The Sabres had a need for a quality, left-side defenseman and Scandella fits the bill perfectly. He will likely play alongside budding star Rasmus Ristolainen on Buffalo's top pairing. Pominville, the former captain of the Sabres, returns to his original NHL organization and will provide depth scoring and leadership. The Sabres did not pay too much and addressed their biggest need on defense. Overall, this was a solid move for both NHL franchises.

For the Wild, this trade ends weeks of speculation about a move involving one of their defensemen. The cost of dealing away a very expensive contract (Pominville, whose salary-cap hit through 2018-19 is $5.6 million) is a top-four defenseman like Scandella. Ennis has a contract with $1 million less in terms of cap hit than Pominville, while Foligno is currently a restricted free agent. Both players could thrive under Wild bench boss Bruce Boudreau.

Expect Ennis to bump his offensive numbers in Minnesota, while Foligno is likely to play on the Wild's fourth line. He remains a fantasy dark horse. As for Pominville, returning to Buffalo may prolong his NHL career (even though he is unlikely to match his 2016-17 numbers--47 points). Scandella is mostly a defensive defenseman, so his fantasy value remains indifferent.