I'll use this post to add my thoughts to trades that pique my interest throughout the day. I'll update it as we move along.
- Might as well start with the Prospal deal. Flyers get Vaclav from the Lightning and sends young defenseman Picard and a 2nd rounder the other way. This may put a dampener on my Huselius to Phildelphia predictions, although with the recent injury to Mike Richards, Philly may be looking to add more than one top 6 forward.
Seems like a relatively cheap price for a decent rental like Prospal, although I admittedly don't know much about Picard - maybe he's a blue chipper (though I doubt it). If that's the going rate for guys like Juice, then I doubt Sutter deals him. On the other hand, the demand for Huselius (and therefore price) may go up now that the available pool of guys has shrunk (Sundin, Prospal, Forsberg, Hunter off the market). I guess we'll see.
- Belak to Florida!! Wait...why the hell would anyone trade anything for Wade Belak?? I suppose in his quest to make the post-season, Martin wants his team to get...older, slower, less capable at just about everything, more expensive and just a tad uglier. Personally, I'd rather have the 5th rounder.
- Seems Brian Campbell is off To San Jose. Not sure on the return yet. That certainly makes the Sharks a bit better in the short term. If I were to guess on the package heading the other way, Im thinking one or both of Carle and Bernier.
EDIT - Bernier and a first rounder for Campbell. That seems like a pretty steep price to me. Great deal for Regier who wasn't going to be able to re-sign Soupy anyways.
- Word is Dallas has won the Brad Richards sweepstakes. Still some question of the return and IF he'll waive his NTC. Assuming he does and depending on what they get back, this could be a big win for the Lightning. I'm sure Smith is part of the package, which gives them an instant upgrade in net going forward. As for Dallas...they get better in the short-term, but having more than 12M locked up in Riberio and Richards seems like a pretty shaky strategy in the long run.
EDIT - Holmqvist and Richards for Smith, Jokinen and Halpern, apparently. Holmqvist is UFA next year, so no salary issues there. Halpern and Jokinen probably don't replace Richards, but Smith should certainly make a difference for the Bolts. The best news for Tamba-Bay is that Jokinen (1.8) Halpern (2.0M) and Smith (900K) are still drastically cheaper than the 7M+ Richards.
- In the "fuck me over in my pool" deal of the day, Huet has been moved by Montreal to Washington for a paltry 2nd round draft pick (I have him on 2 fantasy teams). Pretty baffling move by Gainey, whose team now looks poised to head into the play-offs with a 20 year-old goaltender. Price has looked good at time and awful at time this season. Patrick Roy he ain't. I guess the Habs wanted to get something for Huet before he bolted for free agency in the summer...but still seems like a bad bet to me.
As for Washington, great deal for them. One of their glaring weaknesses has been goaltending this year as Kolzig has been awful. I think Huet might just be their ticket to the post-season. Hopefully he plays all the games going forward and gets lots and lots of shut-outs.
- Tuomo Ruutu to Carolina for Andrew Ladd. Strange deal for both clubs, seems like shuffling deck chairs. Sadly, I was hoping Ruutu might make his way to Calgary as per a Matt suggestion earlier in the week. Oh well.
- Lots of good blogs covering the action today including Battle of Alberta, James Mirtle and the always great Jay Onrait at TSN. Check out Inside the Flames as well - not only for Flames news, but for clever little bon mots like this one:
Predictions for the Flames? One of the two extra defencemen — either Anders Eriksson or Rhett Warrener — goes and a forward to bolster the third line comes. Since we're just making this stuff up anyway, let's say Tampa Bay's Chris Gratton. Score the rumour a (bs4).
- 12:43 - Campbell on camera post-trade reax: He is really choked up about leaving Buffalo. Has anyone been this sad about leaving B-Town? Ever? In the history of the planet?
More Jay Onrait and less...everyone else...would instantly improve TSN.
- Foote to the Avs. Jesus, Colorado is really set on making a push. They've acquired Forsberg, Salei and Foote in 2 days. Goaltending is still a question mark there...but with the return of all these guys plus Sakic and Statsny off the IR, one has to think this is a much improved squad.
EDIT - first rounder going to Columbus in return. Ugh, steep price.
- Sergei Federov joins Alexander Ovechkin in Washington. Columbus is in sell mode and have liquidated a couple of pending UFA's for picks. Probably the smart move. Washington is going for the post-season and I'm honestly cheering for them to get there (even though I picked them to finish last in the East).
- Capitals make their 3rd deal of the day and grab Matt Cooke from the Canucks for Matt Pettinger. My thoughts? Good riddance Cooke, you filthy, cheap-shotting douchebag (feel free to add "cheap-shotting" to your personal lexicon).
- Hall Gill for a 2nd rounder? Really?
- The Blockbuster of the day: Hossa for Christensen, Armstrong, Esposito and a first. Penguins look scary in the short term, bu that might end up biting them in the ass later on.
- Sutter on the radio now. Looks like the Flames are standing pat. Not too disappointed, though I really would have liked to see some useless salary go out the door a la Hall Gill or Wade Belak.
