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The Felix Potvin saga has finally come to an end.

After many months of waiting in anticipation, the deal finally went down on Long Island. Potvin was traded to the Islanders for Bryan Berard. The teams also exchanged sixth-round picks in this year's draft.

Bryan Berard by Meredith Martini

In Berard, the Leafs get a talented, yet not fully developed, offensive-minded defenseman who could help significantly on the power play. Berard, the Calder Trophy winner two seasons ago, comes to Toronto with a boatload of promise, but only time will tell if that promise turns into an impressive career.

If Berard does pan out, however, man oh man did the Leafs get a steal of a deal.

Highly skilled defensemen are a rarity in the NHL these days. And any time a team gets a hold of one, there's little chance they're going to give him up. The Rangers know how important Brian Leetch is to the team. That's why it seems unlikely that they won't re-sign him after the season.

Sandis Ozolinsh is another offensive-minded defenseman. The Avalanche pried him away from the San Jose Sharks a few years ago for Owen Nolan. And even though Ozolinsh demanded a trade and a large amount of money as a restricted free agent, the Avs knew they couldn't let him get away. Colorado finally signed him after nearly half the season went by.

Berard could become another Sandis Ozolinsh. Or a Brian Leetch. He has the offensive flair. He has the charisma. All he needs is a little guidance. The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to need a little patience.

Patience was something Islander GM Mike Milbury ran out of. After seeing Berard struggle through his sophomore campaign and again at the start of this season, Milbury decided it was time to move his gifted, though sometimes immature, 21-year-old defenseman.

Milbury's hoping that this trade doesn't come back to haunt him anytime soon. Unfortunately for Milbury and his job security, it probably will. Given a little more time, Berard should become a superstar in this league. Milbury knows it.

"Berard is probably going to make me look silly because he has such a bright future," he said.

But Milbury felt he couldn't wait any longer. His team was floundering near the bottom of the league, and he had little to no confidence in his current starting netminder, Tommy Salo. So Milbury pulled the trigger to get Potvin - a well-dressed goaltender who often looks a lot better in the crease than he plays.

Potvin backstopped the Maple Leafs through good years and bad during the past seven-plus seasons in Toronto. He led the Leafs to the Conference finals twice, yet was unable to get to the Big Dance. That was earlier in his career. The past couple years Potvin was plagued by bad defenses in front of him. But it didn't hide the fact that The Cat seemed to let in at least one soft goal per game, as well. While Potvin wasn't totally to blame for the bad times in Toronto, he didn't come away with a squeaky-clean image, either. That's part of the reason the Leafs signed Curtis Joseph to a big contract in the offseason.

Potvin, 27, will get a second chance in New York. But even he knows his time on the Island could be limited. That's because the Islanders have a kid named Roberto Luongo climbing quickly through the system. Luongo was the team's first round pick in the 1997 draft. He was selected fourth overall, higher than any other goaltender in the history of the NHL.

Luongo recently led Team Canada to a silver medal in the World Junior Championships with an outstanding performance. Soon after the Islanders inked him to a multi-year deal. Luongo will finish out this season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, but he could be ready for the NHL in two seasons. Or less, if need be.

Felix Potvin is not the future of the New York Islanders. Roberto Luongo is.

If Milbury just showed a little more patience, Bryan Berard could have been part of that future, too.

Funny how the future gets distorted when you're close to losing your job. The future somehow seems to get a little fuzzy when your butt is on the line. In the case of this trade, Mike Milbury's immediate future could have come before the New York Islanders long-term future. As sad as that may sound, it's probably true.

But the damage might not be done yet. Several more trades are on the Island's horizon. Tommy Salo is almost a lock to leave the Islanders. Several teams that are reported to be interested are the Calgary Flames, Nashville Predators and the Edmonton Oilers. All three teams need immediate help (and cheap help) between the pipes.

There are also rumors that Milbury is shopping high-scoring center Robert Reichel. This move seems to be one based on salaries more than anything else. Potvin is more expensive than Salo. And Milbury recently re-signed Ziggy Palffy to a new long-term deal. So someone has to go. Reichel, who makes $1.7 million this year, could be it. Milbury has contacted several teams about Reichel, including the Ottawa Senators.

As for the Maple Leafs...they add Berard to an impressive, yet young, group of blueliners (sounds somewhat like what the Islanders had just one season ago, doesn't it?). There's not enough playing time for everyone, so someone will be moved. Word is that Jason Smith could be the one to go. He could be shipped to Calgary for Andrew Cassels, if the rumor mill holds true.

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