on their blueline and young Keith Yandle making the team at mid-season it might not hurt them too badly.

The chance to increase the offensive firepower was obviously too good to pass up, and they’ll have Jokinen on the payroll for the next seasons, which could give him the opportunity on a more promising team to finally play on a post-season team.

In the short term, rank this deal a winner for the Coyotes.

In which I will occasionally analyse a rumor or two reported by "Eklund" on his Hockeybuzz.com website. 

Be advised that it's not my intent to trash Eklund, run him down or mock him, but merely to offer up my two cents worth. I'm well aware that he's a lightning rod for controversy and folks either love him or hate him. I'll leave that to others to debate.

My intent isn't to shoot the messenger, but merely to question certain rumors he reports.

Anyway, he reported Thursday of rumors of Brian Leetch possibly signing with the Edmonton Oilers, and of the Toronto Maple Leafs possibly having interest in Phoenix's Nick Boynton.

Regarding Leetch, I'm in agreement with Larry Brooks of the New York Post: he's not returning to action this season. I think Leetch has retired in all but word. Sure, he's a "name" but his best seasons are far behind him and he hasn't played an NHL game since April 2006.

I think his old Rangers teammate Kevin Lowe is more interested in Boston's Brad Stuart and former Oiler and current St. Louis Blue Eric Brewer.

As for Boynton, why? This simply doesn't make sense. The Leafs already have over $17 million tied up long-term in four blueliners (McCabe, Kaberle, Kubina and Gill). The last thing they need is another expensive ($2.95 million per season for two more seasons after this one) blueliner, particularly when their most obvious need is an offensive winger to play with Mats Sundin, and perhaps after that, someone who can stop pucks and make up for the Leafs defensive decificiencies better than Andrew Raycroft.

Yes, the Leafs defence corps needs more defensive "umph", but given what management has paid those four, they've left little wiggle room to upgrade. Forget moving Kubina or Gill, because nobody'll want 'em at their current salaries, and forget moving another forward, unless it's to get a better one back in return.