Go Leafs Go!
One of the nation’s great sports fans, Fort Rouge Ted, lost it on Saturday night. After his beloved Toronto Maple Leafs were drilled 5-0 by the Montreal Canadiens, Teddy sent out the following missive to the media on Sunday morning:
“The Night of Losers! Mats Sundin, the biggest loser of all. How many Stanley Cup rungs do you have Sundin? None! How many Stanley Cup finals have you played in Sundin? None!
“Then there is the team. When was the last time the Leafs won the Cup? 1967! When was the last time the Leafs played in a Cup final? 1967! When was the last time the Maple Leafs were in the playoffs? April 2003! What happened last night? A 5-0 drubbing!
“How many Stanley Cups has Ron Wilson won? None! Nada! Nil! Nothing! Never! Will Ron Wilson ever win a Cup? No! Nada! Nil! Never! Not going to happen.
“Everyone in this sad sack, futile joke of a pathetic facsimile of an NHL team must be fired! From top to bottom!
“Its 45 years and counting.”
I wonder how many other Leafs fans are feeling that eighth-place pinch. With 26 games remaining, the Leafs are just a point ahead of the ninth-place Washington Capitals and only four ahead of the 10th place Winnipeg Jets. Just like my buddy Fort Rouge Ted, there are probably a lot of Leafs fans who would like to see general manager Brian Burke make some moves (assuming that unlike Teddy, they don’t want everyone fired).
We are now two weeks away from the NHL trade deadline and if anything is going to happen this year – remember, not much happened last year – it will start happening this week.
Our pal Les Binkley
Last week, we were in Tampa sitting with a handful of scouts and player personnel experts, among them Les Binkley, Scotty Bowman and Barry Smith. We discussed with all of them what teams are after and what they might do at the deadline.
We’ve also assembled all the rumors and reports and brought all of our intelligence together to bring you “30 Teams At the Deadline.”
From what we know, deadline day might not be any fun for Teddy and the Leafs fans.
Anaheim Ducks: GM Bob Murray has said for a few months that he’s prepared to trade his top players. In fact, Murray said that every player on his team except Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu were available. Right. Available for what? Murray would be happy to trade the Ducks to Boston in exchange for the Bruins, but Murray’s remarks were really just a psychological ploy to make his good team play like a good team. Sure, the Ducks will trade Bobby Ryan or Ryan Getzlaf, but the team that wants to make the deal will have to part with far too much to acquire them. Although, you might be able to get veteran defenseman Lubomir Vishnovsky or veteran forwards Jason Blake or Nicklas Hagman in exchange for a prospect.
Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli
Boston Bruins: GM Peter Chiarelli has told the Boston Globe that if there are any “game-changing” players available this year, the price will be too high for anyone to take a chance on. “Too many teams are still in the playoff hunt,” Chairelli said. “The asking price for the players who could help you are very high and I wonder sometimes if the talent pool is starting to thin out. I think we here in Boston and around the league are more interested in re-signing out free agents instead of trading them.” Regardless, Boston could add $16 million in salaries at the deadline so they could still be buyers. If Chiraelli gets the right deal.
Buffalo Sabres: The disappointing Sabres are expected to be sellers at the deadline. In fact, GM Darcy Regier is looking to dump any number of contracts. Defenseman Robin Regehr, centre Paul Gaustad, centre Derek Roy, rightwinger Brad Boyes and leftwinger Jochen Hecht are all on the block. The Sabres are 24-25-6 and eight points out of the final playoff spot in the East. If good things don’t happen in a hurry, expect Buffalo to unload as many veterans as it can.
With Iginla, there are always rumors.
Calgary Flames: Veteran defensemen Scott Hannan and Cory Sarich are apparently on the block and at this time of the year Jarome Iginla is always mentioned in fantasy blockbusters. Iginla told the Calgary Sun he now ignores all the trade rumors, as he should. According to Bryn Griffiths of the FAN 960: “I’m not sure if there’s a stomach to trade away any of their younger guys for a one time shot. That’s the danger of being ‘seduced’ by a playoff run at trade deadline time. I can’t see them dealing any of the really big guys, but perhaps they may part with veteran blue liners Hannan or Sarich to a team needing some defensive depth in exchange for more future picks.” I agree with Bryn.
Carolina Hurricanes: Our scouts tell us that Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford is shopping around all of his unrestricted free agents: C Tuomo Ruutu, D Bryan Allen, D Jaroslav Spacek and D Tim Gleason. Rutherford knows he has a team that is big, but brutally slow. He needs to get rid of some veterans and acquire some fresh legs and a new attitude.
Do the Hawks Really Want Johnny Oduya?
Chicago Blackhawks: No matter whom you speak to, when it comes to the Hawks everyone says the same thing: “The Hawks are looking for a defenseman.” Stan Bowman has allegedly scouted Johnny Oduya, Mark Eaton, Hal Gill, Steve Staios, Jaroslav Spacek and Bryan Allen. There have also been discussions with Dallas about Sheldon Souray, the Wild about Marek Zidlicky and with Nashville about Jonathan Blum. If any of that comes to fruition just say you read it here first. The Hawks have also shown some interest in Buffalo centre Derek Roy, but that seems to be all smoke and no fire.
Colorado Avalanche: The Avalanche will probably be a buyer at the deadline. They are pleased with their maturing team and figure they still have a shot at the post-season. And why not? As of this morning, they were just two points behind Phoenix in the race for eighth in the West. There has been some talk of moving defenseman Shane O’Brien, but I wouldn’t expect much else. This is a team that believes that if it can get Paul Stastny and Ryan O’Reilly going, it can make the playoffs.
Columbus Blue Jackets: This is the worst team in the NHL and they will be sellers. They would love to move Jeff Carter right now and many of our scouts thought it was time to ask Rick Nash to waive his no-trade clause. This is a horrible that obviously would be last, we or without Nash. The Jackets would also like to move Antoine Vermette, the former Senators blue-chipper who has done nothing in Columbus, and veteran R.J. Umberger. Amazingly, there were reports out of Columbus that veteran Vinny Prospal was available, but the Blue Jackets turned around and gave him a new deal with a no-trade clause. Huh?
Mike Ribeiro
Dallas Stars: The Stars have apparently been shopping Mike Ribeiro, but it seems the asking price is a tad high for most GMs. Ribeiro is playing on a line with Jamie Benn and most scouts agree that if the Stars could make a deal for a proven playmaker, they might have a powerful top line. It’s unlikely the Stars will be buyers at the deadline although some experts believe that if they win five or six games over the next couple of weeks, they could change their minds. A couple of our scouts had heard that Nicklas Grossman is on the block, as well.
Detroit Red Wings: Amazingly, the No. 1 team in the NHL has $24 million in cap space. Ken Holland is a tremendous GM and he can do whatever he feels he needs to do to improve at the deadline. The Wings have made big moves before. There is always a chance, Holland will go after a veteran he feels can fit into the Wings culture and help the team down the stretch.
Edmonton Oilers: The Oilers are no longer interested in unloading the red-hot Sam Gagner, but they would like to deal veterans Ryan Smyth, Ales Hemsky and Andy Sutton. GM Steve Tambellini loves his young players, but it sounds like he’s definitely in the mood to move some veterans.
Florida Panthers: The Panthers are looking for a defenseman to fill the void left by the injury to Ed Jovanovski. There were some rumors that Kris Versteeg might be on the block, but with Florida starting to run away with the Southeast Division title, I doubt that’s going to happen.
Dustin Penner
Los Angeles Kings: The Kings are going with Jonathan Quick in goal and would be ready to move backup Jonathan Bernier for the right price. The Kings would absolutely love to trade LW Dustin Penner, but who would take a $4.5 million player with five goals?
Minnesota Wild: The Wild are still only four points out of a playoff spot although they have four teams to jump over and they have more than $10 million in cap space available. They’ll be looking to add scoring and they do have a top-notch goaltender to trade (Josh Harding). This is a team that has been without Guillaume Latendresse and Pierre-Marc Bouchard for much of the season and they do need to replace them if they can. They have some cap room and if they can move Harding for a scorer, they will consider it a successful trade deadline fortnight. The Wild have inquired about Carolina’s Tuomo Ruutu.
Montreal Canadiens: If the Habs can trade Hal Gill, they will. And as odd as this sounds, don’t be surprised if they try to become “more French.” If a Quebecois player becomes available, they might make a move. That nasty battle they’ve had over interim head coach Randy Cunneyworth’s inability to speak French has hurt the Canadiens brass and they’re ready to deal for maybe P.A. Parenteau or Antoine Vermette. There is some interest in Habs forward Travis Moen and GM Pierre Gauthier would love to unload Scott Gomez. Andrei Kostitsyn and Chris Campoli could also be acquired for the right price.
Alexander Radulov
Nashville Predators: The Predators have never been big movers at any time – trade deadline or draft time – unless they have unrestricted free agents to move out. They build a contending team and when guys get around to free agency, they seldom even try to pay the big bucks. Ryan Suter is coming up on UFA, and there has been talk the Preds could use one of the game’s best — but soon to be most expensive defensemen –, to get them a Top 6 forward and a gritty defenseman. They also have the rights to gifted Russian forward Alexander Radulov and defenseman Jonathan Blum to use as trade bait. The Predators will be happy to stand pat and wait until the draft to either make a deal with Suter or deal him, but something could happen with GM David Poile over the next two weeks. I wouldn’t expect Suter to go anywhere.
New Jersey Devils: There has been a lot of talk about the Devils desire to move Zach Parise but Lou Lamoriello told two of our scouts that he will not trade Parise and instead would like to re-sign him. As New Jersey stays in the playoff hunt, there is less reason for Lamoriello to do anything at the deadline.
Islanders GM Rick Dipietro
New York Islanders: Lots of talk about moving P.A. Parenteau, but GM Rick DiPietro says he’s not in any hurry to make any changes. There have also been rumors swirling around goalie Evgeni Nabokov, but DiPietro says he has no desire to move the veteran goaltender.
New York Rangers: GM Glen Sather is always prepared to make his team better, but right now the Rangers are the best team in the East and there appears to be no reason for Sather to panic. He might think about Ryan Smyth, a classy veteran who always plays hard and if he can acquire a veteran defenseman with no baggage, he might consider it, but I doubt even Sather would do anything to mess up a very good thing. The Rangers are first in the East and don’t have a lot of room under the cap. Why fool with it?
Ottawa Senators: Sens GM Bryan Murray told the Ottawa Sun: “We’ll see if there’s anything that makes sense, but in all likelihood it’s status quo at the moment, anyway.” There is very little chance the Sens will significantly change a team that has responded well to rookie head coach Paul MacLean.
Philadelphia Flyers: The Flyers are like a lot of teams. They would like to add some depth up front and would very much like to find a veteran defenseman to replace Chris Pronger, but they are also realistic enough to know that salary caps and high prices tend to interfere with what you want. There has been talk of Jeff Carter heading back to Philadelphia but the Flyers salary cap situation won’t likely allow that. Philadelphia made a lot of noise in the off-season and if they’re going to make noise again, it will likely be at the draft, not the trade deadline.
Ray Whitney
Phoenix Coyotes: The Coyotes would love to move Ray Whitney, but he has a restricted no-trade clause. Remember, the league owns the Coyotes and the league wants the team in the post-season (only chance they’ll have to cut their rather significant financial losses). They will do what can be done at the deadline. They made some big moves last year and there is little doubt they’ll do it again if the league feels it will get the Coyotes into the playoffs.
Pittsburgh Penguins: The Penguins have shown some interest in Hal Gill of the Canadiens and Dominic Moore of the Tampa Bay Lightning, but they either can’t cut a deal or neither of those teams really has all that much interest in trading their players. The Penguins are a very good team that knows it can’t replace Sidney Crosby. If Crosby comes back, they won’t be involved in an important trade.
Antero Niittymaki
San Jose Sharks: The Sharks could move goalie Antero Nittymaki if they can get “a third-line energy guy” according to reports from the West Coast. Sharks GM Doug Wilson told the San Jose Mercury News, “We look every day for ways to improve this hockey team.” Apparently, he’s looking for a scorer because Martin Havlat will be out of the lineup until at least early March. Other than that, don’t expect much from a Sharks team that will likely be the third seed in the West.
St. Louis Blues: The Blues need a No. 1 centre. With Andy McDonald (McDonald returned Sunday night) and Alex Steen out of the lineup, the Blues will make s serious attempt to find a forward who can score. The Blues have lots of cap room but they aren’t likely to trade away a high draft pick. Some scouts have thought that the Blues might be looking for a defenseman, but they have six with Kent Huskins in reserve, although our scouts believe they have an interest in Hal Gill and Winnipeg’s Johnny Oduya. The Jets have been scouting Blues games recently.
Dominic Moore
Tampa Bay Lightning: The Lightning are apparently prepared to deal. Dominic Moore is said to be on the block and so too is the injured Ryan Malone. Veteran defenseman Pavel Kubina has a limited no-trade clause, but would probably submit a five-team list, if he were asked. Most of our scouts believed the Lightning would be sellers at the deadline. However, all agreed that if they can acquire a legitimate big-time goalie, they’d package up a bunch of players to get him.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Unless something miraculous happens, the Leafs aren’t going to do anything, at least nothing of significance. Burke has told the Toronto media that it’s quiet on the trade front and that’s to be expected in a salary-capped NHL. The Leafs would love to find another scorer, but Burke won’t break up a team that he’s admitted he likes unless he gets an incredible deal – like Ryan Getzlaf or Corey Perry for a prospect. And that isn’t going to happen. Burke told USA Today, “Prices are inflated and there is only Stanley Cup parade at the end of the season. The trade deadline is a pit of quicksand.”
Cory Schneider
Vancouver Canucks: How much more talk can there be about trading goalie Cory Schneider? And how can there be a dumber thing to do at this stage? The Canucks might want to move their hot young backup, but why do anything until the off-season. The Canucks can make a decision at the draft to trade Schneider or keep the younger goalie and move Roberto Luongo. Our scouts couldn’t believe the Canucks would even consider dealing Schneider now. They think he’ll be a useful goaltender in the playoffs.
Washington Capitals: All the talk is about Mike Knuble. Ever since he was a healthy scratch last Thursday night against Winnipeg, there have been stories about Knuble heading to one place or another and the speculation has included talk of Tampa’s Dominic Moore, Carolina’s Tuomo Ruutu and the Islanders P.A. Parenteau. If the Caps want to get any of those three players, they’d better be prepared to trade more than Mike Knuble.
Trade Dustin Byfuglien? They wouldn't dare.
Winnipeg Jets: The Jets are desperate for a goal scorer and they have plenty of cap room to fool around with. They are also making loads of money (13th in the NHL at $1.24 million per game in revenues) and have some prospects and overpaid veterans to trade. There are some fans who have been screaming for the Jets to trade defenseman Dustin Byfuglien, but I doubt that’s anywhere on the team’s radar. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has said he is going to be patient and develop the talent that he already has, so it remains to be seen if the Jets will be buyers or sellers over the next couple of weeks. If they stay in the playoff hunt, I’ll predict they try to find a top six forward who can score. They might not be successful, but they will make an effort to improve up front. Oh yeah, and the Jets also have seven potential unrestricted free agents on the roster.
(We’ll revisit our list on Trade Deadline Day)
