48 Hours Since The Deadline….

Honestly we haven’t learned much from the deadline yet and really we won’t for weeks but it is fun to take a look back and see what happened and didn’t happen.  The strangest things may be what didn’t happen may have resulted in a more interesting deadline…although it was so quiet most of Tuesday morning.

The NTC players in Toronto made a hell of a stand against Ottawa on Tuesday night.  Sundin and Tucker scored and even Kaberle and Kubina played outstanding in a 5-0 whitewashing.  Toronto won again last night so it makes you wonder.  Even though most of the hockey media has lambasted Cliff Fletcher for how he has handled things…they are now winning.  Toronto is at .500 and only 6 points out of a playoff berth.  I suppose anything is possible.

Things in Montreal took a stranger turn as they expected to get Hossa and all they really got was a 2009 2nd round pick for trading Cristobal Huet.  Coach Carbonneau and GM Gainey have clashed all season on whether Carey Price was ready..well now he is going to have to be.  It turned out Pittsburgh got Hossa in a last minute deal and a player like Michael Ryder wasn’t dealt.  Ryder helped lead the Habs past Atlanta the other night in an impressive 5-1 victory.  Maybe not getting Hossa won’t hurt Montreal as much as people think.

The New Jersey Devils were surprisingly cautious and did not trade players like Gionta and Elias like some had expected.  Instead, they traded Cam Janssen to St. Louis for Bryce Salvador.  Sure that gives the Devils yet another defenseman, but they needed someone to clear players out of the crease besides Colin White and Salvador fits the bill.  The Devils could have used Salvador and his solid play Tuesday night as they fell 2-1 to Carolina in overtime on a play that never should have been a goal.  Andy Greene tried to play the puck and forgot the person.  Sergei Samsonov slipped by just enough to shovel his own rebound in.  Greene will be benched tomorrow for Salvador….consider it lesson learned.

Teams like Calgary and Vancouver were more or less content on staying put…though Vancouver did move Matt Cooke for Matt Pettinger.  Both teams have well established goalies and appear to be willing to ride out what they have in their quest for Lord Stanley’s Cup.  So why does a team like Boston get such a hard time in media circles?  Because they had the deal in their grasp and lost it…over 1 contract year…that has to bite.  Then to do nothing to help your team because of it…I call that a double whammy.  I really do think Boston may be in danger of missing the playoffs entirely due to the lack of activity.

Lastly, I wrote a little while back on the fact that I wasn’t that impressed with Detroit…well what do you know…the injury bug hit the vets.  Chelios, Rafalski, Hasek…etc…have all gone down with various ailments.  Age can creep up on you but luckily they have enough time to get healthy but the age and goaltending remains an issue.  I wonder if Holland goes after a #1 netminder in the offeseason.  Well, all in all, it was a very interesting trade deadline maybe more for what didn’t happen than what did.

Trade Deadline Fun!!!

The deed has been done…they day is now over…here is what happened.

TRADES AND SIGNINGS THAT HAPPENED TODAY!!

– Mike Comrie resigned 1 year…4 million with the Isles.
– Actual Trade: Bryce Salvador to New Jersey and Cam Janssen goes to St. Louis.
– Wade Belak goes to Florida for a 5th round 08 draft pick.
– Defenseman Brian Campbell to San Jose for Steve Bernier and a 2008 first round pick.
– Brad Richards goes to Dallas…also going with him will be goalie Johan Holmqvist…Tampa gets goalie Mike Smith, center Jeff Halpern and winger Jussi Jokinen and a 4th round pick.
– Goalie Cristobal Huet has been traded to Washington for a second round pick in the 09 draft.
– Andrew Ladd has been traded from the Canes to the Blackhawks for Tuomo Ruutu.
– The Colorado Avalanche have acquired Ruslan Salei from the Panthers for Karlis Skrastins and a third round pick.
– Chicago has moved Martin Lapointe to Ottawa….Chicago return a 6th round 2008 pick.
– Colorado acquires Adam Foote from Columbus…for a first round conditional pick and more.
– Sergei Fedorov has been traded to Washington…..for defenseman Ted Ruth.
– Rob Davison has been traded to the Isles from the Sharks for a 7th round pick in 08.
– Washington traded Matt Pettinger for Vancouver’s Matt Cooke.
– Toronto trades Hall Gill to the Pens….. for a 2nd rounder and 5th rounder in 09.
– Backman to the New York Rangers….Blues get a 4th rounder in return.
– WOW! The big one. Hossa and Pascal Dupuis to the Pens….for Erik Christensen, Colby Armstrong, Angelo Esposito, and a first round 2008 pick.
– Chris Simon to the Minnesota Wild for a 6th round pick.
– Brad Stuart has been traded to the Detroit Red Wings…Kings get back a 2nd and 4th rounder.
– Chad Kilger has been traded to Florida for a third round draft pick.
– Sjostrom, Leneveau and Josh Gratton going to the New York Rangers for Al Montoya and Marcel Hossa.
– Marc-Andre Bergeron has been traded to the Ducks for a 3rd round pick.
– JS Aubin has been traded for a 7th round draft pick to the Anaheim Ducks.
– Joe Motzko has been traded from the Thrashers to the Caps for Alexandre Giroux.
– Jan Hlavac was moved to Nashville for a 7th round pick.
– Brandon Bochenski traded to Nashville for future considerations.

ANALYSIS OF TRADES:

– Devils bolster their defensive depth with stay at home defenseman Salvador while Janssen goes home to St. Louis to add some grit to the Blues lineup.
– Florida finally gets a fighter that they need to add some physicality to the mix.
– Campbell does indeed get dealt and the San Jose blue line gets that much stronger with a QB on the Power Play. Buffalo gets a good forward with upside and a much coveted first rounder in this year’s draft.
– Dallas gets the center of attention they feel they need and a decent backup in Holmqvist…they do give up on Smith and Jokinen though. But you have to give to get something in the trade deadline.
– This is a precursor for bigger things in Montreal but you have to give major points for Washington in securing a #1 netminder with very good upside. And they only gave up a second rounder to boot.
– Carolina wanted more grit well they got it and Ladd provides Chicago with a little punch.
– The Avs get bigger on defense but they do get a little slower while the Panthers make a pretty smart trade in getting a vet like Skrastins.
– Ottawa gets a little stingier with Lapointe and for next to nothing…not bad.
– Colorado gets the old boys together as Foote helps them out on the defensive end….but pays for it with a conditional first rounder. An 08 if Avs make playoffs and an 09 if they don’t…plus Columbus gets another pick if Foote resigns with Avs…not as good of a move as it first looked to be.
– Fedorov provides a bit of veteran leadership to Washington as they try to win the Southeast…and trade not much for him.
– Isles needed defenseman help….and get a bit here. Just some depth to help the injuries mounting on the D side.
– Cooke provides the Caps with a little grit…it makes me wonder why the Canucks would do such a deal.
– The Pens get a big physical d-man but for a couple picks…a curious price to say the least but he will help in his own end.
– Rangers get a pretty good one with some upside….and the Blues get a decent pick.
– The Pens make 2 trades..the second one being an even bigger risk than the first one will be interesting one way or the other for Shero. Hossa will provide them with undeniable offensive punch…but trading away some of these character guys may hurt the Pens in the long run. A very curious move and if you are Montreal, why trade Huet now? But that is second guessing.
– Why Minnesota why? That is all I will say. I do not get it at all.
– Stuart gives the Wings some much needed defensive depth given all the injuries the Wings have sustained.
– A bit of a curious move for a third rounder but Florida does get a pretty good vet.
– Maloney had to give up a bit to get Montoya…hopefully he thinks it is worth it because I think Sjostrom could be pretty darn good.
– Isles did not like Bergeron of late but maybe the Ducks can turn him around…Bergeron will help some on the Power Play.
– I don’t get this one at all Burke….I just don’t.
– Another trade that seemed just a trade for trade’s sake.
– Hlavac will help the Preds just a little bit but the Preds seemed content to stay out of the fray on this trade deadline.
– I guess Bochenski was just interchangeable parts for Burke.

Serenity Now!

It is quiet…almost too quiet.  Now that is the nicest part of the trade deadline is the hours before the first “big” trade hits.  Fans and pundits alike always forget how quiet it actually gets…as if the hockey world shuts down for a bit before hitting us with a reckless abandon that leaves us speechless.  This is not like the Free Agent Frenzy which takes place over days and doesn’t have a true end.  The Trade Deadline has an end….at or around 3pm ET tomorrow.  The fun part is always guessing who goes where but even better is what is left as far as fallout from what is NOT done.

Players like Sundin, Kaberle, Tanguay, and now apparently McCabe among others are staying put.  Now while that doesn’t damper the trade market completely, it does allow for a lot more of the subtle trades that I am expected to take place in the next 22 hours or so.  I definitely do not expect 25 trades again like the last two years…but I don’t expect a clunker day of 6-10 trades like some are calling for.  I would say around or a little over 15 will likely suffice though that will leave some fans wanting more like their team got left out in the cold.

New Jersey is still on the track of trying to get John-Michael Liles or Barret Jackman though the price seems too steep right now on both fronts.  That price may come down in the next little bit but it may also not.  That is something Lou Lamoriello will have to consider.  How far is he willing to go?  Keep in mind, the Devils have 79 points, are #1 in the East right now, and are one of the hottest teams in hockey.  Team chemistry sometimes outweighs need…even if the need is somewhat glaring.

The Marian Hossa sweepstakes is still going….teams are lining up but right now, Montreal is still the frontrunner at least until a darkhorse comes along.  Look at the Isles with Ryan Smyth last year as an example…no one believed he was going there until it actually happened and even then no one still believed it.  I have Hossa as 70-30 as to going to Montreal.

Breaking News Just in……..

The Colorado Avalanche have signed Peter Forsberg for the rest of the season.  Basically the Avs get a physical, playmaking talent of a center as a “rental” without giving up a thing.  Thanks to TSN, Spectors, and Fan 590 for breaking the story.   I had heard some rumblings but I admit I dismissed them just because of the foot and ankle issues.  It remains to be seen what Forsberg has left in the tank.  But if he has anything left, he does have a presence that could be helpful in getting the Avalanche in the playoffs and make them a dangerous first round out.  Now will that make moving Liles out easier?  I am not sure.  One thing is for sure, the Avs just improved a little bit and that may make some GM’s pull the trigger a little faster now.

Serenity now may just be serenity gone very soon.   Stay tuned.

Dominoes Starting To Fall??

With two days left until the trade deadline….it appears some dominoes are already starting to fall.  The path has been made for some trades to get the green light even though destinations are currently unknown as of right now.

First up is the saga of Marian Hossa.  Hossa will now definitely be traded after Atlanta GM Don Waddell failed to sign him yesterday in an 11th hour attempt to keep him.   Where will he end up?  Montreal?  Ottawa?  Somewhere else?  I am apt to go with Montreal right now but I think a third party may snatch him up if the price is right.  Remember, the team that does trade for him will have the inside track in resigning him in the offseason.

Next we have Brian Campbell of the Sabres.  It appears Darcy Regehr is going to make an offer later today or this evening in the 4 year, 22 million dollar range.  If Campbell does not bite and at this point there is no guarantee the offer made will even be that high….Campbell could be out of Buffalo as soon as Monday afternoon.  He could end up in New Jersey, San Jose, or even Detroit…depending on what breaks when.

The Los Angeles Kings will be active sellers and I see at least 2 or 3 players being dealt at the deadline besides Jaroslov Modry.  Though Rob Blake will not go anywhere….players like Tom Preissing and even Alexander Frolov might.  This team is in rebuild mode yet again.  So I scanned up and down their roster a bit.  Brad Sturart, Ladislav Nagy, and even Brian Willsie could all be trade deadline casualties for the Kings.

Tampa is now definitely in sell mode.  Not only do I expect to see Vaclav Prospal moved but I expect either Dan Boyle or Brad Richards to be moved as well by the deadline.  Richards might go to Columbus or even St. Louis.  Boyle may also go West to San Jose, Detroit, or even Calgary…who knows at this point.  The only thing for sure is Tampa will be sellers.

Finally, the Flyers may be pressed into one or more trades with their losing streak hitting ten and their recent rash of injuries.  The latest is a crucial one with Mike Richards getting sidelined for three weeks with a torn hamstring.  They will bid heavy in many sweepstakes and may be a darkhorse as they may be more willing to give up more than the asking price.  Playoff desperation makes GM’s do some very strange things.

Well one thing for sure…is there is only 51 hours till the deadline and it is awfully quiet…maybe too quiet for my liking.  That calm will end soon and probably in a big way as it always does every year.

Friday Rumor Mills And More

With the trade deadline now about 100 hours away, it is time to see what is cooking in the NHL as the GM’s head for a weekend that could make or break some of their trade possibilities and maybe open up some new doors as well.  This is the latest after digging around various sites, Canadian Radio Stations, television, and more.

According to TSN, interim GM Cliff Fletcher did ask Leafs forward Mats Sundin for a list of teams he would like to play for.  Now he did stop short of asking him to waive his no trade clause.   Sundin, no doubt, has all the control here.  The question is how much does he exert. Will he stay with the Leafs or will he go to a team of his choosing which will also hamper Fletcher’s ability to get a good return?  Those seem to be the only two options right now.  The third is Fletcher actually getting Sundin to go where he wants him to on the first try.  Now you know that is not going to happen.   So stay tuned, this story will only get juicier come Monday.

The rumors in Tampa are not going away anytime soon.  Yes, Vaclav Prospal is almost certain to be traded at this point.  It is just a question of who and right now it seems the Devils are at the front of the list but even the Pens are making a late push along with several other teams.  I am honestly leaning to one of the several other teams at this time as the GM’s of Pittsburgh and New Jersey do not appear to be wanting to make a big move just yet.  Also, the latest of Dan Boyle and Brad Richards…is that there is much more to report on the Richards front as Boyle is still talking with Tampa management about a new contract.  Two Columbus scouts were indeed seen at a recent Tampa game.  The sources that spotted them were independent and one was a good friend of mine who works for the St. Pete Times.  So could Richards go to Columbus???  Don’t be shocked.

Well not quite done with Tampa yet…Tampa could be in full sell mode at this point especially if they do sign Dan Boyle.  That will not only accelerate the Richards process but also some other players may be making their way out.  Chris Gratton, Filip Kuba, and Jan Hlavac could also be on the move.  I could see Gratton being the most likely to be moved out of the three at he is a good veteran centerman who is still pretty decent at faceoffs.  He would make a nice role player for a contending team at the deadline.

Last but not least, it definitely now appears the Kings are not done selling.  More than one report I have seen has Tom Preissing heading out of Los Angeles….maybe even back to San Jose as soon as Monday.  Several other players are rumored to be on the block but Preissing is the only one to be prominently mentioned on Puck Podcast and other shows as a possibility.  He is a great defensive defenseman who could really help a contender.

Well this deadline is starting to heat up and with a weekend full of hockey games and more shifting in the standings….it is only going to get hotter.   By Monday, who knows what will happen.  One thing is for sure…I will be here at my own little “media central” ready for any and all carnage that takes place.  Have a good weekend! 

Flyers bulk up on D.

Well the Flyers needed help on the defensive end and today they got some.  They sent a third round draft pick in this year’s draft to Los Angeles for Jaroslov Modry.  Modry is 6 foot 2 and 220 lbs.  He will turn 37 on February 27th.

I am honestly surprised the Kings got a third round pick for Modry.  Modry is on the downside of his career professionally and is physical but he is starting to show signs of slowing down.  I don’t expect that the Flyers are done here by a long shot.  They have multiple moves in mind no question and this is just the beginning.

The Kings on the other hand are starting yet another rebuilding process.  Expect in the next week to see more players traded off to contenders as the Kings try to stockpile picks and prospects.  After all, one of these years it has to work…right??

The Kings may trade even Frolov at this point….nothing is certain.  While the Flyers have Tomas Kaberle locked in their sights provided they can provide the right price for him.  Expect them to have considerable competition in that sweepstakes as New Jersey, Detroit, and others are also believed to be interested.  Stay tuned…the bumpy ride is just beginning.

Sorry Folks….

Hello everyone….when you’ve been sick for a couple weeks…things start to slip a bit.  Trying to work everything in….I notice that you tend to forget things that are important sometimes.  Today is the first day of the NHL GM Meetings.  This is usually the time where trades are worked on and consummated.  Now, for the most part, the trade doesn’t happen till right before the deadline but if the fire is going to smart…it has to start smoking right here…right now.

One thing that is for sure is Peter Forsberg is not coming back to the Flyers or the NHL this season.  Thank you TSN for the confirmation.  His agent said the following.

”The prospect of Peter having enough confidence in the foot-skate issue to commit to being able to play in the NHL this season isn’t where it needs to be at this moment,” Baizley told TSN. ”As a result, teams are being told it is unlikely he will be able to commit to return to the NHL this season.”

I had been saying this for awhile.  Even when his little 14 second video came out, I just wasn’t that blown away by it.  It is for the best that he has decided not to give it a go this season and avoid risking further injury.  Of course now, this has led to further speculation (as it always does) that Forsberg may now retire.  I say never say never, especially with him as I don’t even think Forsberg knows what Forsberg is going to do on a day to day basis.  His dad will be relieved I am sure.

A team that really could have used Forsberg was obviously the Flyers…they are hurting right now…their defense slowed down…and with Joffrey Lupul out again (ankle) for 2-3 weeks…they need some scoring punch to offset their below average defense.  Biron can’t carry this team like he did early in the season….so the Flyers did indeed call up Claude Giroux today….and that should make things interesting in Philly.  

Claude Giroux is only 5 foot 11 and about 180 pounds but has the speed and skill that Lupul brings to the table.   He has scored 12 points in his last 3 games for Gatineau of the QMJHL.  A number of Flyer fans that I have been talking to have been clamoring for Giroux for a couple months now.  I admit I am curious to see what he can do in a Flyers uniform and if he can make an immediate impact for a team that is in dire need of one.  The Flyers are now eight points out of first in the Atlantic Division….time to act.

Finally, I wanted to let everyone know that this month’s Hockey Around The Horn will center around the trade deadline.  We will have a 3 on 3 battle…single elimination…till first a team wins and then an individual.  I am wondering what the readers think as far as the big trade that is going to happen.  I still think the Devils will wind up with Prospal or Liles or both….unless Brian Campbell of the Sabres suddenly becomes available in the 11th hour.  All in all…eight days to go…and the train is starting to pick up steam!  Enjoy what’s left of the holiday folks.