With the ECHL's trading deadline looming in about a half-hour, the Alaska Aces have pulled the trigger on a move that carries a fair bit of shock value: They've traded stalwart defenseman Derick Martin, an alternate captain, to Elmira.

In exchange, the Aces get forward Jarrett Konkle, a 29-goal scorer last season.

In another move, the Aces will at some point be getting goaltender Josh Johnson from Reading -- they made the deal with the Royals for undisclosed cash. Johnson is currently up in AHL Manchester, and Aces coach Brent Thompson said he hopes to have Johnson by the series in Las Vegas next week. (The Aces still are working on travel arrangements for Konkle -- no easy task at Spring Break time -- so at the moment it is uncertain when he will arrive).

Martin, who has played two-plus seasons for the Aces, is the linchpin of their penalty-killing unit and plays against opponents' top lines, and is regarded in the dressing room as a complete pro. He's the guy who often stays on the ice for all two minutes of an opposing power play, is always working on his fitness and is so tough that last season he played a game the night after he took a puck to the face, lost some teeth and needed more than 50 stitches -- the various reasons his teammates refer to him as "The Machine.''

Granted, his game had not been sharp of late -- still, he's +1 in the last 15 games -- but moving him is still a big deal. On the upside for Martin, Elmira leads the East Division with a 33-20-5 record.

Thompson said he hated to trade Martin -- and, look, I'm a big Martin fan -- but felt his club needed another skilled forward. Let's face it -- the Aces have been playing third-liners on the second line and fringe guys on the third line. Beyond their first line of Nick Mazzolini centering Judd Blackwater and Eric Boguniecki, the Aces' scoring depth drops dramatically. (That's especially true in the absence of John Lammers, who would be the club's best forward if he were here and not still on promotion to AHL Providence).

Still, this likely won't be a particularly beloved move among the Cowbell Crew of Aces fans, who have Martin high up on their list of favorites.

In 60 games this season, Martin owned 1-15--16 and +1 totals on a mediocre team that doesn't feature many players as pluses in the plus-minus category.

In 47 combined games for Elmira and Johnstown this season, Konkle owns 12-27--39 totals. The Aces need some scoring depth up front, sure, but Martin is a high price to pay.

"Obviously, our necessity was getting another goalie and getting a skilled forward -- I felt like those are the two holes on our team that we needed to fill for the playoff push, and where was our strength? On the back end,'' Thompson said. "Obviously, it's a big hole with Derek Martin leaving. I love what Derick Martin brings to the team. Obviously, you have to give up something to get something.''

Thompson said Konkle comes highly recommended from former Aces coach Keith McCambridge and current Stockton coach Matt Thomas, who had Konkle in now-defunct Fresno.

"He's got experience, he's been through the playoff grind and he's skilled,'' Thompson said.

Martin's departure leaves the Aces with just six defensemen because T.J. Fast is still up with AHL Peoria. Thompson said he likes that defenseman Tyson Marsh is playing better since returning from ankle surgery lately, and he's confidence his defense can hold up.

Meanwhile, defenseman Nick Tuzzolino, the subject of trade rumors, remains an Ace -- he is practicing at Sullivan Arena as this is written. He skated onto the ice with a smile on his face -- "That would have been a tough day,'' he said with a laugh, noting he almost was moved.