Sabres Daily: Conn Smythe Connections; Petersen Dealt To Flyers

When the Buffalo Sabres reached the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 1975, their goaltending tandem was Gary Bromley and veteran Roger Crozier. Crozier was a star goaltender with the Detroit Red Wings who won the Calder Trophy in 1965 and the Conn Smythe Trophy in a losing effort against Montreal in 1966 before enduring some health issues and briefly retiring before being acquired by the Sabres after the 1970 Expansion Draft.

Until 2019 when Ryan O’Reilly won with the St. Louis Blues, no former or current Sabres player had won the Conn Smythe (awarded for the Stanley Cup Playoff’s most valuable player), but if things continue to evolve with Jack Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights, former Buffalo players will have won that prestigious award twice in the last five years.

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Petersen Dealt To Flyers

The blockbuster three-way deal involving defenseman Ivan Provorov going to Columbus and a slew of draft picks going to Philadelphia. Also included in the deal to the Flyers was former Sabres draft pick Cal Petersen.

Despite the tight finish going New York's way, this desperation stop by Cal Petersen was a five-beller! 🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔 pic.twitter.com/S3lCSNKcN2

— NHL (@NHL) November 23, 2022

The 28-year-old was selected 129th overall in the 2013 Draft and played three years at Notre Dame, where he was nominated for the Mike Richter Award as the NCAA’s top goaltender. In 2017, Petersen opted to not sign with Buffalo and went to Los Angeles, where he signed a three-year, $15 million extension and was thought to be the heir apparent to Jonathan Quick, but his play dramatically declined over the last two seasons, to the point that he was placed on waivers and sent to the American Hockey League.

The Kings gave up a 2024 second-round pick, defensive prospect Helge Grans, and retained 30% of Provorov’s salary to clear the two remaining years of Petersen’s contract. If the rumors of Carter Hart being dealt before next season are true, Petersen might get a second chance in Philadelphia partnering with young goalie Samuel Ersson.

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