The Columbus Blue Jackets trade forward Sonny Milano to the Anaheim Ducks for forward Devin Shore.

The 23-year-old Sonny Milano has scored five goals added 11 assists for 18 points in 46 games played. The 25-year-old Devin Shore has scored four goals, added six assists for 10 points in 39 games played for Anaheim.

#CBJ Sonny Milano is heading to Anaheim in the trade for Devin Shore. Not sure yet if it’s straight up or other pieces involved. — Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) February 24, 2020

Anaheim Ducks Acquire Sonny Milano

Milano was drafted in the first round (16th overall) in the 2014 NHL draft. At the time he was projected to become a top-six forward after scoring 39 points in 25 games of the U.S. National Under-18 team. He has shown promise. At the AHL level with Columbus’s minor league team in Cleveland, he scored 47 points in 63 games in the 2016-2017 season. Last season he scored 24 points in 27 games. At the NHL level he has decent numbers. In the 2017-2018 season he scored 22 points in 55 games, to along with his numbers this season. However, he has not become the top-six scorer Columbus was hoping for.

Devin Shore is a solid depth centre. When he played with the Dallas Stars he scored 33 and 32 points in 82 games in the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 seasons. However, hasn’t reached the 30 point mark since. He was on pace for it in the 2018-2019 season with scoring 17 points in 42 games, but only played half the year. This season he is down to 10 points in 39 games.

What this means for the future

There are some similarities between Columbus trading Milano this year and trading Anthony Duclair at last year’s deadline. When they were traded, both players were 23-year-olds who have scoring potential but hadn’t figured it out. Duclair was traded to the rebuilding Ottawa Senators and broke out this season with scoring 37 points in 61 games. Milano is also traded to a rebuilding team in Anaheim. He will have the opportunity to realize his scoring potential there. At best, he breaks out like Duclair. At worst, he scores 30-40 points a year.

Columbus has carved an identity as being a gritty-hardworking team and Shore fits that motto. He is a reliable defensive player and can provide some scoring. He also helps fill a void at centre with Alexander Wennberg currently hurt.

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