A Simple Hockey Fan

Hockey Season Started and Other Things

2010-10-08T11:16:00.001-04:00

Last night (actually afternoon due to the games in Europe), the NHL officially opened its gates. However, its been mostly buried thanks to Baseball's epic pitching performances. Either way, I see the Caps making it to the Stanley Cup, and losing to the Sharks. And now on to other things.

I was recently asked my opinion on politics. The reality is, I have none. At their core, all politicians are the same. They want to keep their jobs, and not have to worry about losing funding. It is a situation that is ripe with opportunities to be bought and sold. All politicians will sell you on extra recess if that's what you want to hear. None will tell you how things really are, except maybe in some hyberbolic induced coma of enlightenment.

All of which brings me back to a conversation I really had with my Grandfather. He was trying to understand my obsession with all things Rhetoric. I explained it to him in the realm of politics and why my college training, and learning has destroyed my sense of belief in the political system. Why are politicians credible? Why should we believe them? Those are questions people fail to ask.

Blindly following people has gotten us nowhere. Perhaps maybe that is why we followed hope in the last presidential election. I don't disagree with that idea, but if Hollywood has taught me anything, it is that "Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane."

I wish I had more to say, but I don't. Logic, my friends, is the most important tool we have in our arsenals. Without it, we are nothing more than sheep.

And the blog has moved here: http://simplehockeyfan.wordpress.com/

Now What?

2010-10-05T16:19:00.000-04:00

Logic. What has happened to it? With regards to everything, its quite disturbing. Ever hear a political candidate discuss issues logically? What about a simple argument amongst friends, family, neighbors, etc...

I will expand on this idea, however, an old injury has been acting up, preventing me from writing as much as I would like...that and a new job. Do not fear though. I will be adding to this blog.

Additionally, seeing the name of the blog, you will be getting your occasional hockey updates. Specifically related to how badly my newest venture, a fantasy hockey keeper league team, is doing.

Until then, I am just a simple hockey fan. Nothing more. Nothing less.

The New and Improved Simple Hockey Fan

2010-09-27T18:43:00.000-04:00

Being that I have a lot to write about and not all pertains to hockey. I am changing this blog up. Sure, you will find some interspersed posts about the sanity - or lack thereof - of certain General Managers in the hockey world, but you will also find some interesting things about life and everything that goes along with it.

Perhaps Jack Falla said it best, "Regret is useless except for what we might learn from it"

I regretted not writing to the point where it gave me tremendous writers block. The time for regret is over.

I hope you enjoy the new blog

2009-09-03T13:13:00.001-04:00

Sorry for the lack of posts. Due to other more pressing things, I had to put off a lot of posting. But fear not, soon I will have a season preview.

Korpedo shipped to Rangers West

2009-07-13T22:08:00.002-04:00

Interesting trade, which could have some interesting ramifications for the Rangers.
Enver Lisin was acquired from Phoenix for Lauri Korpikoski (who had been rumored to be headed for the KHL). The interesting part is the talent analysis from Hockey's Future

"Lisin is a talented two-way forward with a huge offensive upside and a significant defensive upside. The young forward was more than likely the fastest forward eligible for the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He is fully capable of developing into a top line forward in the NHL. He’s an amazing skater, who’s a good finisher, has a great wrist shot, is very precise and has a deceivingly quick release."

He sounds like somebody who could end up playing a big role on the Rangers team. Meanwhile, Korpikoski projects to be a more third-line forward with the ability to step up to the top 6 if necessary. With all the moves made by the Rangers this off-season, it will be interesting to see how they can gel come September and beyond. Either way, this Rangers team will be vastly different from the one that was a few periods from upsetting the Caps in the playoffs.

Free Agency and Billy Mays's passing

2009-06-30T10:34:00.004-04:00

Much like the late Billy Mays, agents shout from the rooftops trying to get GMs around the league to buy their products. And much like those of us who have tried his products, we know that not everything works as advertised. For every OxiClean, OrangeGlo and Kaboom, there are dozens of products that just don't work that well - like steam cleaners. There are lots of those out on the market, but you really don't get much from them. Sort of like a 20 Goal scorer. In this free-agency class, they are a dime a dozen. Those GMs feeling the need for one would be smart to wait for the garage sale where they could get their steam cleaner guy.
So without further ado, I now present to you my final NHL awards:

The Will Ferrell Summer Blockbuster Award (Biggest waste of Money):
Scott Gomez: While many people have pointed the finger at Wade Redden, his playoff play was inspired, and he finally seemed comfortable. Gomez on the other hand, just disappeared. If he plays even slightly better during the playoffs the Rangers would have had a chance against the Caps.

The Superman 2 Award (Going back in time):
Marian Hossa: He turned down long term financial stability for a one year shot at winning the cup with Detroit. It was a great idea except that he disappeared in the playoffs. And of course, he lost the cup to the Penguins - the same team whose offer he spurned.

The Hangover Award (Not sure what happened, but it was good):
Bill Guerin: Playing for the Islanders, the worst team in the league, he somehow ended up hoisting Lord Stanley's cup, and getting a new contract out of it from the Pens.

The As Seen on TV Award (Greatest highlight reel player)
Alexander Ovechkin: I don't think I need to explain this one...

Stay tuned for Free Agency, and more As Seen on TV comparisons...

My NHL Awards

2009-06-19T08:14:00.004-04:00

I think to be a hockey blogger you have to be creative enough to come up with your own yearly awards, and since the NHL has just given theirs out in Vegas, its my turn to shine.

MVP:
Evgeni Malkin - playing second fiddle to Sidney Crosby, I find it hard to believe that Malkin is not hampered by his lack of English speaking skills, and the usual anti-European bias that still plagues the NHL. He was statistically better than Sidney in almost every category, especially plus/minus. Why not Ovechkin? Unlike last year, Ovechkin didn't have to be as good, and went a nice stretch without having much of an impact on the box-score. Malkin was consistently great, and deserved this award.

Selke:
They got the right guy in Pavel Datsyuk. A healthy Pavel Datsyuk in the Finals means that the silver chalice - bought by Lord Stanley for the best hockey team in the land - would not have revisited its watery friend at the bottom of Mario Lemeuix's pool.

Norris:
Mike Green - A defensive award yes, but without Mike Green at the back end, I doubt the Caps are even remotely mentioned in the same breath as the Stanley Cup during the season. As a defenseman, he had more points than some team leaders throughout the league. Its scary just thinking of how good he can really be.

Lady Byng:
Sean Avery...why not?

Calder:
Bobby Ryan - being known as the pick after Sidney Crosby has got to make life somewhat difficult. Being stashed in the minors because of a cap situation, equally so. Going on a tear, averaging just under a point per game - showing everyone that you belong? Yes, Steve Mason came out of nowhere, but his play fell off as the year went on, and while he had a great stretch, had Ryan played the entire year this award would have probably been flipped around.

Vezina:
Tim Thomas - definitely the right choice.

Jack Adams:
Ken Hitchcock - yes Claude Julien did a great job with the Bruins, but Hitchcock did more with less. With not much veteran talent, he took a group of grinders, and youngsters to the playoffs for the first time. It will be a nice story come next year at this time, when they become the Cindarella team in the playoffs.

Next up, my personal awards...here's a preview:
Greatest Traffic Cone: Brendan Witt - the Isles defensive d-man was a -34 on the year.
Bang for the buck: David Krecji - the Datsyuk clone playing on a rookie pay scale

The Danny Heatley Saga

2009-06-10T15:30:00.003-04:00

Danny Heatley (at 7.5 Million through 2013-14), has just formally requested a trade from the Senators. His request, while surprising can be seen as a turning point in the Senators franchise. As many a blogger has reported before me, the lack of depth on the Senators has served only to handcuff the team and make them extremely top heavy. And Heatley apparently requested this trade after clashing with current Senators coach Cory Clouston.
So now what will the Senators do? Will they try to dump Heatley to gain cap space to go after free agents, or will they try to get equal return for him?
The answer is that in this salary cap world, with Heatley's salary, only a team willing to take on salary would really be able to satisfy the Senator's needs. Otherwise it would be a contract trade - with the Senators trading for someone like Scott Gomez, Chris Drury, or Patrick Marleau - all good players, but not equal talent. It will be an interesting summer - especially with Marian Gaborik, Martin Havlat, Marian Hossa probably becoming free agents, and Vincent Lecavalier and almost the entire San Jose Sharks team on the trading block.
Enjoy the summer.

Sorry for the lack of update

2009-06-10T15:29:00.002-04:00

Been out of commission recently with too much work and recovering from a kidney stone. Coming soon, the Danny Heatley saga...

Jon and Kate plus Glen Sather....

2009-05-27T18:37:00.004-04:00

Before everybody accuses me of exploiting Jon and Kate Gosselin's marital strife, I ask that you first read this blog.
From the moment Jon and Kate came to TV we have seen their family up close and personal. Whether it be potty training moments, or Kate's so-called love taps, we have either come to love them or dislike them (you can guess which side I am on). When they first came to TV we all fell in love with them. Quite frankly, we all had the same feeling when Glen Sather first came on to the scene with the Rangers.
Having come from a somewhat tumultuous yet successful (having been forced to trade one Gretzky, first name Wayne, and some guy named Coffey) environment in Edmonton, we were promised glory beyond our dreams. Yet as time went on, something kept lurking in the distance - much like Kate's love taps, Mr. Sather treated Rangers fans to a nice little taps to the head, like signing Igor Ulanov and Dave Karpa, while failing to part with Pavel Brendl, Jamie Lundmark, Jan Hlavac and Kim Jonsson...all in one summer.
Ironically all but Lundmark were traded to the Flyers for Eric Lindros. These mis-steps put the Rangers at the edge of the abyss. And in 2004, with no playoffs in sight, Sather finally tried to correct his mistakes by purging the roster, leaving the team with a clean slate, and a chance to rebuild - a shot for redemtion.
Fans of Jon and Kate plus 8 eventually started to notice things starting to look bad during Kate's infamous "HELLO" episode (She decided to, at the top of her lungs, in the middle of a crowded store, chew out her husband for not being on the quicker checkout line). She eventually capitulated, and apologized to her thoroughly emasculated, and embarassed husband.
Glen Sather gave us all that hello moment in the summer of 2007. Michael Nylander, signed prior to the lockout, worked magic with Jaromir Jagr and Martin Straka, yet was subsequently dumped in favor of Chris Drury and Scott Gomez. Despite this, we still had faith. We thought these signings would work. We thought that despite all of these problems, Glen Sather was still the right man for the job.
Anybody who has recently been in a supermarket checkout line has seen the saga of Jon and Kate Gosselin, from Jon's unsubstantiated infidelity to Kate's haughtiness. Glen Sather, never one to engage the media, has taken the road where he knows best - not once admitting failure in any of his transactions.
So here we are. Jon and Kate's relationship is at best icy, with both of them looking as if they would rather beat themselves with hockey sticks instead of talking to each other - with Kate's grip on reality slipping, and her overall actions coming off as desparate.
Glen Sather, and Kate Gosselin have shown a tendency to think in a similar manner. Being irrational, and acting on that irrationality is just par for the course. Whether it be screaming at 4 year olds to keep clean while playing with crayons, or trading Petr Prucha, Nigel Dawes and Dmitri Kalinin for a pending UFA third-pair defenseman.

Kate Gosselin meet Glen Sather. Glen Sather, Kate. You have a lot in common.

Lecavalier to the Kings?

2009-05-19T11:06:00.004-04:00

According to Darren Dreger, there is talk of Jack Johnson being unhappy in Los Angeles. Along with that, he suggests that Johnson would be a part of any package headed to the Lightning. Looking at that, possibility, the question is who, along with Johnson, would go the other way.

To accomplish any trade, the Kings would have to give up Jarrett Stoll, top prospect Oscar Moller, and Justin Azevedo (great potential, if his dimunitive height doesn't get in his way), along with Jack Johnson.
It would probably look something like this:

To the Kings: Vincent Lecavalier (10 years, 8.5 Million per year)
To the Lightning: The rights to Jack Johnson (RFA), Jarrett Stoll (3.6 Million per year through 2011-2012), Oscar Moller (786k per year through 2010-2011), and Justin Azevedo (no cap number)

Looking at the Kings with Lecavalier, their strength would be up the middle with Lecavalier, Kopitar, and Handzus. On the wing, Alex Frolov and Dustin Brown along with Justin Williams would see more and better chances. On the defensive end, the loss of Jack Johnson would be offset by the maturation of Kyle Quincey, Drew Doughty and Thomas Hickey.

Looking at the Lightning, the loss of Lecavalier would leave them with a gaping hole on the first line. Jarrett Stoll can be very good, but cannot replicate Lecavalier's production or leadership. The defense, however, would suddenly become much more solid with the addition of Johnson. Along with Matt Lashoff, and Ty Wishart's maturation, and Paul Ranger's continued development, the Lightning defense, a problem all season long, would suddenly see a marked improvement.

Quite frankly, the trade would just be stupid. Any trade of Vincent Lecavalier for anybody other than somebody on his level of ability such as Joe Thornton would be a mistake. If the Kings could do this, they would turn themselves into an immediate contender in the west.

One other thing Dreger mentioned was Johnson going to the KHL. If that does happen, Jack Johnson would have now forced his way out of two teams. Terrell Owens anyone?

A Kessel Trade?

2009-05-18T11:59:00.005-04:00

When Phil Kessel was playing in the World Junior championships he was declared The Next One, drawing comparisons to one Sidney Crosby, evoking thoughts that maybe an American would end up becoming the next great hockey superstar. 5 years later, and at 21 years old, Phil Kessel may be in for a large payday. As a restricted-free-agent, he is due for a raise from his current contract of 2.2 million per year - having scored 36 goals, and 24 assists in the regular season, and 6 goals and 5 assists in the playoffs. Now the question becomes, how much is he really worth? Can Phil Kessel emerge into a 90-100 point a year player? For the Boston Bruins, this is a question that they will have to answer. With 46 Million tied up for next year, and still needing to sign David Krecji, as well as 2 to 3 defensemen and a veteran backup goalie in case Tuukka Rask falters.
Most teams would not risk the draft picks it would cost to sign Phil Kessel, but he may prove to be too expensive to resign. Will the Bruins trade Phil Kessel? Who could they get in return?

Looking at teams needing a scorer, and prospects available, a few teams come to mind.
The Rangers are desparate for scoring, and have prospects that could help a deal go through - the problem being that they have problems with cap-space.
The Maple Leafs, looking to rebuild could use somebody like Phil Kessel to assist them in their attempt to rebuild.
The Atlanta Thrashers, they need somebody to take pressure off of Ilya Kovalchuk and could provide the team with a possible superstar in case Kovalchuk leaves following the season.
The Minnesota Wild, an American superstar in the quintissential American Hockey city could be a dream come true.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, not likely, but the though of having Phil Kessel on the powerplay with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Sergei Gonchar and anybody else is just scary.

Possible trade scenarios:
Rangers: The rights to Nikolai Zherdev, at least two draft picks, either Bobby Sanguinetti or Michael Del Zotto and Derek Stepan. Likelihood of happening, 25%-40%.

Maple Leafs: Alexei Ponikarovsky, the Leafs first round pick and Nikolai Kumenin. Likelihood of happening, less than 25%.

Atlanta Thrashers: Angelo Esposito, either Bryan Little or Borris Valabik, and Garnett Exelby. Likelihood of happening, less than 10%

Minnesota Wild: Either James Sheppard or Benoit Pouliot and draft picks. Likelihood of happening, 15-25%.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Alex Goligoski, Eric Tangradi and draft picks. Likelihood of happening, 10-15%.

Basically what this means, is that despite the Bruins need for cap space to resign Phil Kessel, they will not be able to get much for him. The best move for the Bruins would be to try and trade either Chuck Kobasew or Marco Sturm, both of whom have one year left on their contracts, at 2.5 and 3.5 million respectively. Both players could also be bought out and cost the Bruins less than 2 million a year for the next two years.
This is a situation that bears watching, and will be interesting come draft time.

Slow and Steady changes

2009-05-15T10:57:00.000-04:00

As you may be able to see, there is now a counter at the bottom, and a few new widgets at the right side of the page. My goal right now is to be listed at Yardbarker. To do that, I need 50,000 views a month for three months, so help me out and spread the word about this blog.

Changes to the Blog + Detroit vs. Chicago?

2009-05-13T16:42:00.004-04:00

I will be changing the layout of the blog a bit, and will be starting, in earnest, to post.

As a side-note...As great as The Washington Ovechkins vs. The Pittsburgh Crosbys has been, just imagine a Detroit vs. Chicago match-up in the Western Conference Finals. The two teams have a rivalry spanning back to the Original 6 days.

Finally, when was the last time that anybody can remember the NHL being a leading topic on ESPN?

The Rangers - How to Fix Them

2009-04-29T11:04:00.008-04:00

How to fix the Rangers, who to drop, and who the Rangers should look at. I will dissect the team through their own UFAs, followed by RFAs, then Free Agents, and possible trades/trade candidates. Finally I will look at possible in-season callups and prospects
UFAs
Blair Betts
Colton Orr
Nik Antropov
Patrick Rissmiller (AHL)
Mark Bell (AHL)
Paul Mara
Derek Morris
Stephen Valliquette

Goalie - ***UPDATE*** - Stephen Valliquette has been resigned for next year at 725k

Defensemen - Paul Mara, and Derek Morris are more interesting than the others. With Bobby Sanguinetti, Michael Del Zotto, Matt Gilroy and Michael Sauer available down in the AHL, the Rangers would only need one of either Morris or Mara. Again, it comes down to money - preferably I would like to see the Rangers sign Paul Mara for a little less money but an extra year or two.

Forwards - Blair Betts and Colton Orr should be shoe-ins to be resigned. Colton Orr shouldn't demand much more than he made this year, and should be resigned. Blair Betts is the more interesting case. Betts has been nothing short of spectacular at being a defensive forward. However, he only made 615k the past two years and is due for a raise of at least 300k. That shouldn't be too rich for the Rangers blood, but if other teams identify him as a target and go hard after him, his contract demands may become too steep for the Rangers.
All of this brings me to Nik Antropov. Extremely underappreciated in Toronto, he did quite well with the Rangers this season. He should command about 3.5-4 Million dollars a year, an amount the Rangers should pay. Nik Antropov has been getting better year by year, and was one of the few Rangers players to actually show emotion during the Game 6 debacle.
Mark Bell and Pat Rismiller on two-way contracts wouldn't be a bad depth signing, but they may opt for a guaranteed one-way contract.
RFAs
Ryan Callahan
Brandon Dubinsky
Lauri Korpikoski
Nikolai Zherdev
Frederik Sjostrom
Correy Potter (AHL)

Callahan, Dubinsky and Korpikoski should all be resigned, and all should be long-term contracts. All of them showed heart, emotion and the ability to be stars in this league. Korpikoski is capable of being a defensive-forward with the ability to put the puck in the back of the net. I do not think I need to explain why the Rangers should resign Dubinsky and Callahan.
Nik Zherdev should be avoided at all costs. At 3.25 Million, the Rangers would need to give him at least 3.5 Million to resign him. It just isn't worth it. Especially if the Rangers resign Nik Antropov.
Frederik Sjostrom, a former first round pick and popular player may not be worth it. While likeable and serviceable, the Rangers have many players like him in their system that could do the same things he does but for less money.
Corey Potter really didn't impress the team much in his brief callup, and with Sauer and Sanguenetti getting the callups later in the season, I do not see the Rangers resigning him. However, his contract demands should be minimal, so it could end up being worth the Rangers while to have him available - just in case.

Free Agent Targets:
Goal-scorers - the Rangers need them. They need somebody who demands attention every time they step on the ice. Somebody that other teams have to plan for. Provided that the Rangers resign their own free agents and their youngsters are able to make the leap, the Rangers main and possible only target should be goal scorers and a possible depth forward.
Erik Cole - currently with the Canes, he could fill a top-6 role. My gut tells me he will resign in Carolina for a below-market deal
Marian Gaborik - buyer beware. He is injury prone and may command a large contract. However, if he is willing to take a one or two year deal, he may end up being a steal.
Mike Cammalleri - He can score with the best of them. He scored 39 goals this season and may just end up being a great goal-scorer for years to come.
Alex Tanguay - I am not so sure he is what the Rangers need. His demands may be too rich for the Rangers blood. I see the Rangers avoiding him and trying.
Mike Knuble - I like him a lot. Growing up as a Rangers fan, I remember how well he played as a Ranger. However, he is getting older, and while he could be a great linemate for Chris Drury, the Rangers need a guaranteed 30-40 goal scorer.
Phil Kessel - If the Rangers could sign him to a rich enough offer-sheet that the Bruins cannot or won't match, he would be great. He has the ability to score lots of goals for years to come.
Jaromir Jagr - When the Rangers let him walk, they sealed their fate for this year. He was their heart and soul and wanted to be a Ranger. He may not score more than 30 goals anymore, but he is somebody that we wanted to root for and wanted to succeed.

Trades
Ilya Kovalchuk - he can score goals with the best of them, and he would be a one year rental. His contract is expensive and the Thrashers would have to be floored to trade him, but imagining him in Broadway Blue should have most fans salivating. This past year he displayed great character and the ability to make plays on both ends of the ice. The reports out of Atlanta have Waddell holding on to him, but with the right offer, you never know.

With the impending retirement of Markus Naslund, the Rangers current cap-hit is 38.8 million for 10 players: Scott Gomez, Chris Drury, Aaron Voros, Sean Avery, Wade Redden, Michael Rosival, Daniel Girardi, Marc Staal, Henrik Lundqvist, and Stephen Valliquette. That number can change if the Rangers are able to trade either Scott Gomez who seems to have fallen out of favor with John Tortorella or Michael Rosival
Until then, enjoy the next, enjoy the rest of the playoffs.

Trade Deadline Review

2009-03-05T08:41:00.002-05:00

Winners:
Calgary Flames: Getting Olli Jokinen and Jordan Leopold solidifies an already solid team, and provides them with insurance next year if Mike Cammalleri chooses to leave.
New York Rangers: They gave up a lot for two rentals. Seeing that, I now see a team that has taken pressure off of its top 6 to 8 players. With Nik Antropov, the Rangers now have a big body who can score goals - motivated or not, he still has over 20 goals being the main offensive weapon in Toronto. Derrik Morris is a little more puzzling, especially considering what they gave up for him. He provides the Rangers with another Paul Mara like player. Good offensive potential with a willingness to be physical.
Phoenix Coyotes: For Daniel Carcillo, Derek Morris and Olli Jokinen, the Flames acquired Scottie Upshall, Petr Prucha, Nigel Dawes, Mathew Lombardi, Brandon Prust, and an assortment of draft picks. That gives them much needed youth and jump in the desert - making the team more exciting.

Losers:
Toronto Maple Leafs: Considering what the Coyotes got for Derek Morris, I am surprised that the Leafs couldn't get more for Nik Antropov or Dominic Moore. 3 picks, that was it. This can change around, if Burke retools and makes some big splashes before the draft.
Florida Panthers: Jay Bouwmeester does not want to be a Panther. The Flyers offer was rich in prospects, picks and current roster players. And considering their acquisition of Steve Eminger, the Panthers could have been a little less picky when trying to trade JayBo. Either way, come playoff time we will find out if they did the right thing. But right now, their team may have suffered long term damage.
Tampa Bay Lightning: They didn't make a big splash or do much for that matter. They just traded Steve Eminger for Noah Welch and a 3rd Round Pick. But let me recap all of this. Dan Boyle signs a 6 year contract worth 6.67 per, with a NTC. The new owners threaten to put him on waivers and demote him unless he waives the NTC. So he waives it and gets traded to San Jose for Matt Carle and Ty Wishart and a 1st and 4th round draft pick. The Lightning then trade Matt Carle after 12 games to the Flyers for Steve Eminger. And just yesterday they trade Eminger for Noah Welch and a 3rd round pick.
To review: Lightning get Noah Welch, Ty Wishart, a 1st, 3rd and 4th round pick for Dan Boyle.

Trade Deadline Updates

2009-03-04T11:04:00.010-05:00

I will not be blogging the deadline, but check out Spector's Blog or Kukla's Korner for updates.
You can also check out Jay Onrait's Blog over at TSN - for the humorous side of the deadline. Finally, ESPN has a trade tracker, but it does not show any signings or waiver claims...

I will, however, be posting analysis of the deadline deals later in the day. Included in my analysis will be any extensions that are signed.
SEE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR UPDATES

2/26
Pittsburgh Penguins get: Chris Kunitz and Eric Tangradi
Anaheim Ducks get: Ryan Whitney

3/2
New Jersey Devils get: Niclas Havelid and Myles Stoesz
Atlanta Thrashers get: Anssi Salmela

3/3
New York Rangers claim from the Dallas Stars: Sean Avery at 1.9 per through 2012
Vancouver Canucks re-sign: Alex Burrows to a 4 year, 8 million dollar deal (2 per)

3/4 Deadline Day (as of 3/5/09)
Ottawa Senators re-sign: Defenseman Filip Kuba to 3 year, 11.1 million dollar deal (3.7 per)

Columbus Blue Jackets get: Antoine Vermette
Ottawa Senators get: Pascal Leclaire and a 2009 2nd Round Draft Pick

Buffalo Sabres re-sign: Tim Connolly to a 2 year, 9 million dollar deal (4.5 per)

Calgary Flames get: Jordan Leopold
Colorado Avalanche get: Lawrence Nycholat, a 2nd Round Pick, and Ryan Wilson

Buffalo Sabres get: Mikael Tellqvist
Phoenix Coyotes get: 4th Round Draft Pick

Toronto Maple Leafs claim: Martin Gerber from the Ottawa Senators, Erik Reitz from the New York Rangers

Pittsburgh Penguins claim: Craig Adams from the Chicago Blackhawks

Dallas Stars claim: Brendan Morrison from the Anaheim Ducks

Pittsburgh Penguins get: Andy Wozniewski
St. Louis Blues get: Danny Richmond

Phoenix Coyotes get: Mathew Lombardi, Brandon Prust and a 1st Round Pick
Calgary Flames get: Olli Jokinen and 3rd Round Pick

Boston Bruins get: Steve Montador
Anaheim Ducks get: Petteri Nokelainen

Tampa Bay Lightning get: Martin Lashoff and Martins Karsums
Boston Bruins get: Mark Recchi

Pittsburgh Penguins get: Bill Guerin
NY Islanders get: Conditional Draft Pick

Buffalo Sabres get: Dominic Moore
Toronto Maple Leafs get: 2nd RoundPick

Phoenix Coyotes get: Scottie Upshall and a 2nd Round Pick
Philadelphia Flyers get: Daniel Carcillo

New York Rangers get: Nik Antropov
Toronto Maple Leafs get: 2nd Round Pick and a Conditional Draft Pick

New York Rangers get: Derek Morris
Phoenix Coyotes get: Petr Prucha, Nigel Dawes and Dmitri Kalinin

Anaheim Ducks get: Erik Christensen
Atlanta Thrashers get: Eric O'Dell

Tampa Bay Lightning get: Noah Welch and a 3rd Round Pick
Florida Panthers get: Steve Eminger

Calgary Flames get: 4th Round Pick
Columbus Blue Jackets get: Kevin Lalande

Chicago Blackhawks get: Samuel Pahlsson
Anaheim Ducks get: James Wisniewski

San Jose Sharks get: Travis Moen and Kent Huskins
Anaheim Ducks get: Timo Pielmeier, Nick Bonino and a Conditional Draft Pick

Edmonton Oilers get: Ales Kotalik
Buffalo Sabres get: 2nd Round pick

Tampa Bay Lightning get: Richard Petiot
Toronto Maple Leafs get: Olaf Kolzig, Jamie Heward, Andy Rogers and a 4th Round Pick

Edmonton Oilers get: Patrick O'Sullivan, and LA's 2nd Round Pick
Los Angeles Kings get: Jason Williams
Carolina Hurricanes get: Erik Cole

Mark Bell?

2009-02-26T07:37:00.005-05:00

Why did the Rangers claim Mark Bell? In a word, goals.
Since he was claimed on re-entry waivers, the Rangers are liable for only half of his contract - roughly 1.25 Million pro-rated (or if its the average number on the entire length of the contract, 800k - hat-tip to NHLNumbers.com). Either way, the Rangers have a very interesting problem now.

So who goes?
The claiming of Mark Bell, and the expectation that the Rangers will claim Avery once he gets called up makes for an interesting conundrum for the Rangers. Yes, Mark Bell can be good for 20 or so goals a year - 30 if gets lucky (You should remember that he was part of the three-way trade that sent Martin Havlat to the Hawks, Bell to the Sharks and Tom Preissing to the Senators http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nhl&id=2515329)

Looking at the current roster, the Rangers have a glut of potential top-6 forwards with Ryan Callahan, Petr Prucha, Nigel Dawes and Lauri Korpikoski. All 4 of them are potentially very good players. Are these players likely to be traded? Not for the time being (a case can be made for Prucha to be traded, but I have a feeling that Tortorella will want him around for the playoff push).
Aaron Voros and Colton Orr are also very interesting options. Voros has shown flashes, but has since regressed. He was brought in to replace Avery and was doing a good job, and then he just disappeared. Orr on the other hand is strictly a tough guy. He doesn't kill penalties, and doesn't really do much other than fight. Under Renney, Orr became a more complete player, but is he more worthy of a spot than Aaron Voros?
So who goes? My guess is Aaron Voros (a relief for Leedsy of Rangerland.net). On the current roster, the Rangers don't have room for him. The Rangers need goals, and while Aaron Voros has 8 on the season, his last goal was 90 days ago on November 28th (hat-tip to http://www.timeanddate.com/date/duration.html). And with Sean Avery probably coming up soon, he is expendable. I doubt Voros will have much interest around the league. Maybe he will be traded for a low pick, but I will not be surprised to see him demoted to Hartford.
But, who goes from the lineup? Bell is a top-6 forward. Do the Rangers start sitting players like Colton Orr, and drop some of the younger players to the 4th line?
Mark Bell is a big player who can put the puck in the net. He has spent the better part of the past few seasons in the minors and mired in the lovely Toronto mess. My guess is that he replaces Markus Naslund for a game or two, and then we shall see.

One final note: watching the Rangers game last night, the power-play looked real good. They moved around, creating scoring chances and even scoring a goal on a nice shot by Wade Redden. The only problem is that the Rangers need many more goals if they are going to have a chance at going anywhere when it matters.

Centering the Blue Jackets

2009-02-23T08:49:00.002-05:00

The eternal search for Centers in Columbus is becoming more apparent by the day. They need somebody to play with Rick Nash, and have needed someone, almost since the day he arrived on the scene.
The reality is that everybody who is out there really won't help them long term. In free-agency, they could target the Sedins, but the reality has to come that the Jackets want to make the playoffs, and to get there they need someone who can convert for Rick Nash.
One look down to Atlanta and you can see what the lack of quality centers does to a team. When Marc Savard was down there, the team was exciting, and on the up. Now, I do not believe that I need to explain.
Teams like Boston, San Jose, Detroit, Chicago all have solid centers that do their job, and do it well. They are built to win. Columbus has solid goaltending, and solid defensemen. They have solid 3rd and 4th line centers and wingers, but when it comes down to it, they lack the centers necessary to take over. Chris Gratton, at one point in time, could have been the answer, but he is not anymore.
Columbus has tradeable players like Pascal Leclaire, a great goalie but now expendable with Steve Mason turning in the performance of a lifetime.
So what now?
Tradeable centers that are available are few and far between. Nik Antropov is available but cannot be considered a long term solution. And with Derrick Brassard injured, does this mean that Columbus holds on to what they have and prepare for a great year next year?
The Penguins are a viable option. Sidney needs a winger, Nash needs a center. Jordan Staal could be available for the right price, and Columbus has wingers available for trade.
My ideal move would be Jordan Staal for R.J. Umberger, and picks. But somehow, I doubt that this trade would work. Rotislav Klesla could go the other way, but Pittsburgh isn't searching for defensive depth. Unless they would be willing to make that trade to free them up to acquire a winger for Sid.
So, here is the reality. The Blue Jackets should stand pat. If they do not make the playoffs, so be it. This summer there will be plenty of options on the market, and players like Scott Gomez's Average salary drops to roughly 6.5 million (as opposed to 7.35). The Sedin Twins become free agents, and while they will probably be a package deal, their instant chemistry could work wonders with Nash (or Crosby for the matter if Henrik could shift to the wing). Also, Derrick Brassard will be healthy.
So without further adieu, some free-agent possibilities:
Robert Lang - currently with the Canadiens, but may not fit with the Jackets based on age alone. He did play well when he was healthy and could be a steal if he is acquired for the right price.
Brendan Morrison -not so sure if he could still play well. Yes, he would be a good reclamation project, and should be available on the cheap, but is he worth it?
Tim Connolly - he is a great option when healthy. Again, is he worth the risk. I do not believe so. He has rarely contributed to his full potential, fighting injuries almost non-stop throughout his career.
Jason Williams - keep him. He is young and has shown star quality when given the proper surroundings. My thinking is that he could be very valuable with the team if given the chance, but that if may be too big for him.
Sedin Twins - great idea, but I doubt Vancouver would let them go. Additionally, the contract they would require would cost the Jackets at least 10 million combined - a price that is probably too high.
Nik Antropov - Big body who has shown that he can play well - when motivated. He would probably clash with Ken Hitchcock and his maddening inconsistency may cost too much money to take a risk.
Mike Comrie - can he finally put it all together? I don't doubt it, but would he be willing to do so in Columbus? That I doubt.
So where does that leave us? Maybe the Jackets can trade for someone, but that won't happen now. They would have to give up to much for it to work. Free agency would be helpful, but will not net them a #1 center without tying up too much money.
As it stands, the Jackets have a good team, they should not be blinding themselves with dreams of a #1 center magically popping into their laps in free agency. They already have one in Derrick Brassard, and could, at least in theory, supplement them their depth in the short term via trade. But they need to be smart.

Helping Detroit

2009-02-17T14:10:00.003-05:00

This is an interesting conundrum to have. You have a great team, with great depth, but the cap gets in the way of keeping everybody together. Now what? Do you trade anybody for future cap space, or depth?
The Red Wings have this problem. And the easy solution would be to just hope that everybody takes a pay-cut to make this work, but the reality is that the Red Wings won't have the cap-space to sign Jiri Hudler, Marian Hossa, Mikael Samuelsson, Johan Franzen and Ty Conklin.

Looking at these 5 players, the only one I can think that could be replaceable is Ty Conklin, if for no other reason, than most goalies can do well in Detroit's system.

However, with the trade deadline coming soon, here are a few deals that the Red Wings can make that could, in theory, solve some of their issues. Again, salary-cap from NHLnumbers.com

To the Thrashers:
Johan Franzen (1.15 Million, UFA), Ty Conklin (750k, UFA), Brad Stuart (3.75 Million, 2011-12) for a total of 5.65 Million

To the Red Wings:
Kari Lehtonen (3 Million, RFA), Niclas Havelid (2.9 Million, UFA), Erik Christensen (750k, RFA), Brett Sterling (Minors), Angelo Esposito (Juniors), and two future 2nd round picks for a total of 6.65 Million

Why this trade works: The Red Wings get a potential #1 Goalie. If Lehtonen can remain healthy, he could be one of the top goalies in the league. He has shown the ability to be a great goalie in front of a mediocre defense, and could flourish in Detroit. His salary will not go up signigicantly, because he needs to prove himself, which fits into the role of cutting salary. The Thrashers get a legitimate scoring threat behind Ilya Kovalchuk. They also get a solid Offensive D-Man in Brad Stuart, who would be able to step right in and fill a top 4 defensive spot. The Red Wings also get the cap space to sign Mikael Samuelson, Jiri Hudler, and Marian Hossa. And most importantly, they get two very good prospects with Esposito and Sterling, who can be brought in slowly and allowed to grow into their system. Havelid and Christensen could be jettisoned at the end of the season, or Christensen can be retained to replace Samuelsson.

Why this trade won't work: Too many ifs, too close to the playoffs, and I see the Red Wings parting with Marian Hossa at the end of the year, unless they can sign their homegrown talent.

As a final note, it would be interesting to see if the Blackhawks make a play for Marian Hossa if Detroit lets him become a UFA

Fixing the Penguins and Panthers

2009-02-13T10:49:00.005-05:00

So, here is the deal. Both the Penguins and Panthers have needs at positions that the other team has a slight surplus. I know, long sentence, not so clear, but Pittsburgh has excess D-men, and the Panthers, if they make a trade for one of those d-men would be able to flip Jay Bouwmeester for a high scoring winger.
So here is my favorite scenario, that would be fair all around and would be equal to all sides:
Ryan Whitney (4 Million through 2012-13), Jordan Staal (3.37 Million through 2012-13), and a 2nd round pick, for a total of 7.37 Million Dollars to the Panthers
Nathan Horton (4 Million through 2012-13), David Booth (700k, RFA), Radek Dvorak (1.55 Million, UFA) for a total of 6.25 Million Dollars to the Penguins
With the Panthers turning around and trading:
Jay Bouwmeester (4.875 Million, UFA) to the Flyers
Joffrey Lupul (3.98 Million* through 2013-13), Ryan Parent (680k through 2009-10, RFA), and James vanRiemsdyk for a total of 4.66 Million Dollars

Why this will work for the Penguins:
They will acquire their winger for Sidney Crosby, as David Booth has shown tremendous ability to put the puck in the net. The players that Pittsburgh has tried to put on a line with Crosby have been of the 'work-in-progress' variety. The players who are either on a downward arc, or have just not lived up to their full potential. Additionally, Nathan Horton would be able to provide much needed depth behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. While he has a large salary, he is needed to make the trade work, and has been rumored to be on the block (that and he makes 3 Million less than the Rangers third line center - Chris Drury). Radek Dvorak is almost a throw-in, but he provides a lot of depth and experience, and I can't help imagine him being anything bad for Pittsburgh.
Why this won't work for the Penguins:
Giving up Jordan Staal would be very hard for the Penguins, however, it would be in everybody's best interest to do this. However, it is Ryan Whitney whose loss would be the most missed. He is solid, and provides, if nothing else, consistency. The Penguins have Alex Goligoski who could fill in, but he does not have Ryan Whitney's track record, and that can be a big problem.
Why this works for the Flyers:
Jay Bouwmeester gives the Flyers an extremely talented defensive corps. With Bouwmeester, Matt Carle, Randy Jones and Braydon Coburn, the Flyers would have a top 4 defensive core that could rival, and shut down most teams on any night. A must have for the playoffs.
Why this won't work for the Flyers:
They are giving up two really talented prospects for a possible rental. Yes, the Flyers are sometimes very reckless with their trades, I do not see them doing this without getting Bouwmeester to sign an extension. Additional Joffrey Lupul provides great scoring for the team. Oh, and they would be taking on salary at a time when they are trying to get rid of salary. They could substitute Randy Jones instead of Ryan Parent, but I am not sure that the Panthers would want him.
Why this works for the Panthers:
Just a rundown of who they would be getting from the state of Pennsylvania: Jordan Staal, Ryan Whitney, Joffrey Lupul, Ryan Parent and James vanRiemsdyk. That alone would restock any losses they may have, and give them a great core. Quite frankly it sounds like a bank heist. Jordan Staal would, at the very least, replace Nathan Horton, and Ryan Whitney would take over for Jay Bouwmeester. Ryan Parent would be able to learn from some great d-men and not have to provide top 6 minutes, and with Karlis Skrastins set to become a UFA at the end of the year, it gives them a more than adequate replacement. Joffrey Lupul would replace David Booth's scoring, while giving the Panthers much needed size. And James vanRiemsdyk, would give them a potential number one winger. The draft pick from Pittsburgh would only add to the pot's sweetness.
Why this won't work for the Panthers:
Getting the two Pennsylvania teams to agree to this trade would be hard enough. Also, shaking up their team this much when they are trying to make the playoffs may hurt them more than they can recover from. Other than that, just the sheer number of talent they would be getting out of the deal could make it more worthwhile, but that doesn't mean that they would do this.

This trade works, everybody coems out with what they want. The Penguins get their winger, and some cap room to add much needed depth at the end of the year. The Flyers get their #1 D-man for the future, while not destroying their core. Yes James vanRiemsdyk is very talented, but talent doesn't always translate. And the Panthers, who need to rebuild and still make the playoffs, do just that by adding many talented players.

The chances of this occuring? I put that at no more than 20-30%. While I would to see it happen, because I love big trades, I don't think that the Penguins and Flyers would work together to make this trade happen.

Until next time...feel free to add comments about any trades you may want to see

The End of The Line for Tom Renney

2009-02-10T12:18:00.004-05:00

A while back I remember reading a nice post on the Rangers at Rangerland. The gist of the post was that Tom Renney hockey is good enough for the playoffs, but not good enough to do much else. After reading it, I agreed whole-heartedly. Yet over the past few games, I see a coach trying to get out of NY before it gets worse.
Looking at the Rangers roster, I see a lot of talent that just doesn't work well together. When the Rangers signed both Scott Gomez and Chris Drury I became very nervous for the team. They took a team that had came within a few bounces of getting into the Eastern Conference championships, and remade them down the middle. In my opinion they should have resigned Michael Nylander, and signed only Scott Gomez. When that didn't happen, the team more or less imploded. It has been slow, but obvious.
Jagr couldn't find chemistry until the end of the year and the sudden emergence of Brandon Dubinsky. Drury seemed out of place and slightly awkward playing for the Rangers. Gomez embraced his role, but could never seem to live up to his massive contract.
Seeing the writing on the wall, and knowing that his team couldn't win 7-6 games, Renney preached defense first. And when that mantra starts to fail the team, the Rangers are left with a lack of offensive fire-power to make up the difference.
So, What now?
Can the Rangers actually turn it around. When the Devils went to a more offensive team after hiring Brent Sutter, it took a little under a year for the team to finally start gelling under this new philosophy. For the Rangers to get back to a legitimate top 10 team in the league, they need someone who will get the most of the team - both offensively and defensively. What coaches are out there?
Pat Quinn - He can come in and get instant respect. He is available and could, at least in theory, rally the team. Additionally, his familiarity with Glen Sather can't hurt.
John Tortorella - I am not sure he would want to go back to the Rangers. He is fiery and will get the most out of the team, but at this point in time, he is someone that could wait for the right job, and I do not think the Rangers job in the middle of a year is the right job.
Ted Nolan - Look at what he did with a severly talent lacking Islanders team. Imagine what he could do with the Rangers. He has a strong personality and will clash with Glen Sather, but I cannot imagine him not being a legitimately strong choice. But, seeing that he is constantly black-listed by GMs league-wide, I cannot imagine Glen Sather going against his old boys network and hiring him.
Patrick Roy - I do not know how good of an Xs and Os guy he is, but the team would definetly be one of the most competitive teams on the ice - something which they haven't been for a while now. His personality, and actions from last year probably disqualify him, but it is an interesting consideration.
Mark Messier - He was a great player, a great leader and a great person, but is he the guy? Having no true coaching experience, I cannot see him being hired as the head coach - maybe as an assistant though.
Adam Graves - See Above.
Ken Gernander - He is doing a pretty good job down in the AHL with the Wolfpack. But seeing the current team, I cannot imagine him having enough weight or legitimacy in the lockerroom to really turn this team around.
Clint Eastwood - He may not know a thing about hockey, but would you want to mess with 23 people under his direction?
Tom Renney - He is the coach now, and I cannot see Sather firing him. The roster given to him does not fit his style. But, I can see him firing his Assistant Coaches and hiring someone to fix the powerplay and the defensemen problems. Doing that would give him a fighting chance of reacquiring the room, and possibly getting the Rangers past the 2nd round.
Time will tell, but the onus of the Rangers problems should not fall on the coach in this instance. The problem with the Rangers comes from Glen Sather. He acquired three players to try to replace Sean Avery - only one is still up in the NHL. He signed Wade Redden to an albatross contract, when he has at least two future 1st pair d-men close to being ready or being ready. He signed Chris Drury to a 7 Million Dollar a Year contract when he could have signed Michael Nylander for half the price and kept Jaromir Jagr happy. I could go further, but the reality here is that this team has been slowly rotting away. Something needs to change - lets just hope its the right changes, and not a quick fix.

The Avery Conundrum

2009-02-09T11:42:00.003-05:00

So the Rangers reportedly want Sean Avery. And we can throw in two or more teams that could handle him. What should we do with him? His contract is somewhat poisonous considering that he is unwanted, but who should Dallas acquire in return? How much extra should they have to give up to get rid of Avery?
Some possibilities (as usual, credit to NHLNumbers.com for the Salary Cap info):
To the Penguins for Ryan Whitney (4 Million through 2012-13)- Regarding my previous post of finding a wingman for Sidney, Avery would bring much needed scoring prowess to Crosby's line, while keeping opponents on their heels. I doubt that the Pens are that desperate though.
To the Senators for Chris Neil, and Christoph Schubert (Combined Salary 1.983 Million, Neil is a UFA, Schubert through 09-10): Trading underachievers for the Super-Pest. Imagine a line with Jarko Ruutu and Sean Avery on the wings. If nothing else, it would be entertaining. Again, I doubt that happening.
To the Thrashers for Erik Christensen (750k, UFA): Putting Avery with Kovalchuk could be just what Atlanta needs to light a fire under this team. Avery has shown the ability to put up points when given the chance, and playing with Kovalchuk would definetly give him opportunities, but I am not so sure Waddell would be open to playing that game.
To the Flyers for Andrew Alberts, Glen Metropolit, and Scott Hartnell (Combined 6.423 Million): This would free up much needed cap-space for the Flyers, and would give them the type of guy that always seems to be a Flyer. It would also give them a legitimate force on the top 2 lines. However, Dallas would have to make a few moves to fit under the cap with this deal - possibly demoting Andrew Alberts, or trading Glen Metropolit, but this is the only one other than the Rangers that may make some sense.

But none of those possibilities really hold a candle to Avery rejoining the Rangers. If I am Glen Sather. I find a way to get the Stars to take back either Wade Redden or Chris Drury. A prospect would have to go the other way, but for the Rangers, it would send a message that nobody on the team is safe. I would also wait until the year is over, so that the front-loaded Rangers contracts count less against the cap. So here are the deals:
(Avg Salary including this year, Contract Status - Avg salary starting next year)
Rangers Trade Candidates:
Wade Redden (6.5 Million, 2013-2014 - 6.2 Million starting next year)
Chris Drury (7.05 Million, 2011-12, 7.16 Million starting next year)
Michael Rosival (5 Million, 2011-12, 4.3 Million starting next year)

Of these 3 Rosival could be traded straight-up and the salaries would match rather nicely, however, the Rangers would be giving up on a reasonably signed d-man.

Chris Drury would be the hardest, because of his large salary, and Dallas lack of need for someone like him. I doubt he is the person moved

The one that makes the most sense would be Wade Redden. Here is why. His salary is high, but manageable. The Rangers would have to throw in someone like Greg Moore in the AHL now, and possibly a younger guy not named Grachev, Anisimov, Del Zotto or Sanguinetti. From Dallas's side, they would get an anchor for their D-corps once Segei Zubov comes off the books at the end of this year. Otherwise, this trade would not be worthwhile to Dallas.

So, what are we left with? A probability that the Rangers don't trade much for Sean Avery, or re-acquire him through re-entry waivers.

Trade Deadline: Wingers for Sidney

2009-02-08T11:12:00.004-05:00

Continuing my theme from the previous post, I have decided to continue the theme of trades - especially considering the trade deadline's fast approach. So, I am going to do my best guessing here and try to conjure up some scenarios with a few glaring needs, a winger for Crosby, and a couple of depth moves for some other teams.
First off, getting Sid a Wing-man. The trade candidates on the Penguins side are Ryan Whitney, Alex Goligoski and/or Rob Scuderi:
Possible candidates (Salary - courtesy of NHLNumbers.com, Contract Status):
Maxim Afinogenov, Sabres (3.5 Million, UFA) - once compared to Pavel Bure, he has shown the ability to score, and can skate with the best of them. On the downside is his maddening inconsistency, and his inability to play motivated
Joffrey Lupul, Flyers (Roughly 4 Million, through 2012-13) - It may seem a little bit of a stretch to hope for an in-state trade, but the Penguins can offer up one of their young d-men for Lupul, who like Ryan Malone is a big body who can score. Remember, he is the same person Anaheim traded for to get Chris Pronger. I can seem him putting up 30-40 goals a year with Crosby at center.
Mike Knuble, Flyers (2.8 Million, UFA) - The ultimate wingman - played with Joe Thornton, Peter Forsberg, Daniel Briere, Mike Richards...you get the idea. Put him with a talented center and he will score goals. Heck, he scored goals with Manny Malholtra as his center. He life Max is Unrestricted at the end of the year, and may not require a significant chunk of money to resign if he shows a knack for scoring with Crosby as his center.
Erik Cole, Oilers (4 Million, UFA) - Look at Lupul, Joffrey for comparisons. The only thing is that Cole has a Stanley Cup on his resume. He has not necessarily been great, and he may not love Brooks Orpik, but he definetly has shown that he can score.
Brendan Shannahan, Devils (800k, pro-rated, UFA) - For a half-year, he would have been great. I doubt the Devils even consider trading him, considering that they signed him, but he would have been a great character guy to play alongside Sid.
David Booth, Panthers (700k, RFA) - Someone who can score. He is young and can grow with Crosby. Hence the problems with trading him. Pittsburgh would have to give up either Alex Goligoski, or Rob Scuderi to even have a chance. However, if the Panthers could somehow get Ryan Whitney out of the deal, they would be able to consider trading Jay Bouwmeester.
Martin St. Louis, Lightning (4.33 Million, 2010-11) - No need to really consider why this would be a good deal. He has a high salary, and a no-trade clause, but he could waive it for a chance to win the Cup again as Sid's wingman
Petr Prucha, Rangers (1.6 Million, RFA) - This hurts to right, as Prucha is one of my favorite players, but with the opportunity to play with Sid, Prucha can become a goal-scoring machine. He scored over 30 goals as a rookie when given the playing time, and as Sid's wingman, he could be a 40 goal machine. I doubt that the Rangers trade Prucha to the Pens, only because they would look bad if Prucha played well.
Alex Kovalev, Canadiens (4.5 Million, UFA) - Enigmatic, and tends to disappear. One of the most talented players in the NHL who put up huge numbers in Pittsburgh and has a Cup. I wouldn't doubt a Kovalev ressugence in Pittsburgh (Think Manny Ramirez after being traded to the Dodgers).
Alex Frolov, LA Kings (3.75 Million, 2009-10) - He can score goals, and has been rumored to be on the trading block. Not the most exciting prospect, but he may not require a ransom to acquire.

Now if I am the Penguins, I look to acquire David Booth. It can work from a lot of angles - the Panthers would get a d-man to replace Bouwmeester who could then be flipped to a number of teams for a scoring forward to replace Booth (It should be noted that the Panthers aren't inclined to move Booth, and would rather move Nathan Horton - hat tip to Spector on that one). However, if the Pens are only looking to rent someone, they could go for Mike Knuble, or Alex Kovalev. Then again, I doubt they would just give up one of their young d-men just to rent somebody.

Swapping Salaries

2009-02-03T10:40:00.000-05:00

As a regular reader of Spector's Hockey, I like to see Spector (aka Lyle Richardson) debunk a lot of really crazy rumors. But all of that talk has got me thinking. Well that, and Page 2's Bill Simmons articles about trading bad contracts. With a lot of teams close to the cap ceiling, and being handcuffed by poor contracts, I think that we should discuss the swap-meet idea. The GMs should sit down with their bad contracts, and swap them for one another.
Here are some of those contracts (numbers courtesy of nhlnumbers.com):

From Anaheim to the LA Kings:
JS Giguere: 6 Million through 2010-11

From LA Kings to Anaheim:
Michael Handzus: 4 million through 2010-11
Erik Ersberg: 700k through 08-09

Why it will work for Anaheim:
With Rob Neidermayer becoming a free agent at the end of the year, the Ducks will need someone who can fill his role - a checking forward who has the ability to step up and score when need be. And picking up Ersberg would allow the Ducks to elevate Jonas Hillier to starting goalie and free up necessary cap space.

Why it will work for the Kings:
With JS Giguere in net, the Kings will have a solid goalie for the next few years. He is playoff tested, and can turn the Kings into a legitimate cindarella team. Also, having Giguere means that the Kings will have someone to help Jonathan Bernier transition into a starter in the league.

Why it won't work for Anaheim:
Giving up JS Giguere would create a gaping hole at goalie in the playoffs. Yes Hillier has proved himself in the regular season, but we have yet to see what he can do during an extended playoff run.

Why it won't work for the Kings:
I am not sure I can think of any reason other than the taking on of salary.

************************************

From the NY Rangers to the Red Wings:
Wade Redden: 6.5 Million through 2013-14

From the Red Wings to the Rangers:
Brian Rafalski: 6 Million through 2011-12

Why it will work for the Rangers:
The Rangers would be getting out from two horrific contracts. Granted they would be getting older with Rafalski, they would be getting a solid defender who has been nothing but consistent, and while he may decline at the end of his deal, his deal is up sooner than Redden's.
Why it will work for the Red Wings:
The Red Wings will be picking up a player three years younger than Rafalski, who in the right environment, can be a superstar. Redden is still extremely talented, and can eventually take over for Niklas Lidstrom when he eventually retires. And with the cast around Redden, it would be harder for him to fail than succeed.

Why it won't work for the Rangers:
Taking on Rafalski won't fix anything other than give a little wiggle room under the cap. Plus, giving up on Redden so soon would come back to haunt them. Redden is just starting to get comfortable playing with the Rangers. Rafalski on the other hand is at his best, not as good as Redden at his best.

Why it won't work for the Red Wings:
Forgetting the talent, the Red Wings would be handcuffing themselves to the cap ceiling even more by taking on an additional 1.5 million in salary for the next 5 1/2 years. If Redden were making 4 million or so, I can see this happening.

Any other ideas? Post some of them in the comments.

First Post

2009-02-03T09:55:00.000-05:00

I have a lot to say about hockey. Too much to just troll a bunch of websites and leave stupid comments, so I have decided to actually follow through with everything and start writing.
I have written for local newspapers, and have been published throughout the lovely tubes known as the internet. I haven't written for a long time and well, I need to start writing again, because I need to.
So here it is. Musings from a simple hockey fan.