The Buffalo Sabres traded star goalie Ryan Miller and captain Steve Ott to the St. Louis Blues on Friday night for goalie Jaroslav Halak, forward Chris Stewart, prospect William Carrier, a 2015 first-round pick and a 2016 third-round pick.
But that 2016 pick becomes a first round pick in the 2014 draft if the Blues make the Western Conference Finals in the playoffs or St. Louis signs Miller to a new contract.
Miller won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goalie in 2010, the year he was the Most Valuable Player of the Olympic tournament in Vancouver. He's the franchise leader with 284 victories and 540 games.
The Sabres acquired Ott from Dallas in exchange for Derek Roy on July 2, 2012. Ott had 18 goals and 26 assists in 107 games for Buffalo.
Halak is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, but gives the Sabres a solid veteran presence in the net. Stewart has 15 goals in 2013-14 for St. Louis. Carrier was a second round pick in 2013. He has 56 points (17 goals and 39 assists) in 59 junior hockey games this season with Drummondville/Cape Breton.
"We're happy with what we achieved. There's lots of future in this trade," said Sabres General Manager Tim Murray during a news conference at the First Niagara Center during the second intermission of the Sabres game against San Jose.
Earlier, both Miller and Ott addressed reporters.
"I'm very emotional right now," Miller said.
"It was a great honor to serve as Sabres captain," Ott said. "(I'm) thankful for my time here."
The deal is the Sabres' first major move since general manager Tim Murray was hired in January after Buffalo fired Darcy Regier.
The Sabres have now won three straight since the Olympic break after beating San Jose 4 to 2.