The Trade deadline!
There is nothing like this time of year
The trade speculation that goes full circle is nonstop entertainment!
It kills me at the deadline when hockey people criticize NHL General Managers.
“Why didn’t they trade for this guy, or make a deal with that team?”
How do you know they didn’t try?
Or better yet, how do know a certain club is even interested in acquiring the player being shopped around?
The bottom line is you don’t.
In most cases, people have no idea what is being offered.
Every GM is entertaining offers this time of year.
It would be pretty simple if a team got to pick which player to add to their roster. What if a team doesn’t want your player?
Making a deal can be complicated, especially when you’re dealing with a salary cap.
Any GM can look like a hero when you’re in a position to sell. You are in a position of strength from a selling perspective as opposed to buying.
It’s a hell of a lot easier to sell than to buy.
The problems GM’s are having, in terms of making deals, are the outrageous asking prices. Teams looking to move top four D-men are expecting top-six forwards in return and visa versa.
GM’s who manage clubs out of the playoff race are looking for more than just prospects or draft picks in return. If you are giving up a player that is going to help a team make a playoff run, you should expect a roster player in return. All that does is create another hole in the roster for a team.
In other words, all that is really being offered up right now are picks and prospects.
If you’re the St. Louis Blues for example and you’re shopping D-man Barret Jackman why shouldn’t you command a roster player in return?
I certainly would, especially when you are rich in prospects like the Blues are.
The Blues, who are three points out of the playoffs, need to decide what they want to do with Jackman if they are in the same situation next Tuesday.
Can they afford to allow Jackman to walk away for nothing this summer if they choose to hang on to him?
The Blues will not trade Jackman unless they get something they want in return. Good GM’s don’t make bad deals.
If you don’t get what you want you don’t make a deal.
They re-signed Jackman to a one year deal last summer to help the Blues get into the playoffs.
Jackman has been playing very well as of late and he certainly looked like a four million dollar player Tuesday night against Chicago.
I personally believe the Blues are waiting for Jackman to reduce his asking price and accept the offer on the table. It’s not like they want to lose him, but they have to make rational financial commitments.
Talks continue with both Jackman and Bryce Salvador. Salvador is waiting for the Blues to get back to him. Both sides have exchanged offers.
People shouldn’t look at age when comparing Jackman to Salvador. In today’s NHL it’s all about dollars. Age is not nearly as critical as it used to be. Salvador is a natural competitor and will be just as good as he is today three to four years down the road.
If the Blues were offering both players six year deals it would be a different story when comparing the age of both D-men.
One thing both John Davidson and Larry Pleau need to be careful of is not to play the cat and mouse game with both defensemen. Before you know it you’ll lose both guys.
The Blues can’t allow themselves to lose both Jackman and Salvador.
This happened to Buffalo last season and they ended up without both Daniel Briere and Chris Drury.
Rink Rats!
Anaheim wants to add a forward, there is a Sundin deal on the table to bring him to Anaheim. The Maple Leafs have communicated to Mats that they will definitely re-sign him this summer. As I wrote a few weeks ago, Bobby Ryan is the main piece going to Toronto in the deal. There is a rumor that Sundin has 24 hours to accept the deal. This is not true.
Detroit is going after a D-man. Teams are asking for Brett Lebda, Jiri Hudler, or Valtteri Filppula in return.
Speaking of Detroit, I don’t understand why the Red Wings got so excited about the Ian Lapierre hit on Lidstrom. Lapierre is about as honest as they come and it was a clean hit. The Red Wings responded they way they had to and you have to give credit to Lapierre for dropping the gloves with Aaron Downey. I’ve watched Kirk Maltby run around for years and never face the music. I gained respect for Detroit when they went out and signed good guys like Downey and Dallas Drake. This is the reason they were brought on board.
Good luck to Toronto as they continue to try to move Andrew Raycroft. His $2.2 million price tag has other GM’s laughing.
At the GM meetings the topic of rental players re-signing with their original club was brought up and no GM's expressed having any problem with it. If you have an issue with it then don't go after rental players!
Blues Clues!
Erik Johnson played like a man on Tuesday. Eventually Blues fans will see him create chances off his rushes. His escape ability is top notch and comfort zone has really grown. It was refreshing to see Andy Murray go out of his way and acknowledge his play in a positive way.
What would have happened if the Blues lost 2-1 to Chicago on Tuesday without David Perron? Murray would have had some serious explaining to do. It was a risky move by Murray that paid off. The coaches wanted a little more physicality in the lineup and the decision to sit Perron proved to be the right move.
Larry Pleau has returned from the GM meeting in Florida. He will meet with his committee and allow the next three games to dictate what approach the Blues take before the deadline.
Christian Backman is feeling close to 100% as he recovers from a cracked bone in his foot. He is no longer wearing a boot. Expect Backman to play on this trip.
D-man Jeff Woywitka has been reassigned to Peoria.
The Blues are looking to add a backup goalie before the deadline. Could be easier said than done.
More to come,
Andy Strickland
[email protected] 
St Louis Blues Blogger •1380 ESPN • 
Join the Discussion:
»