Dropping the Puck: March 27th, Crystal Ball Edition

The playoff races get more intriguing by the second, and that won't change tonight, but there's plenty of other things to keep an eye on.  Panelists are constantly prognosticating, which is nice.  Unfortunately, they're often incorrect - consider the fact that the people on television last night mulling over whether or not Montreal will make the playoffs are the very same people that all but guaranteed they would be in the Stanley Cup Final this June.  But hey, everybody likes predictions, so I'll make some too, using a systematically appointed color scheme.  

P.S. - I don't assume responsibility for any wagers placed in response to this blog.

- The Tampa Bay Lightning are in Washington.  

What people think will happen: If the media has there way, the Lightning players will be seeking retribution for Alex Ovechkin's rendition of "Feelin' Hot."  People out there, Don Cherry included, believe that somebody on Tampa will physically punish the Russian sniper.  

What WILL happen: Ovechkin will score two goals, celebrate emphatically, and absolutely crunch at least three Lightning players into the boards over the course of the game.

- The Ducks and Oilers are battling for the final playoff position in the West.

What people think will happen:  Well, in Edmonton they hope Dwayne Roloson will somehow manage to lead them to the playoffs and that it will all begin with a win tonight.

What WILL happen: Edmonton will lose 4-2 to the Ducks, and fail to re-enter the top eight for the remainder of the season.  St. Louis is too hot right now.  So is Marian Gaborik.

- The Buffalo Sabres welcome back Ryan Miller.  

In this case, I don't have any qualms with what the people are thinking - Miller stands on his head, and the Sabres start to get on a roll.  Watch out Montreal.

- And finally, a note on the improving observation skills of the average Canadian hockey fan.

Today's TSN poll asks who is having the better season, Sidney Crosby or Zach Parise.  At this point in time, Parise leads with 71.6% of the votes, meaning only 28.4% of the voting population is wrong.  It's refreshing to see a much smaller portion of the NHL's fan base is drinking Gary Bettman's marketing Kool-Aid.

Slamming Headshots

Hits to the head are a hot topic these days.  On the one hand, this is an indication that the league and player's association care about the health and safety of the combatants on the ice, which is a good thing.  On the other hand, the fact that we have to keep talking about it means that players are still out there taking liberties with each other, and whatever measures and suspensions the league is dishing out to perpetrators seem to lack the substance required to make an impact.  No decision on the legality of a hit ever seems to satisfy everyone.  For instance, I thought Thomas Pock and Denis Gauthier were over-penalized for questionable hits this season, while Brendan Witt got off easy, and a teammate of his and Pock's, (Doug Weight) got off scot-free.  My opinion takes into account a number of factors, the most important of which being whether or not the hitter was trying to make a "legitimate hockey play."  Pock and Gauthier, while throwing dirty hits, did so while trying to separate their man from the puck.  Both were overzealous, and suspensions were warranted, but not five games in length.  Weight's hit on an unsuspecting Brandon Sutter was as unnecessary as it was malicious.  I like Doug Weight, but he crossed the line, and the league looked the other way.  Fortunately, Sutter is now ok.  Witt though, he's another story.  His elbow to the head of Niklas Hagman (who three weeks later, is still recovering) was blatantly violent, and in no way, shape or form was he trying to do anything else but injure Hagman.  He should have had a suspension in the Steve Downie range.  For all future purposes, the "Steve Downie Range" encompasses suspensions approximately 20 games in length, as he is no stranger to those.

So why bring all of this up now?  Well, Ben Eager was suspended for three games for a hit to the head on Liam Reddox.  Evgeni Malkin threw an eerily similar hit on the Kings' Wayne Simmonds a couple of nights later, and received no suspension.  So this month, Eager is the equivalent of Pock and Malkin is the equivalent of Weight.  People are up in arms over the fact that there appears to be a double standard being applied across the league.  There seems to be one set of rules for the stars and another for those who aren't.  Is this true?  If so, is it justifiable?  These are all intriguing questions.

I think the evidence suggests there is some inconsistency here.  Since Eager was suspended, Malkin should have been also, based on the rules.  Neither player was interested in the puck during their respective headshot sequences.  They were only interested in crushing in the skull of their opponent.  I'm supportive of suspensions for these kinds of hits in general, but I would also advocate longer banishments.  So why doesn't the league agree?  Consider what the common denominator in all of these cases is.  The player on the receiving end of the dirty hit has yet to be someone of significance.  With all due respect to people like Reddox, Simmonds, Hagman, Sutter, and Josh Gorges, they are role players, not superstars.  If Pavel Datsyuk or Sidney Crosby had their heads slammed by the third and fourth liners of the world, leading to either of them missing substantial time, I'm absolutely positive the league would step in and make a statement.  And from a business perspective, I understand that - the league has to protect their assets.  Through similar logic, I can understand why Evgeni Malkin and Doug Weight were not suspended - they are also superstars.  Well, one is, and the latter was.

All things being equal, the league would properly assess hits and reprimand players appropriately.  But in sports, like in life, all things aren't equal.  That's just something we're all going to have to live with.  Besides, I'm sure highlights of the Malkin hit, which got plenty of airplay on all the major networks over the weekend, will be replaced almost instantly by a world-class offensive play.  It's a "what have you done for me lately" kind of business.  And lately, no one has been better than Evgeni Malkin.  Life at the top has its perks...   

    

Cherry Picking

There exists a number of intense rivalries in hockey, and across all sports.  This has always been the case, and will continue to be so for the rest of time.  Usually they involve players or teams going head-to-head.  Federer-Nadal and Red Sox-Yankees come to mind.  The newest rivalry in sports comes to us via the National Hockey League, and it is escalating pretty quickly.  It is also unique, considering it involves the league's best player going head-to-head with its most renowned broadcasting figure of all-time.  I'm talking of course about Alex Ovechkin and Don Cherry.  And if you haven't seen and heard what they have been saying about one another, I'm here to fill you in.

First take a look at the video of goal, the celebration, and his post-game interview, which is priceless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g0dZR7G4Gs

Apparently Don Cherry doesn't like Ovechkin's celebratory nature.  On Hockey Night in Canada three weeks ago, Cherry called-out the Russian sniper for being over-enthusiastic and disrespectful.  He suggested the forward was resorting to "soccer-like" tactics and his advice for the kids was to steer clear of such behaviour because it was "not the Canadian way."  All of this on the heels of Sidney Crosby's vocal displeasure with Ovechkin's attitude on the ice.  If you ask me, Crosby is a bit jealous and Cherry's assertations are nonsense.  I'll admit, I still tune in weekly, but only to witness live what travesty he will spout out of his mouth at any given moment.  You get the feeling even Ron Maclean is growing tiresome of Cherry's antics.

The worst part of it all?  Last weekend, after supplying his audience with footage of Ovechkin celebrating in a more restrained fashion, Cherry took credit, saying "that's why everyone listens to me." 

The best part? A mere five days later, Ovechkin scores his 50th goal, and oh my, did he celebrate.  He was dancing over top of his stick, which was, in his words, "hot, hot, hot."  Who is Don Cherry kidding?  What he says won't change who Ovechkin is - and that's a good thing.  Ovechkin has a personality, he has flair - and it is a good thing for the game.  Crosby says he doesn't like ovechkin's attitude.  I say, I'm glad he has an attitude to begin with.  And what's wrong with being happy when you score a goal?  Maybe if Crosby had anywhere near Ovechkin's 50 and counting...

That's a debate for another time, though the conclusion to the question about which player is more effective is foregone in my opinion.

Back to Cherry and Ovechkin... make sure to tune in to HNIC this Saturday.  Cherry will be sure to use up most of his time addressing Ovechkin's post-game comments last night in Tampa Bay.  Ovechkin claimed he "doesn't care about Cherry" and can't wait to see "Coach's Room" because he bet Cherry "will be p****d off".  The more people chime in to the debate, the more support Ovechkin seems to get.  I've made it clear where I stand.  He's earned the right to have some fun out there, because at the end of the day, that's what we're all told this game is about anyway.  

What do you think?

 

Green Day

At this point in the season, it is impossible to under-emphasize the importance of the games played each night.  Tonight will be an especially interested evening, as teams battling for bottom end playoff positions are going head-to-head.  A couple of Canadian teams will be hoping that some that old Irish luck rubs off on them.

In the West, the 10th place St. Louis Blues will be facing the 9th place Edmonton Oilers.  Either team can jump into a playoff spot with a win.  In the East exists an even more intriguing match.  The Canadiens and Rangers, who are tied with 80 points each, will do battle in Montreal.  Anything can happen - that's why they play the games, but I wouldn't be surprised if a loss tonight marked the beginning of the end, of this season anyway, for either team.  At this point though, I think the two points are more important to the Habs if they want to avoid early tee off times.

Beyond the many playoff battles to take in, there are a few other interesting story lines to keep an eye on.  

First and foremost, Martin Brodeur will be looking for his record setting 552nd win against the Blackhawks.  In a nice coincidence, his longtime friend and teammate, Patrik Elias, can take over the Devils' all-time scoring lead with just a point.  He currently sits at 701.  Throughout his career, Brodeur has received endless praise, all of it deserved.  Elias, has received much less than his play has warranted over his seasons in the swamp.  It would be fitting for both of them to celebrate together tonight.  I'll be watching, I hope you will be too.

Alex Ovechkin is in Florida looking for his 50th goal of the season.  Whether he scores it tonight or not, it is inevitable that he will score it, ultimately becoming the first member of the Capitals organization to score 50 or more goals in three or more seasons.  An interesting piece of trivia to know, considering Peter Bondra, one of the most prolific scorers during the 90's, lit the lamp with tremendous frequency for the very same team.

And finally, the Leafs and Lightning meet again, following a heated battle last week that saw Ron Wilson ejected.  

Enjoy the evening, there's some great hockey to be played.

AA Batteries

battery [bat-uh-ree]

1. a combination of two or more cells electronically connected to work together to produce electric energy.

7. intentional infliction upon the body of another of a harmful contact.

12. any imposing group of persons or things acting or directed in unison.

Antropov.  Avery.  The combination has truly been magical thus far for New York.  The Garden hasn't been as loud as it was Sunday afternoon in a long time.  The fans saluted both players with cheers throughout the game as they were instrumental in the demolishing of the Philadelphia Flyers.  Unfortunately for the Rangers, the result the afternoon before was not as favorable.  Their quest for the post-season continues, and I believe it is safe to say the acquisitions of Nik Antropov and Sean Avery are the biggest reason why this team has been able to stay in the mix.

In six games so far, Avery has four goals and five points.  He's also drawn several penalties, leading to power play goals for his team, and has managed to get under the skin of some key players.  Case in point, Flyers stars Jeff Carter and Mike Richards became non-factors yesterday after run-ins with the most hated man in hockey.  Antropov has five points as well, three of them goals, and has looked dangerous in all situations playing on a line with the over-paid Chris Drury and under-appreciated Brandon Dubinsky.

These guys are high impact players.  It's as simple as that.  They aren't Datsyuk and Zetterberg or Ovechkin and Semin, but they're difference makers.  And since they have been summoned to the same dressing room, their teammates have developed a new respect for them and their opponents have been instilled with a sense of fear.  Lining up against a Ranger team is a much more daunting task today than it was two weeks ago.  It's all good in New York folks.  For now, that is.   

Honorable Mention

I can't re-call a year where this much attention was paid by fans and media alike to the NHL's annual Draft Lottery.  Never has it even been close.  There are a couple reasons I can cite as a basis for all the hoopla.  One - John Tavares is an appealing prospect.  Perhaps Canada's most appealing since Sidney Crosby, and even Crosby's draft year didn't have this much Lottery talk prefacing it because of the lockout.  Two - A couple of the teams that are in the running for the top pick are situated in Ontario, North America's hotbed for hockey-related media.  

It was not too long ago that a springtime playoff encounter between the Senators and Maple Leafs was almost automatic, something everyone except Patrick Lalime could get excited about.  These days, its not uncommon to have Sens fans cheering on the Leafs, and Leafs fans cheering on the Sens.  As crazy as it sounds, you people know its been happening since October.  I've sat through countless chats, listening to ignorant fans blather on about how last night's come from behind Leafs victory (and there has been a lot of those this season) was a waste of time... completely useless... futile even.  Fear not true fans, these are same people who are in love with fantasy hockey, not real hockey.  And Kyle Wellwood.  Anyone who thinks teams should be, or are, out on the ice losing on purpose hasn't ever played anything at a competitive level.  What's more, is they don't make an effort to understand the world of professional sports either.  

The players and coaches want to win.  The players and coaches are competitive.  It doesn't matter what the expectations for their teams are, or what percentage of a chance they have at drafting John Tavares.  Presently, the Islanders have the best odds, at 25%.  That hasn't stopped them from going 6-2-2 in their last 10 games.  It also hasn't stopped Sean Bergenheim, one of their best players, from being one of the best players in the entire league over the last 14 days.  Second in the hunt are the Thrashers.  No wait, the Lightning.  It was the Thrashers, until they strung together some wins and passed Tampa Bay in the standings.  They too appear to be interested more in winning than draft position.  Colorado and Phoenix are in the mix too.  And maybe they'll lose more games than they win down the stretch to move up a position or two in the draft.  But one thing is for certain, they won't lose on purpose.  Nor should they.  Anyone suggesting otherwise should be reprimanded accordingly.  Maybe we could arrange for them to get an earful from Ron Wilson.  

This is an honorable mention to the relentless efforts of professional athletes and the never quit attitude that separates them from the amateurs.  It is a quality that is often taken for granted.  Draft schmaft said Cliff Fletcher many years ago.  A shared sentiment amongst the seven teams battling not to finish last, but to stay out of last.  Pride is hard to swallow.   

Stream of Consciousness...

There were a ton of games tonight, many with intriguing story lines.  Here are some post-game thoughts and opinions...

The Montreal Canadiens defeated Edmonton in Bob Gainey's return to the bench boss role.  TSN claims his presence has had an immediate impact.  Relax everybody, it's just one game, and it was against Edmonton.  Sorry Oiler faithful... Sheldon Souray left the game in the third period.  The extent of his injury is not yet known, but with Visnosvky already out, the Oilers better hope this is only a minor problem... I'll take the aforementioned "relax everybody, it's just one game" approach and apply it to what has happened with the Sabres over the last four days.  And stretch out its applicability so it includes two games... The Blues beat Dallas 5-2 in a game that has major implications on the standings.  Yesterday on Hockeycentral at Noon, Doug MacLean referred to St. Louis as "the best team in the Western Conference."  I thought I misheard, but then he repeated it a minute later... Martin Havlat is hurt, but the good news is he's only listed as day-to-day.  Who had over 64.5 games played in their injury pool?... Owen Nolan scored his 400th career goal today.  Yes, that Owen Nolan.  He plays for Minnesota in case you were wondering... There's some chatter about Alexei Yashin returning to the NHL next season.  I'd take him on my team... What's the deal with Boston?... I don't want to discount the nine shutouts Steve Mason has this year, but what is alarming is the amount of goals he lets in when he's not getting shutouts.  Look it up... Fighting is all the rage at the GM's meetings right now.  Let's hope they emphasize on reducing the amount of staged fights, and worry less about enforcing the instigator rule.  The spur-of-the-moment fight is the one the fans love to see... Don't look now, but the Penguins are on a huge roll.  I still think they're toast against New Jersey, Washington, or Boston in the playoffs though... Miro Satan hasn't reported to Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate, so if you see him, call Ray Shero... The honeymoon between Olli Jokinen and the Flames appears to have been short-lived.  After dominating Philadelphia in his debut, Calgary has lost three straight... 

That's all for tonight, check back during the week for more updates and analysis.  I will post a special report in response to the decisions made at the conclusion of the GM's meetings. 

Meeting of the Minds

The NHL's General Managers are presently engaged in a series of meetings in Naples, Florida to discuss the state of the game.  Check back in the next couple days for a full report.  Issues generating substantial discussion include; fighting, headshots, goalie equipment, rule changes in regards to delayed penalties, balancing the schedule, and Olympic participation beyond 2010. 

Happy Anniversary

Apparently Bob Gainey thought it appropriate to file for a divorce instead.  A slow decline from the top end of the conference into an intense battle for a playoff spot, has cost Guy Carbonneau his head coaching job with the Montreal Canadiens.  As I noted on the weekend, expectations were so high for this team that something had to give, and fast.  The trade deadline came and went and no players arrived or left.  There was only one place left to turn - behind the bench.  With Carolina and Pittsburgh catching fire, I assume Gainey, who will take over as coach for the balance of the season, was beginning to feel the heat.  At this juncture of the season, everyone in Montreal is hoping this transition can work.

Here's how I'm assessing the situation - Gainey is motivated by a need to preserve his own position within the organization.  After all, he's the one responsible for the on ice personnel Carbonneau had to work with, meaning he also believes, as a group, they are a good enough team to be competitive right now (hence his inactivity last week).  Supposedly, Carbonneau did not - just look at the way he distributed ice time.  Getting behind the bench gives Gainey the opportunity to prove the team he put together can win.  They better win a lot and get into the playoffs because if they don't, he'll be gone too.

Trade Nullified

The transaction sending Kyle McLaren from the San Jose Sharks organization to Philadelphia has been rejected by the league because McLaren failed his physical.  He will however be able to play for Philadelphia's farm team, the Phantoms.

I didn't particularly like this trade for Philadelphia to begin with, so perhaps it is a blessing in disguise.  Acquiring a guy like McLaren seems to be a reversion to the mentality in place when they spent a boatload to bring in Derian Hatcher and Mike Rathje.  I'm glad to see the Flyers' having success right now, but we all know where they finished in the standings two seasons ago.  

The Burden of Expectation

The Montreal Canadiens were the toast of the hockey world coming into this season.  Expectations of both the fans and the organization were sky high.  Mats Sundin was coming, Carey Price was entering superstardom,  and Alex Kovalev was hitting the peak of his renaissance.  The plan was to have it all culminate in a Stanley Cup championship to cap off their 100th anniversary celebration, which to this point, has provided us with nothing cheer about except additional midweek national coverage of NHL games on CBC.

Sundin never showed up, and his replacement, Robert Lang, is out for the season.  Carey price has been - dare I say it - absolutely awful for more of the season, and despite being more effective recently, we all know the deal with Kovalev.  Since the team can't give everyone two days off to "find themselves" Montreal is stuck in a world of hurt.  The way they're going, it is legitimate to assume they may actually miss the playoffs.  However, if they do make it, I am almost certain they won't last very long.

Everyone jumped on Bob Gainey's back for not making a splash on deadline day... but hold on a minute... wasn't this team supposed to challenge for the Stanley Cup anyway?  What happened to all that early season hype?!  The guys playing for Montreal now are the same guys all the analysts envisioned would be playing for them when they dropped the puck in October.  What seems to have befallen Montreal is the same problem that has cursed Ottawa: collective over-achievement.  In 2007 when the Senators made it to the finals, they got career years out of people like Mike Fisher, Antoine Vermette, Chris Kelly, Andrej Meszaros, and Chris Neil.  I know some of them have moved on, but what's clear is that you'll never see any of the aforementioned players produce or compete the way they did two years ago.  Which is really frightening considering some of their salaries...

Is it possible that the likes of Tomas Plekanec, Chris Higgins, and the Kostitsyn brothers have already peaked and rescinded back into mediocrity?  The Habs better hope not.  There's no hope for them this year, or next: have you seen the list of pending UFA's?  I guess it was just hype. 

Roberts Retires

After having 29 teams pass on his services and coming to terms with the fact that the Lightning no longer want or need him in their lineup, especially at an extra $10 000 per game, veteran Gary Roberts has retired from professional hockey.  His tenure in the NHL has had its ups-and-downs, and included stops in Tampa, Pittsburgh, Florida, Toronto, Carolina, and Calgary, where he won a Stanley Cup in 1989.  A severe neck injury almost prematurely ended his career, but Roberts was able to persevere and have several successful seasons afterwards, which speaks to the character, heart, and determination he was always attributed with.  He finishes with 909 points in 1224 games.

This marks yet another departure of a recently acquired player from Tampa's roster.  They splurged into the free agent market this past summer, only to see themselves struggle to stay out of the league's basement for the balance of the schedule.  The management and ownership tactics practiced by Brian Lawton, Len Barrie, and Oren Koules have raised eyebrows all year, and I'm sure there will be more problems to deal with before they find a solution.

- In other Lightning news...

In case you missed it, Steve Downie is in trouble again.  He has been suspended 20 games by the AHL for swinging his stick at an official.  With each passing incident, it would appear as though Downie is becoming less and less intelligent.  And believe me, there wasn't much going on upstairs to begin with.    

Californian Comebacks

If you weren't up late watching the Kings/Stars and Sharks/Wild, you missed some of the best action of the season.  The Kings, down 3-0 at one point, and then 4-2 late in the third took advantage of a series of penalties, and some shoddy goaltending by Marty Turco (who actually took one of the aforementioned infractions) on their way to a 5-4 overtime victory.  Michael Handzus (I love this guy) was instrumental in the face-off circle as usual and scored the winner to cap off a night that saw him tally a hat trick.

Upstate, the Sharks had a 3-0 lead over Minnesota, who looked lifeless for most of the first half of the game.  They slowly crept back in it, and then with under ten minutes to go in the third period, Marek Zidlicky tied the game at three after he tossed a no-look backhand shot towards goal, from centre ice no less, and it bounced its way past Brian Boucher (who has been filling in for the ailing Evgeni Nabokov).  Mikko Koivu stole the game for the Wild with 13.1 seconds left in overtime, after a nice zone entry and centering effort from Brent Burns. 

If there was ever a reason to subscribe to NHL Centre Ice, tonight was it. 

Ranger Line Combos

After shuffling his lines non-stop for his first three games as head coach of the Rangers, John Tortorella had his work cut out for him  after yesterday.  Two forwards are gone and two new ones are in.  Here's how the Ranger forwards started the game tonight.

Antropov-Drury-Dubinsky

Naslund-Gomez-Zherdev

Callahan-Korpikoski-Avery

Sjostrom-Betts-Orr

Let's hope Torts give them a chance to get adjusted to each other because this team needs offense more than anything else.  So far so good, Zherdev has given them the early lead.  Newcomer Nik Antropov has already had a couple quality shots, and Sean Avery, while quiet so far, has been hearing it from the fans of both sides (many of the seats have been taken up by local Ranger supporters).  

The game has had a terrific pace so far...

The Day After

It is always exciting to watch a player suit up for a new team, and there will be plenty of that happening across the continent tonight.  The most intriguing debut will take place at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia where Olli Jokinen, wearing number 21, will skate alongside Jarome Iginla.  Flames fans have high hopes, as do I, and I will be watching the game and providing live updates should anything interesting occur.  A state over, the new look Rangers will be trying to take advantage of a weak Islanders team.  Unfortunately for New York, they haven't had a lot of success on the island the past three seasons.  I will be watching that game closely as well, specifically to find out how much Sean Avery and Nik Antropov can help the struggling Ranger offense.  Other new faces include Martin Gerber starting on goal tonight for Toronto and Mark Recchi suiting up for the Bruins.  There are many more players that will be getting adjusted to their new teammates tonight, so it should be a good evening to take in some games.

If not for the reasons above, then simply because there are certainly playoff implications attached to almost every game tonight.  Most notably, in Florida where the Penguins will battle the Panthers and in Nashville, where the Predators play host to the Bluejackets.  Big time points on the line.  Enjoy the action and stay tuned for updates.

Picks for tonight:  Calgary and New York will both come out on top.

Leafs Sign Hamilton

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed free agent forward Jeff Hamilton. He was previously with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL and will report to the team immediately, likely in time for tonight's game with Washington. The signing fills the void left by the departure of forwards Nik Antropov and Dominic Moore. Niklas Hagman is also injured.

In 142 NHL games with Carolina and Chicago, Hamilton has amassed 71 points, most of them on the power play, where he is competent playing the point. Look for Ron Wilson to try him there as much as possible with Kaberle on the IR.

Buffalo Soldiers

One team everyone should be keeping their eye on down the stretch is Buffalo. Not necessarily because I think they'll get hot enough to contend for the cup, but simply because in recent games they have reverted back to the style of play that made them such a dangerous team when they won the President's trophy a few years back. Right now, just four points separate the six teams in the Eastern conference battling for the fifth through tenth seed. You could make a case for or against any of the teams based on yesterday's activity, or lack thereof in Montreal's case, but most analysts seem inclined to give Buffalo their stamp of approval going forward.

While I'm not so crazy about the acquisition of Dominic Moore or the costly extension of Tim Connolly, I do think Buffalo can muscle an advantage over, say, Carolina or New York if the apparent resurgence of Maxim Afinogenov is for real. I don't want to over-react after he turned in just one impressive performance, but if he can maintain his focus and work-ethic, his return from injury could be bigger than most acquisitions made yesterday in the East. Everyone knows what he's capable of.
From start to finish in yesterday's game against Montreal, Mad Max was flying - in both directions. His attention to detail and play away from the puck were revolutionary. Whatever he's been doing during his time off has apparently got him motivated again, and Sabres fans immediately recognized it. There were ferocious cheers when his name was called after earning an assist on Paul Gaustad's power play goal, and even more positive noise following a shift in which he back-checked with great tenacity. If he and Lindy Ruff get on the same page, Miller's absence won't dash Buffalo's playoff hopes. With some help from his friends, this guy can take them ahead of enough teams to squeeze into eighth.

TRADECENTRE '09

TradeCentre Wrap-Up

5:03 - All the trades have filtered through the NHL's main offices and so ends another wild Trade Deadline.  The trades typically involved role and depth players, but a couple big time names were moved - they just weren't the ones analysts initially predicted would go.  At the end of the day, every deal will be scrutinized heavily.  Unfortunately, in doing so, we are often presented with more questions than answers.   

Do the Calgary trades elevate them to the same stratosphere, in terms of playoff competitiveness, as San Jose or Detroit?  Conversely, have the Coyotes positioned themselves to be more of a factor next season?  Will the Rangers and Penguins turn their seasons around?  Does Martin Gerber have a future in the National Hockey League?  Will the teams who did nothing (Minnesota, Montreal, Detroit, and Washington) regret their inaction?  Only time will tell.  The excitement is just beginning.

5:01 - The Oilers, like they did when they moved Ryan Smyth out of town a couple seasons ago, got in the mix late and improved their offense significantly.  O'Sullivan and Kotalik are both automatic candidates to fit into their top six, and one of them may see plenty of ice time with Ales Hemsky.

4:38 - As the final pieces of information roll in, I'm still finding it hard to find teams that look better than New Jersey and Detroit.

4:22 - Edmonton has picked-up Ales Kotalik from Buffalo for a 2nd round pick.  

4:16 - Toronto trades Richard Petiot to Tampa Bay for Olaf Kolzig, Jamie Heward, Andy Rogers, and a 4th round draft pick.  Kolzig is hurt... and who are the rest of these people???

4:10 - After being asked about what he received in return for his players traded away today, Brian Burke says, "I'm not doing cart-wheels.  The trainer isn't going to have to tape my wrists, from doing cart-wheels."

A close second for quote of the day goes to Pierre, when he stared straight into the camera and warned Olli Jokinen that he "should not have to worry about being Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."  What?

4:08 - Colombus acquired Kevin Lalande, presumably to replace Pascal Leclaire, from Calgary for a 4th round pick.

4:07 - Brian Burke spoke eloquently about having to move Antropov out of Toronto after ten years in the organization. 

4:03 - I'm very surprised no Gaborik talk emerged in the hours leading up to the deadline.

3:57 - Jay Onrait has a great selection of robes.

3:51 - Los Angeles has traded Patrick O'Sullivan and a 2nd round pick to Carolina for Justin Williams.  Carolina then traded O'Sullivan and a second round pick to Edmonton for Erik Cole and a 5th round pick.  Three-way action!

3:49 - Ottawa really needed to address their offense today, but couldn't act on anything because they have too much money tied up, long-term in over-rated role players, like Mike Fisher and Chris Kelly.

3:43 - Anaheim has traded Kent Huskins and Travis Moen to state rival San Jose for Tim Pihlmeye, Nick Bonino and a conditional draft pick.  Two thirds of a line I predicted would be wholly available have now been shipped out of Disneyland.

3:42 - More trades to come...

3:36 - Anaheim has traded Sami Pahlsson to Chicago for James Wisniewski and a third round pick.  HUGE pick-up for Chicago.  They have a legitimate shorthanded hero to go head-to-head with the best players on the team(s) they face in the playoffs.

3:36 - San Jose has traded Kyle McLaren to PHI for a 6th round pick.  McLaren hasn't played an NHL game this season.  Philadelphia has dropped the ball big time so far today.  They're not going to fall off the map, but they haven't done anything to improve their odds at winning the Cup.  They seem to have taken a small step backwards.

3:32 - The panel is ripping into Tampa Bay and their management team for their off-season transactions.

3:29 - Tampa Bay has traded Steve Eminger to Florida for Noah Welch and a 3rd round pick.  I hope Eminger has durable suitcases.

3:28 - Nik Antropov had all the right answers in his post-trade interview with TSN.

3:21 - Word from Pierre is that Detroit is trying really hard to get Marian Hossa re-signed, after which, they'll move on to locking up Johan Franzen.

3:20 - Heads will roll, ok maybe head (that of Glen Sather), if what the Rangers did today doesn't bring them into the playoffs.

3:16 - The Pony Express is staying put in Toronto.

3:09 - Anaheim has acquired Erik Christensen from Atlanta for prospect Eric O'Dell.

3:05 - Dominic Moore has been traded to Buffalo for a 2nd round pick.  What the heck is Buffalo going to do with Moore?

3:01 - Keep in mind trades can filter through for up to two more hours.  I truly believe a deal for Dominic Moore has been completed.

3:00 - The Rangers have acquired Derek Morris from Phoenix in exchange for Nigel Dawes, impending UFA Dimitri Kalinin, and the under-rated Peter Prucha.  Way to kill my buzz Mr. Sather.  Phoenix is a huge winner today.

2:58 - With time running out, I still believe the Washington Capitals are about to swing a deal, given GM George McPhee's history of making fantastic deadline trades.

2:56 - I keep hearing the quote, "Jay Bouwmeester is still out there."  To which I respond, "So is Ovechkin."

2:55 - According to Sportsnet, Chris Neil will not be traded.

2:53 - Pierre - "Does anybody even know if the Minnesota Wild still exist!?"

2:47 - My Maple Leafs have traded my boy Nik Antropov to my team, the New York Rangers! New York gives up a 2nd round pick and a conditional draft pick.  Ship it.  John Tortorella must have had a hand in this.  Two weeks ago, before he was the coach of the Blueshirts, Tortorella was emphatic about how important he thought Antropov could be for a team that acquired him down the stretch.  Great pick-up by New York, I'm biased given that they're my favorite team and they've acquired one of my favorite players.  I do still hope Antropov will be back in Toronto next year.

2:44 - Daniel Carcillo has been traded to Philadelphia for Scottie Upshall and a 2nd round pick.  Has Flyers' GM Paul Holmgren lost his marbles?

2:43 - Rumor has it that Antropov is on his way to Nashville.

2:40 - Bob Mackenzie is reporting that it is possible Jay Bouwmeester won't be traded. Really? Wow Bob.

2:37 - Sportsnet is reporting that Florida and Vancouver are close on a Bouwmeester deal.

2:33 - Earth to Bob Gainey... it's Trade Deadline Day...

2:28 - If there's one thing we've learned today, it's that Darryl Sutter is a terrible liar.  On Friday he denied needing to acquire a top two centre and a defenceman.  He did both today.

2:27 - The Predators, who haven't been active at all today, should be getting in the mix soon.  They have 12 picks in this year's draft.  That's a lot.  They will move one of two to bring in someone who can help them hold onto that last playoff spot.

2:19 - In the words of the great Cliff Fletcher, draft-schmaft.  I think teams are being a little too stingy in terms of using draft picks to acquire players that can help them win a round or two in the playoffs.  There are big names to be had for the right price.

2:16 - Pierre and I don't quite see eye-to-eye on Radek Bonk.  If Radek Bonk had a fan club, I'd be the president.  He doesn't.  Maybe that has something to do with Pierre.

2:15 - John Tortorella and Sean Avery were together on the ice today for the first time.  I can't wait to see tomorrow night's game on Long Island.

2:08 - Chris Neil apparently wanted a five year deal worth over $10 million.  He must be high on Afinogenov.

2:01 - Joe Slavec on Bill Guerin - "I wouldn't trade for Bill Guerin if the asking price was my old copy of Bruce Welling's classic, Property in Things."  Well put Joe.

2:00 - Keith Jones does a complete 180 and suggests teams should fear playing Pittsburgh in the first round (he had previously said they wouldn't make the playoffs).  I say he's nuts.  If they make it, they'll be playing Boston, New Jersey, or Washington.  Only God can save them.  Or Jaromir Jagr, but that's not happening.

1:57 - Bill Guerin has been traded to the Penguins for a conditional draft pick. Depending on whether or not Pittsburgh makes the playoffs, and if they do, how far they get, the pick could be anywhere from the 3rd to 5th round.  Pittsburgh better hope this turns out better than it did for the Sharks two years ago.  I still think they need someone better to insulate Crosby.  The Malkin/Sykora combo is fine, but there's a missing link next to Sidney.

1:56 - Not much going on in Edmonton right now, but they need to react to Calgary's moves in order to stay competitive in the west.

1:47 - Time is running out for Montreal to address their needs at centre.

1:42 - When did Marck Recchi get those 45 points he has? I know he plays in the state of Florida, but this can't be a computer tallying error... can it?

1:35 - SI's Michael Farber - "On the whole, I think Martin Gerber will be better than Curtis Joseph."  Thanks for pointing out something so obvious I couldn't notice it on my own.  You're a real benefit to have.  (Thank you Vince Vaughn).

1:33 - F.Y.I. TSN, Matt Lashoff plays defense.

1:32 - Look for Phoenix to acquire a goalie in the next hour or so.

1:31 - What's going on with Bill Guerin?!  Someone help me out!

1:30 - Just wanted to say hi to all my friend in Ethics.  I'll gladly keep you up to date while you suffer through Professor Graham's lame attempt at stand-up comedy.

1:25 - Gerry Dee is way too funny to keep doing terrible commercials for Toyota and Rogers.

1:25 - The LA Kings have signed Erik Ersberg to a 2-year contract extension. Financial terms undisclosed, I'll keep you posted.

1:24 - Mark Recchi has been traded to the Boston Bruins, along with a 2nd round pick for Matt Lashoff and Martin Karsums.  Will this deal work out for Boston the way acquiring Recchi at the deadline did for Carolina in 2006?

1:17 - How many of these GM's and coaches who were fired have actually been in a dressing room with Olli jokinen?  Just a thought...

1:12 - Who the heck are the 'Coytoes?'

1:07 - No offence to Gord Miller, but his math IS off.  Calgary may be over the cap now, but it is factually impossible for them to be $2 million over after acquiring Leopold and Jokinen and unloading Lombardi and Prust.

1:00 - How annoying is Dave from Speedy Glass?  And seriously, when I get my windshield fixed, I don't think I'd be comfortable testing the quality of the corrective procedure by tapping the glass with my index finger.

12:55 - As I suggested earlier, Toskala will be out for the rest of the season so he can have surgery and have adequate time to re-coup. 

12:48 - The Maple Leafs have claimed Eric Reitz off waivers from the Rangers.  His girlfriend will be pleased, she's from just north of Toronto.  PS - Nicole obviously provided me with this info. before any network did.  Good job.  

12:45 - The Jokinen deal should get the snowball rolling downhill.  Stay tuned.

12:39 - Jokinen trade to Calgary confirmed.  He goes, along with a 3rd round pick while Matthew Lombardi, Brandon Prust, and a 1st round draft pick go the other way.  Pierre describes it as a "home-run" for Calgary.  I agree.  Especially since I have Jokinen in Fantasy.

This turns Calgary from a pretender to a contender in my opinion.  Jokinen will be firing on all cylinders in the playoffs.  No one will be more excited to be playing come late April.

12:38 - Anaheim has traded Steve Montador to Boston for grinder Petteri Nokelainen.  Good for both sides.

12:36 - Miroslav Satan and Gary Roberts, among others, have cleared waivers.  That's not to say that they won't be traded between now and the deadline.

12:33 - TSN is reporting that Jokinen has been moved to Calgary for Lombardi, a 1st round pick, and then some.

12:29 - Dallas has claimed Brendan Morrison off waivers from Anaheim.

12:19 - Montreal has re-called Marc Denis from Hamilton, indicating that Jaroslav Halak's flu condition is worse than originally thought.  Let's just hope it isn't Timonen-esque.

12:17 - Pittsburgh claims Craig Adams off waivers from Chicago.

12:10 - Darren Pang (who knows Tellqvist better than anyone, given his position with the Coyotes) and Pierre are absolutely slurping up his acquisition by the Sabres.  

12:05 - The Maple Leafs have claimed Martin Gerber off waivers.  This is a very astute move by Brian Burke.  Martin Gerber has got a bad rap for no good reason.  It will serve as a way to give Toskala a rest and a chance to get healthy.  Gerber is a Stanley Cup champion and consummate professional.  I hope this re-elevates his value for the free agency period.

12:04 - Buffalo has acquired Mikael Tellqvist from Phoenix for a 4th round draft pick.  Terrific insurance policy for the Sabres while Miller is out.

12:00 - Ordering the pizza now.  Give me 5.

11:57 - I'm starting to wonder about what Minnesota has up their sleeve.  They're on the cusp of a playoff spot, have adequate cap space, and several games in hand on the teams they are chasing.  With Backstrom locked up, they need to acquire some offense.

11:48 - If you don't have a VISA already, you will after you see their new commercial, narrated with perfect pitch, tone, and resolve, by none other than Morgan Freeman.

11:45 - Pierre: "If you're looking for instant offense Michael Nylander's a guy that can give it to you and you don't have to marry him for a long time."  Well-said Pierre, well-said.  They don't call him the Swedish Wayne Gretzky for nothing.

11:42 - How many times are the TSN panel members going to use the word "tween" and any of its derivatives? 

11:40 - Pittsburgh has acquired Andy Wozniewski from the St. Louis Blue for Danny Richmond.

11:39 - Jordan Leopold is a Calgary Flame once again (as I predicted last night, Eklund did not).  Acquired from Colorado for the recently waived Lawrence Nycholat, a 2nd round pick, and Ryan Wilson. 

11:26 - Olli Jokinen talk heating up.  Waiting for more info.  If he is in fact going to Calgary, I would expect Lombardi, another young player, and a high draft pick to be involved.

11:25 - If you're not into my blog, try Jay Onrait's.  Here's a sample... "I think you could package the Gino Reda mug for O'Toole and make the trade for Brian Austin Green."  Throw in Ian Ziering and I'll consider it.

11:21 - The UWO community has approved my endorsement of Ms. Orlesky.  I hope it's Ms.

11:19 - Lots of talk about Montreal acquiring a centre to replace Robert Lang.  

11:04 - I'm not a marketing major, but apparently the people who write and direct Tim Hortons' commercials weren't either...

11:00 - Dave Hodge looks bored.  No fear Dave, once noon hits the trades will roll in.

10:47 - Tim Connolly has signed a contract extension with Buffalo.  2-years, $9 million.  Way too much money for a guy who's hurt half of the time.  I like his skill, but they should've kept him until season's end and used free agency to move in a different direction.

10:46 - I'll assign it just a 2% chance of happening, but wouldn't it be nice if Jokinen was moved back to Florida?  He could finish what he started there, and finally get into the playoffs.  He's set a record for regular season games played without playing a playoff game.

10:42 - I Love You, Man trailer... looks funny enough.  I like Paul Rudd.

10:39 - James Duthie just outsmarted Pierre in regards to Brian Burke's overall effectiveness.  I like it.

10:33 - Brian Burke confirms both Nik Antropov and Dominic Moore will be traded.

10:29 - Discussions about the Montreal Canadiens and their surplus of pending UFA's has sparked interesting debate about how much Mike Komisarek is worth.  We figure he should sign for Volchenkov-esque money.  They offer about the same things to their respective teams.

10:21 - Sara Orlesky is hot.

10:20 - The Kings have extended Sean O'Donnell's contract for another season.  $1.7 million.

10:15 - Pierre refers to Derek Morris as "over-rated."  We agree here at headquarters.

10:14 - This just in, Tim Connolly left HSBC arena to take a nap.

10:06 - It would seem as though Alex Auld will now be moved today, as the Senators are now carrying four capable goalies.

9:56 - Ottawa has traded Antoine Vermette to Colombus for Pascal Leclaire and a 2nd-round draft pick.  From the Jackets' perspective, this is a decent trade, considering Steve Mason's emergence has pretty much negated any need to hang onto the over-paid Leclaire and the fact that they have a surplus of picks this year.  For Ottawa, its some insurance while my good friend Brian Elliott develops into a number one goalie.

9:52 - Filip Kuba has signed a contract extension with the Senators.  3-yr. $3.7 per year.  Great deal for Ottawa.

9:47 - Breakfast is ready.  Thanks Kate! And Mark, and Jesse.  You too Zach.  Oh yah, Zach is here too.

9:46 - I'm the first to criticize a commercial when its bad, and they usually are (Tim Hortons especially).  So I'll gladly give some dap to one that is great.  Thumbs up to McDonald's for bringing a new mini character to the small screen.  Sergei Puckasin.  I'm lovin' it...

9:41 - They've just checked in with Bob, nothing to report.  Awesome.

9:40 - Apparently, Connolly is working on an extension in Buffalo.

9:28 - Talk of Antropov to Vancouver heats up.

9:12 - Mark and I argue about the value of Max Afinogenov.

Nick - "Afinogenov can help Edmonton the way Samsonov did when they went out and got him."

Mark - "No way.  You're just high on Afinogenov."

Nick - "Whatever, I'll smoke that Afinogenov s*** and be high on him all day until he gets moved."

9:09 - TSN releases their list of the top "players in play".  Seven of their top ten were on my list, produced last night.  See blog below.

9:02 - If you're looking for checking forwards, contact Anaheim and inquire about the pieces (Pahlsson, Moen, R. Niedermayer) of what was once the league's best checking unit.  They're all available.

9:01 - St. Louis! You're in the mix, hang on to Tkachuk!  By the way, Darren Dreger just referred to the Blues (an adult men's professional hockey team) as "Tweenies."  I know what he meant, but it just sounded funny.

8:58 - How annoying is the ad running right now for traveling to Australia?  If you don't recognize the voice in the background, its the kid from the equally annoying movie, Australia.  Maybe that's why I hate it so much; I was one of the eleven people who actually saw the movie, which was terrible.

8:55 - Head-to-head battles, as proposed by James Duthie.  A mini version of The Quiz, if you will.  Who would you rather have?

Jokinen or Smyth?  Jokinen, without question.

Guerin or Recchi?  Recchi, every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Tellqvist or Clemmensen?  You're good either way.

Kuba or Leopold?  Probably equally ineffective.  Try and pry Lydman out of Buffalo instead.

8:51 - I'm sorry I don't have a live video feed like Onrait.  He's the man.  And is employed by a major television network.  I volunteered for them once though, nice people.

8:45 - On the goalie front, I'm starting to think the Flyers might be interested in Khabibulan.  Tellqvist is an appealing option for teams in need of a back-up.

8:41 - I just set up a Trade Tracker on the right side of the main page.  You'll see it appear once a trade is made.

8:36 - Boston and Detroit are TSN's consensus picks to battle for the cup in June, pre-TradeCentre.

8:32 - TSN reported, while we were all asleep, that Chris Pronger will not be moved.  No kidding.  Remember where you heard it first (here... see below).

 

Good Morning and Happy Holidays

Its finally here... and the good thing about trade deadline day is that by the end of it, it feels like its lasted forever.  Its a worthwhile holiday to take.  I'll be here all day, so keep your refresh button ready to rock.  Jesse Harper, Mark St. Cyr and his lovely fiance Kate will be joining me momentarily (breakfast in hand).  Feel free to stop by at any point in the afternoon and join in on the festivities.  If you like pizza, and who doesn't, we're planning on ordering some during the latter portion of our journey.  Any thought that enters the collective heads of our group here will be documented.

Nothing to report yet this morning, but stay tuned.

     

Goodnight, and Good Luck

That's it for the TradeCentre Primer sequence.  Check back starting around 9am Wednesday for a long day of updates and excitement. 

The Ball is in the King's Court

These days, more mistakes are made by GM's across the league on trade deadline day than any other day of the year, minus July 1st of course (Chris Drury and Scott Gomez anyone?).  That's why I think teams everywhere have to be envious of the position the Los Angeles Kings find themselves in going into the big day.  As of Wednesday morning, they are seven points out of a playoff spot.  Not an insurmountable number to overcome, but difficult nonetheless, mostly because of the amount of teams they would need to leapfrog.  However, expectations were low coming into the season, and ticket sales have been relatively stable, so there isn't the same kind of pressing need as there is in, say, South Florida to make it to the post-season.  

The Kings have two things going for them that put them in an amazing position.  First, they are loaded, moreso than any other team in my opinion, with young, budding superstars.  Frolov, Kopitar, and Brown up front.  Jack Johnson and Drew Doughty on defence, and of course, Jonathan Bernier in goal.  For now, the Ersberg/Quick combo isn't too shabby either.  Second, they have more cap space than anybody.  Meaning, they don't have to sell off any significant players and they can actually add players that are more than rentals.  Those available in this category include; Ryan Smyth, Jason Blake, Michael Nylander, Ryan Malone, Jason Spezza, and Jordan Staal.  They're in a position to make a run at the playoffs while still building in the right direction for next season.  Most teams have to choose between one or the other - winning right now or winning in the future.  Life's easy when you can avoid ruling on that sort of thing.  In a nutshell, LA is coming out of tomorrow a better team at 3pm than they'll have when Dean Lombardi wakes up in the morning, and the team will be better still when the puck drops on the 2009-2010 campaign.  Go Kings.  And Dean, feel free to sleep in, it won't be a big deal.

Big D

Just so no one gets too excited from reports coming from the major networks analysts, Jay Bouwmeester and Chris Pronger aren't going anywhere.  From the moment rumors about each of them surfaced, I have been shaking my head in disbelief.  Pronger has term left on his deal, and Anaheim needs him going forward, especially if a certain someone can't get over his Favre-complex and remains indecisive.  Bouwmeester and the Panthers are on their way to the playoffs for the first time in a long time, and he's worth more to them down the stretch than whatever they'd get in return for him would be in the long run.  I will fall off my very comfortable couch if either gets traded tomorrow.  Don't count out a draft day deal for Bouwmeester's rights or a Pronger deal sometime in July, but as far as TradeCentre goes, the "blockbusters" being advertised aren't grounded in any sort of logic.

Alleged Pavelski Headbutt

Joe Pavelski was ejected in the third period of the Stars/Sharks game tonight (I made it home just in time to see what happened).  Its a little sketchy, and I don't want to infer what Joe's intent was, but I could see the league giving him a game suspension for the head-butting motion.  It wasn't quite Zidane-esque, but there was an air of abnormality to it.  

He has no past history of violent conduct on the ice, which apparently plays a big role in determining suspension lengths these days.  Don't get me started on the Witt elbow.  Five games was a slap on the wrist.  Poor Hagman. 

Hossa Update

Great News!

Reports indicate Marian Hossa's situation is not nearly as perilous as it first appeared.  Mike Babcock was quoted as saying, "he'll be OK."  He'll obviously miss some time, and no one knows how much yet, but he'll have no permanent damage and will make a full recovery.  It was a scary incident, but by no means a dirty hit, and believe me, Roman Polak is not a dirty player, so I'm glad Hossa will be alright.  Detroit's had their share of scary incidents over the past decade, they deserved some luck on this one. 

Burrows Resigns

Now, back to business...

The Canucks have done the right thing and re-signed Alexandre Burrows to a 4-year, $8 million deal.  I think he'll be effective come playoff time, assuming Vancouver stays in the Western mix. 

Instant Analysis: Good deal for both sides.  Burrows is having a career year, and hasn't been around the league that long, so its hard to say whether or not he will consistently put up the kinds of numbers he has been so far this season.  However, because of the other strengths in his game - most notably, his fighting and penalty killing, this is a safe enough deal for Vancouver.

Ah, Earth to Dominic Moore... you don't deserve a cent more than this guy.  Any team that gives it to you this summer should re-assess the abilities of their front office personnel.

Where Have I Been?

I promised to keep you up to date and I have already failed you.  Off to my weekly pick-up hockey game I went without a hint of notice.  Sorry guys!  In case you were wondering how it went, Team Colors stormed out of the gates, scoring at will.  However, their ultimate success was marred by Team White's strong second half showing.  1st star - Dan Strickland.

Kaberle Leaves Game

Tomas Kaberle missed the third period and overtime of tonight's Leafs/Devils game.  He recently returned from a hand injury that saw him miss four weeks.  It is unclear at this point whether the move was precautionary or not.

There has been rampant speculation that Kaberle would be traded tomorrow.  Brian Burke recently asked him for a list of teams he would be willing to accept a trade to.  Its believed the asking price is a first-round draft pick, a significant roster player, and a prospect.  I for one would not trade Kaberle for anything less.  In fact, I might even ask for more.  Puck moving defencemen of his calibre are nearly impossible to find, let alone keep for a mere $4.25 million per season. 

Considering what comparable talents like Brian Campbell and Kimmo Timonen make, Kaberle is a bargain.  If Toronto were to trade him, they would have to replace him at some point, and to do so would be too costly.  

Hossa Down

Marian Hossa was just taken off the ice on a stretcher.  Considering he just missed two games with a neck injury, there's reason for additional concern.  Hopefully he'll be ok, he's one of my favorite players and a key part of Detroit's attempt at a repeat this year.

If the prognosis is bad, look for Detroit to make pitches for Gaborik, Antropov, or Satan tomorrow.

TRADE PREDICTIONS

There's a number of players "in-play" as some other "anonymous" hockey bloggers might say.  Here's a list of the players I think will move tomorrow, and (in brackets) an idea of where they might end up.  No guarantees, but hey, I can pull ideas out my you know what better than that other guy.  

- The Top 10 Trade Candidates

1. Nik Antropov (CLB, CGY, DAL, MIN)

2. Chris Neil (BOS, ANH, MTL, MIN)

3. Marian Gaborik (PIT, LA, FLA)

4. Dominic Moore (CHI, NSH)

5. Derek Morris (BOS, SJ, WSH)

6. Mathieu Dandenault (EDM, NSH, DAL)

7. Mark Recchi (CAR, EDM, DAL, CGY)

8. Bill Guerin (BOS, MTL)

9. Maxim Afinogenov (EDM, LA, FLA)

10. Jordan Leopold (WSH, BOS, CGY, DAL)

Other candidates to go: Michael Nylander, Ian Laperriere, Filip Kuba, Matt Stajan, Ken Klee, Sean O'Donnell, Christoph Schubert, Marty Reasoner, Doug Weight, Scott Clemmensen, Erik Ersberg, Nikolai Khabibulan.

Team needs (all of which WILL be addressed)

WSH: top four d-man, goalie

CHI: 2nd line centre

EDM: top six forward

DAL: top six forward, top four d-man

PIT: top line winger

CGY: checking forward, top six forward, depth d-man

LA: top six forward

MTL: checking forward

NYR: scoring winger

NSH: scoring winger  

The Waiver Wire

A few notables that were placed on waivers today, with some indications (in brackets) of which teams I think could use their help.

- Miroslav Satan (Edmonton - throw him on a line with Horcoff and Hemsky)

- Brendan Morrison (Chicago - they are without a second line centre)

-  Gary Roberts (Montreal - they need some playoff jam)

- Martin Gerber (Calgary - God forbid something happen to Kiprusoff)

- Aaron Voros (Detroit - I know, I know; they don't like fighting. But maybe just in case)

The Antropov Factor

Nik Antropov will be a healthy scratch for the Maple Leafs tonight, as he awaits his movement to another team.  Assuming it all goes down as planned, and he has played his final game as a Leaf, I just wanted to take a second to recognize both his value to the team and contributions to the community.

Burdened by expectation, Antropov was never fully embraced by the fans of our city.  Ultimately, what sports fans never seem to realize it that drafting players is part skill, but often blind luck.  To even draft a player and have him play even a single game for your team is rare.  So drafting a player, at any point during any round, and having him play parts of ten seasons with your team is commendable.  Especially when you consider Antropov's abilities.  He has a big time snapshot shot, soft hands, faceoff prowess, solid backchecking skills, and is an elite penalty killer.  He's big, strong, and only makes $2 million dollars.  I understand Brian Burke's desire to move him for assets, but I also hope he will consider bringing him back in the off-season.  

He's a character guy.  Two weeks ago, he had a special visitor in the stands.  It was a young cancer patient, who plays hockey against his son.  Antropov arranged for him to come enjoy the game, in which the Big Kazakh managed to score a goal and dedicate it to the young spectator.  Antropov appreciates his status as a professional athlete.  He loves Toronto, and recently became a Canadian citizen.  Why wouldn't the Leafs want this guy around, for say, the $3 million annual salary he would command July 1st?    

Back in the Big Apple

As expected, Sean Avery was claimed off re-entry waivers by the New York Rangers.  What a steal.  As many of you know, I have always been an Avery guy.  When the Dallas Stars (especially you, Marty Turco) and the National Hockey League turned their back on him, there was only a handful of people in his corner.  Brendan Morrow, Alex Ovechkin, and me.  Pretty good company I'd say.

Let's not look past Avery's on ice capabilities - he can get it done.  Just ask Marty Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils.  At approximately $6 million over the next three years, Avery is a risk, though not as big of one as everyone would lead you to believe, well worth taking.  New York's record with him in the line-up speaks for itself.

This guy doesn't have "issues".  He's wasn't affected by childhood bullying or being anti-social.  He made a sexual reference.  In a league full of players convicted of DUI's, vehicular manslaughters, and domestic abuse, Sean Avery is a relatively small matter.  Both he and the Rangers will be better off together.  Now if the Blueshirts could only get Jagr back...   

Dawn of the Deal

The night before the trade deadline: we're all waiting for the domino to fall.  Some interesting things have taken place over the last 48 hrs., here's an update as well as my take on a few relevant transactions.

- The Wild have re-signed G Niklas Backstrom to a 4-year, $24 million deal.  This was absolutely necessary for Minnesota, not only to ensure that they make the playoffs, but because they have next to nothing going for them in terms of star power.  Marian Gaborik is as good as gone, and without him, Backstrom is by far their MVP.

- The Toronto Maple Leafs haven't re-signed Dominic Moore.  The Ottawa Senators haven't re-signed Chris Neil.  I'm surprised in neither case, given that both players are asking to get paid more than twice what they are worth.  Both will undoubtedly be traded.

- The already stacked New Jersey Devils acquired Niclas Havelid in a trade with Atlanta yesterday.  This was one of those under-the-radar moves that will pay huge dividends.  In terms of D available, beyond the Prongers of the world, this guy is the cream of the crop.  Just ask Pierre.

- On a related note, if the playoffs started today I'd have to predict a Red Wings/Devils final...

 

Welcome to SlinkOnHockey

TUESDAY MARCH 2nd 2009

Tired of hearing what I have to say about Ovechkin? The Rangers? Gary Bettman? The NHL in general?  Fair enough.  Now all you have to do is read about it all.  The man (me) with an opinion on everything hockey is "bringing it" through a new medium - the blog.

Never heard what I've had to say? Saddle up.

To premiere Slinkonhockey, I will be focusing exclusively on issues pertaining to tomorrow's trade deadline.  Check back for updates whenever you can.  Most of them will come as the trades pour in Wednesday afternoon, but I'll set it off with a little pre-TradeCentre primer right here.

Maybe I can give Eklund (has the guy EVER broken a legitimate story!?) a run for his, excuse me, his advertiser's money.  I'll focus on opinions, since that's all I have.  I'll spare you the fantastical  nonsense, phony source quotation, and cliched terminology.  Ok maybe not the last one.

Enjoy.