The trade deadline has come and gone, again with its usual hectic flurry of activity as 17 separate deals were consummated involving 31 players and 22 draft choices changing hands. Columbus was far from idle completing two significant trades as the clock wound down Wednesday.

The Jackets managed to find a taker for a few months of Marian Gaborik, sending the oft-injured sniper to LA for F Matt Frattin and two draft choices: A second and a third, both coming either in 2014 or 2015.

Also addressing the possibility of a prolonged absence of top-four blue-liner Fedor Tyutin, Columbus acquired Nick Schultz from Edmonton in exchange for a fifth-round pick.

Frattin, a key piece in the deal that sent G Jonathan Bernier to Toronto, struggled during his brief tenure in Southern California. He tallied just two goals and recorded six points in 40 games, and was a -6 for the Kings. His puck possession stats were poor as well. According to BehindTheNet.com, Frattin had a Relative Corsi rating of -12.6; a total that ranked him 11th out of the 15 forwards that have suited up for LA this season.

But while the numbers may not reflect too kindly on Frattin's play some scouts still see potential in the young winger. One texted Craig Custance of ESPN.com and said: "Like him. Skate and shoot. Grit factor only negative."

The Jackets rely on a balanced scoring attack and don't necessarily have well defined lines in terms of first through fourth. All four lines contribute and depending on how each is performing in a given contest, each can see their fair share of ice time. In the team's most recent game, a 4 - 2 win over Dallas, no forward played less than 11:57 and none saw more than 18:05. That's balance. Frattin has a chance to fit right in and add to that balance. Think of it as quantity and quality over star power.

The Jackets were playing fine before Gaborik returned from injury and after dealing three valuable assets at last year's deadline to acquire the skilled Slovakian it was imperative the club recoup some of that value before losing him as a free agent. Frattin will be a RFA after the season but given his struggles Columbus should have little trouble signing him to an affordable contract extension if they so choose.

Additionally, on a day that saw just one unconditional first-round draft pick move (The Rangers traded their 2015 #1 to Tampa in the Marty St. Louis deal) the Jackets did well to add a second and a third in the trade. High profile sniper Thomas Vanek, also a pending free agent after the season, cost Montreal a little-known prospect and a second-round choice. It's not hard to believe Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen obtained more value for Gaborik than Isles GM Garth Snow did for Vanek.

Schultz is an experienced defender who was asked to play big minutes for the Oilers but is probably best suited filling a spot on the team's third-pair. With Tyutin still out of the lineup he'll fill in and play a key role for the Jackets. When Tyutin returns Schultz could still play meaningful minutes for the team and if nothing else is a quality seventh defender.

Sure, Columbus loses a big name but they did well to cash in that chip rather than risk losing Gaborik for nothing in July. Two draft choices, probably in the top-90, and a useful role player is a better return than some teams got for their rentals this deadline. Are the Jackets better? Probably not but with the team playing good hockey leading up to the deadline I still like their chances of making the playoffs.

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