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On Jokinen...
So here we sit. 60 minutes from gametime.
Darren Dreger is calling the trade between the Flames and Rangers "very much alive" and tweeted, "Could be finalized following Calgary's game with the Flyers."
I have been talking to many sources in Calgary today/tonight (even more than I would normally have since the Flames are hosting the Flyers this evening) and here's the latest.
I just talked to some Flyers people who were talking to trusted sources in Calgary and those sources expected the deal to get done "this morning/afternoon."
Of course the deal isn't done...but there are clues in everything...
The fact that the Flames expected the deal to get done this morning tells you they may not be the ones holding this up and if they were the ones they surely weren't acting like "the stumbling block" was a big deal.
Why I bring this up is I have a hard time imagining the Flames risking a Jokinen injury tonight. As much as the Flames need points, Jokinen has not exactly been helping that matter. I am reminded of Peter Forsberg in Philly. He took the pregame skate the night he was moved, but was then scratched before the game. It was done by the Flyers to get every last drop out of Nashville.
If Sather loves Jokinen like I am being told, this is a game of chicken....probably to see if Callahan can be had.
Kovalchuk:
The Rangers are talking to Atlanta about Kovalchuk, but so far the Rangers are insisting that Redden be a part of the deal. Atlanta is not biting.
The Kings and Thrashers are not getting closer to a deal either (as of 6pm tonight at least) The Thrashers are not getting a "key element" Waddell wants in the deal. The Kings are offering up the prospects, but not the player Waddell is looking for who could help the Thrashers this season to make a run.
While there are expected to be as many as 10 teams in on Kovalchuk this week (the Official Week of Kovalchuk I am told) it really comes down to the same few teams..
The Bruins (who are in need of a piece they could be getting from Edmonton still)
The Flyers (The Thrashers would want 2 of van Riemsdyk, Hartnell, Giroux... The Flyers would need the Thrashers or someone else to take more money off their hands likely Carle)
The Kings
The Rangers
and the Canucks (who are very much more likely to grab Whitney)
The Habs and Oilers...
Enter another team who has been in and out for a bit here...The Montreal Canadiens. The loss of Cammelleri, for what is being called 6-8 weeks, is VERY significant. I am told the Thrashers love Halak and would also have interest in several players on the Habs roster. It feels like a longshot still, but it is worth noting...The Cam injury has changed everything today in Montreal.
The Habs are also stepping up talks with Edmonton I was told. The target there is long believed to be Cogliano. However, it is worth noting more than one source has told me Gilbert Brule could be the Habs real target.
The Oilers don't want to move Brule, of course, but they also may really like the return.
On the Bruins...
Meanwhile, Boston is having discussions with Colorado about Svatos, St. Louis about Tkachuk, and Dallas about Modano.
Modano has said he wanted to retire a Star (who doesn't) but remember the Bruins are a tempting option here...more than Ottawa, who also has interest in Modano.
On the Sabres...
The Sabres have interest in Stepniak, and I am told by sources there is a "real possibility there. a great fit."
On the Islanders...
The Islanders are also talking to Dallas about Brunnstrom and Lehtinen.
Interested in the "Most Tradeable Players" and where they may be heading? To see more exact details and percentages constantly changing based on my conversations throughout the day visit
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