Monday, February 26, 2007
The Storm Has Begun. Edited 2:50 PST
Well it seemed like everything started to get moving along on Saturday. A lot happened over this weekend so here we go.
Blues resign Manny Legace to a two-year contract and Eric Brewer to a four-year contract.
Huge resigning for the Blues as both men are pivotal to the team. Legace will give them solid goal tending for the next two years and Brewer will give them that same support on defense. Also this gives time for Erik Johnson to leave Minnesota(Most likely after his sophomore year) and be taught by Eric Brewer on defense. This will give Andy Murray the starting point to build the team. Brewer wanted to stay in St. Louis and it is great that he was able to stay with the Blues. Brewer, Jay Mckee, and Barrett Jackman will be the leaders on that team on the point to mentor guys like Johnson, Dennis Wideman, and Jeff Woywitka. Setting up the foundation for St. Louis' next playoff team.
The team which has been in one of the biggest free falls which has caused drastic moves are the Atlanta Thrashers. They made a couple of moves, one on Saturday and one on Sunday.
Philadelphia trades Alex Zhitnik to Atlanta for Braydon Coburn.
Another interesting deal for both sides. Zhitnik is a proven NHL defense man who so wanted out of Buffalo he left right when they were getting to their peak. This is his 3rd team this year after being traded from the Islanders to the Flyers and now to the Thrashers. Zhitnik will help the defense which is not as strong as they would have liked it to be. Then again come playoff time defense man are in short supply so every one you have will help in the long run. The cost of Zhitnik was not cheap as the Thrashers gave up former first round pick Braydon Coburn. Coburn was considered a part of the big three in the 2003 draft. Although he has not developed like the other two, Phaneuf and Suter, he is still a great defensive prospect. He is still only 21-years-old and there is a very good chance he'll get a lot of playing time with the Flyers. They Flyers through trades are starting to build an amazing blue line filled with talent. As long as they keep Joni Pitkanen and Alex Picard they will in two years also have Coburn and Parent on the defensive line. Great trade for the Flyers.
Thrashers acquire Keith Tkachuk from the St. Louis Blues for Glen Metropolit, 1st Round Pick in 07, 3rd Round Pick in 07, 2nd Round pick in 08, and a conditional 1st Round Pick in 08 if Tkachuk resigns with Atlanta.
Wow talk about a great payment for the Blues. Not only did the gain a good role player in Metropolit they got three high draft picks and quite possibly another 1st round pick. I was shocked when I saw the payout for this deal. I thought Tkachuk was going to demand a premium but he got that and more. St. Louis will do this deal any day of the week as they probably could not believe what happened down there. For Atlanta this is a make or break deal. With Tkachuk they are now expected to make the playoffs. If they do not make the playoffs consider this the swan song for General Manger Don Waddell as I cannot see him making it past the Draft in June. I would not be surprised if Bob Hartley is next on that list to be fired as well as the Thrashers are a playoff team but they have under achieved every step of the way. Unless Tkachuk leads Atlanta deep into the playoffs do not expect him to stay with Atlanta. He would have to be a tremendous help for Atlanta which is already strapped for cap space to add Keith Tkachuk as well to that line up.
San Jose acquires Craig Rivet and a future 5th round pick to San Jose for Josh Gorges and a 1st Round Pick in 07
Rivet is a solid defense man who will help the Sharks line up by adding another veteran leader to the group in San Jose. They have a very good yet young defensive core in San Jose and Rivet will be added to Hannan and McLaren as the top three on the blue line. For Les Habs Gorges is a good, heavy hitting, defense man. He is still young and with some time could develop quite well in Montreal. The key for Montreal is to gain another 1st round pick. I believe that this 1st round pick is New Jersey's which San Jose acquired earlier this year. So now Montreal can use that pick if they decide to get another marquee player. Montreal is in that Grey area where they could be sellers or they could be buyers. Bob Gainey has to make that decision with in the next 24 hours. Tonight the Canadiens play the Maple Leafs so that could make the decision easier for Gainey.
Anaheim acquires Gerald Coleman and a 1st Round Pick from Tampa Bay for Shane O'Brien and a 3rd Round Pick in 07.
The key in this trade for Anaheim is the 1st Round Pick. Coleman will probably never make an impact in Anaheim so we can forget about him. Most likely Anaheim will package that 1st Round Pick to get a player at the deadline. Anaheim is really depleting their draft as if I recall they may not have a pick until the 4th Round and that is of course believe that they trade the 1st they acquired in this deal. Look for Anaheim to make one move and this pick to be in it. O'Brien is a strong young defense man. He may not help Tampa Bay this year but he could develop into a very good hard hitting player. He not only will hit but will drop the gloves. He did not get too much ice time because of the Randy Carlyle school of defense. That school is put Neidermayer and Beauchemin on the ice and when they can't go any more put Pronger and O'Donnell on the ice and we pray to god by the time they are done we can put Neidermayer and Beauchemin back out so we don't have to put out O'Brien and Huskins. Given a little more time O'Brien could turn into a pretty damn good player in the NHL.
Overall I think the most interesting thing is the absolute disregard for a 1st Round Pick. While some teams think that a 1st Round Pick is gold other teams are throwing them in any old deal. It would not surprise me by the end of the trade deadline and come draft time for a team like St. Louis to have three to four picks in the 1st Round and maybe even seven picks with in the top two rounds. I would not be surprised to see at least five more 1st Round Picks to be traded today and tomorrow.
I will be talking to Dave about Blogging and or Chatting tomorrow. We'll let you know.
UPDATE
Here are some stories that have broke or I disregarded in the morning.
Gary Roberts to Pittsburgh?
TSN.ca has had this as their leading story for a while today. Roberts has a No Trade Clause and cannot go unless he allows it. Well Florida has found a suitor in the Pittsburgh Penguins and according to the Globe and Mail the player returning to Florida would be Noah Welch. Would be in my mind a great pick up for the Panthers. I can imagine they are chomping at the bit for him to waive his No Trade Clause to pick up Welch. http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070226.wsptnhlrdp26/GSStory/GlobeSportsHockey/home
Islanders acquire Zednik from Washington for a 2nd Round Pick in 07
A good pick up for the Islanders who need to get a little more offense for a final push. Zednik will add immedate offense once when he gets to the Island. He had been hurt for most of the year and has only 18 points but he is still an effective player. Washington more importantly gains another draft pick. The second round pick will allow them to add another key prospect which will help them in a couple of years.
Hottest current rumor is Brian Smolinski will be traded to Vancouver from Chicago for the 2nd Round Pick. Eklund reported this one as close to done and then Sportsnet.ca reported it done. Then Sportsnet retracted that statement that it was not a done deal. Many people are now reporting the deal is close but not finalized. We'll see where this one leads.
SC
Blues resign Manny Legace to a two-year contract and Eric Brewer to a four-year contract.
Huge resigning for the Blues as both men are pivotal to the team. Legace will give them solid goal tending for the next two years and Brewer will give them that same support on defense. Also this gives time for Erik Johnson to leave Minnesota(Most likely after his sophomore year) and be taught by Eric Brewer on defense. This will give Andy Murray the starting point to build the team. Brewer wanted to stay in St. Louis and it is great that he was able to stay with the Blues. Brewer, Jay Mckee, and Barrett Jackman will be the leaders on that team on the point to mentor guys like Johnson, Dennis Wideman, and Jeff Woywitka. Setting up the foundation for St. Louis' next playoff team.
The team which has been in one of the biggest free falls which has caused drastic moves are the Atlanta Thrashers. They made a couple of moves, one on Saturday and one on Sunday.
Philadelphia trades Alex Zhitnik to Atlanta for Braydon Coburn.
Another interesting deal for both sides. Zhitnik is a proven NHL defense man who so wanted out of Buffalo he left right when they were getting to their peak. This is his 3rd team this year after being traded from the Islanders to the Flyers and now to the Thrashers. Zhitnik will help the defense which is not as strong as they would have liked it to be. Then again come playoff time defense man are in short supply so every one you have will help in the long run. The cost of Zhitnik was not cheap as the Thrashers gave up former first round pick Braydon Coburn. Coburn was considered a part of the big three in the 2003 draft. Although he has not developed like the other two, Phaneuf and Suter, he is still a great defensive prospect. He is still only 21-years-old and there is a very good chance he'll get a lot of playing time with the Flyers. They Flyers through trades are starting to build an amazing blue line filled with talent. As long as they keep Joni Pitkanen and Alex Picard they will in two years also have Coburn and Parent on the defensive line. Great trade for the Flyers.
Thrashers acquire Keith Tkachuk from the St. Louis Blues for Glen Metropolit, 1st Round Pick in 07, 3rd Round Pick in 07, 2nd Round pick in 08, and a conditional 1st Round Pick in 08 if Tkachuk resigns with Atlanta.
Wow talk about a great payment for the Blues. Not only did the gain a good role player in Metropolit they got three high draft picks and quite possibly another 1st round pick. I was shocked when I saw the payout for this deal. I thought Tkachuk was going to demand a premium but he got that and more. St. Louis will do this deal any day of the week as they probably could not believe what happened down there. For Atlanta this is a make or break deal. With Tkachuk they are now expected to make the playoffs. If they do not make the playoffs consider this the swan song for General Manger Don Waddell as I cannot see him making it past the Draft in June. I would not be surprised if Bob Hartley is next on that list to be fired as well as the Thrashers are a playoff team but they have under achieved every step of the way. Unless Tkachuk leads Atlanta deep into the playoffs do not expect him to stay with Atlanta. He would have to be a tremendous help for Atlanta which is already strapped for cap space to add Keith Tkachuk as well to that line up.
San Jose acquires Craig Rivet and a future 5th round pick to San Jose for Josh Gorges and a 1st Round Pick in 07
Rivet is a solid defense man who will help the Sharks line up by adding another veteran leader to the group in San Jose. They have a very good yet young defensive core in San Jose and Rivet will be added to Hannan and McLaren as the top three on the blue line. For Les Habs Gorges is a good, heavy hitting, defense man. He is still young and with some time could develop quite well in Montreal. The key for Montreal is to gain another 1st round pick. I believe that this 1st round pick is New Jersey's which San Jose acquired earlier this year. So now Montreal can use that pick if they decide to get another marquee player. Montreal is in that Grey area where they could be sellers or they could be buyers. Bob Gainey has to make that decision with in the next 24 hours. Tonight the Canadiens play the Maple Leafs so that could make the decision easier for Gainey.
Anaheim acquires Gerald Coleman and a 1st Round Pick from Tampa Bay for Shane O'Brien and a 3rd Round Pick in 07.
The key in this trade for Anaheim is the 1st Round Pick. Coleman will probably never make an impact in Anaheim so we can forget about him. Most likely Anaheim will package that 1st Round Pick to get a player at the deadline. Anaheim is really depleting their draft as if I recall they may not have a pick until the 4th Round and that is of course believe that they trade the 1st they acquired in this deal. Look for Anaheim to make one move and this pick to be in it. O'Brien is a strong young defense man. He may not help Tampa Bay this year but he could develop into a very good hard hitting player. He not only will hit but will drop the gloves. He did not get too much ice time because of the Randy Carlyle school of defense. That school is put Neidermayer and Beauchemin on the ice and when they can't go any more put Pronger and O'Donnell on the ice and we pray to god by the time they are done we can put Neidermayer and Beauchemin back out so we don't have to put out O'Brien and Huskins. Given a little more time O'Brien could turn into a pretty damn good player in the NHL.
Overall I think the most interesting thing is the absolute disregard for a 1st Round Pick. While some teams think that a 1st Round Pick is gold other teams are throwing them in any old deal. It would not surprise me by the end of the trade deadline and come draft time for a team like St. Louis to have three to four picks in the 1st Round and maybe even seven picks with in the top two rounds. I would not be surprised to see at least five more 1st Round Picks to be traded today and tomorrow.
I will be talking to Dave about Blogging and or Chatting tomorrow. We'll let you know.
UPDATE
Here are some stories that have broke or I disregarded in the morning.
Gary Roberts to Pittsburgh?
TSN.ca has had this as their leading story for a while today. Roberts has a No Trade Clause and cannot go unless he allows it. Well Florida has found a suitor in the Pittsburgh Penguins and according to the Globe and Mail the player returning to Florida would be Noah Welch. Would be in my mind a great pick up for the Panthers. I can imagine they are chomping at the bit for him to waive his No Trade Clause to pick up Welch. http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070226.wsptnhlrdp26/GSStory/GlobeSportsHockey/home
Islanders acquire Zednik from Washington for a 2nd Round Pick in 07
A good pick up for the Islanders who need to get a little more offense for a final push. Zednik will add immedate offense once when he gets to the Island. He had been hurt for most of the year and has only 18 points but he is still an effective player. Washington more importantly gains another draft pick. The second round pick will allow them to add another key prospect which will help them in a couple of years.
Hottest current rumor is Brian Smolinski will be traded to Vancouver from Chicago for the 2nd Round Pick. Eklund reported this one as close to done and then Sportsnet.ca reported it done. Then Sportsnet retracted that statement that it was not a done deal. Many people are now reporting the deal is close but not finalized. We'll see where this one leads.
SC
