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So we are 48 hours from the Freeze....
Crazy rumors are everywhere today. It is always hard to know where to draw the line of course (you never know when a backup goalie is going to become your GM) but is also hard to make the call to the Flyers and ask them if they are "trading for Iginla or Kipper."
They aren't.
Then there are the Price rumors.
Pierre Gauthier has stated he is not moving either goalie...which is true. For now.
Remember Rule #4 from Hockey Rumors 101: Every denial has a shelf life and an expiration date. Nothing is permanent. And the closer you get to the deadline the quicker the milk goes bad. If someone says they aren't trading a player a month ago, you are probably safe to accept that as fact for 3-5 days. If someone says the same thing today, 48 hours from the trade freeze deadline...12-24 hours.
The Trade Freeze is also a fascinating twist. Teams will try to get things done between now and Friday at 3pm, but they don't "have" to get it done by then. So there is a dynamic to it all.
That being said, there are definitely teams who want to get their business in order.
I am talking to a major source in 30 minutes and will be able to fill you in on the latest after that...but here are some Quick Hits to tie you over and clues as to what I am chasing.
*Ray Whitney I believe is the most likely to get done between now and Friday.
*There are some definite new twists here following the Lehtonen deal.
*The Rangers are considering multiple options at this hour. One of which is quite large.
*The Devils are going to replace the loss of Oduya. And likely in the next 48.
*The Sharks are looking for character guys and I am looking into a rumor former sharks Owen Nolan and Teemu Selanne are on their radar.
*The Leafs still have "3-5" deals in their pockets..one of which could get done as early as tomorrow.
*In Montreal there is a huge amount of speculation that "the big deal" is coming post Olympics. As one source told me when discussing Gainey, "There is a fine line between putting your foot down and stepping down." We were talking about how while it is obvious Gainey was burnt out, the timing, this close to the deadline has led to all sorts of people believing the owners wanted to do something that Gainey was opposed to doing. Of course everyone is throwing out speculation...could be a Lecavalier trade, could be moving a goalie, could be extending Plekanec, etc. My source at 3:30 is very aware of the inner workings in Montreal.
*Rumor is the Flyers talks with Calgary have intensified. One source informed me Ville Leino was brought in to bolster scoring and play with Briere and Carter, yet he is a healthy scratch. This implies another deal is definitely pending.
*Whispers the Senators and Lightning are starting to work up proposals for Lecavalier. They may be off-season proposals however, as at this point Tampa is standing pat.
*The Islanders and Sabres are battling over a "top 6 guy playing on a team out west that is in rebuilding mode." Yet to get anything else there.
more to come...
You definitely want to follow me on twitter this afternoon as I announce a new feature...
HERE
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