Lightning and Sabres announce they have made a minor trade deal.

We have a trade to report on Sunday night, although unfortunately it is one of relatively little consequence.

The Buffalo Sabres and the Tampa Bay Lightning have just announced a very minor trade, so minor in fact that I must admit I am somewhat surprised to see the Lightning announce the news via their official website. The move does however involve two former draft picks, one from each team, although neither man has managed to make it to the National Hockey League yet. 

From the Lightning's official website:

The Tampa Bay Lightning have acquired defenseman Devante Stephens from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defenseman Matt Spencer, vice president and general manager Julien BriseBois announced today.

Stephens is a 22 year old defenseman that was drafted in the 5th round (122nd overall) in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. He has largely spent his career in the Sabres organization playing for the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL, although he has also spent some time with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League. In his most recent season Stephens has appeared in 3 games for the Cyclones recording no goals and 1 assists for a total of 1 point and currently boasts a plus minus rating of 0. In his 1 AHL appearance for the Americans this year Stephens has no points and boasts a plus minus rating of 0 as well.

Spencer on the other has had a considerably better draft pedigree but like Stephens he has failed to crack an NHL roster. Spencer was selected in the second round (44th overall) of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Lightning but has also spent the majority of his time in the ECHL with the Orlando Solar Bears. He has 3 games with the Solar Bears this season in which he has no points and a plus minus rating of -3. He has fared better at the AHL level this season however with no goals and 1 assist for a total of 1 point and a plus minus rating of +2 on the season.

Again this is a very minor deal that is highly unlikely to impact the NHL rosters of either team, at least not in the near future.