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It is one thing to blog about someone else's blog about trade rumors. It is another thing to put something on the internet so without actual knowledge of where I got the rumor it is embarrassing. (just kidding)
There is a blog (from a writer I respect a great deal) that implies that I fabricated the rumor that the Lightning are looking at Khabibulin. He goes on to say that logically it doesn't make sense. He states that St. Louis is "one of the best, if not THE best player in the league right now." Wait a sec. I love Martin (Go VERMONT!) but to say he is possibly "the best" player in the league right now....well, I wouldn't say that. And Brad Richards, who is also a big-time clutch player, is having a tough year so far. Is he a leader? Yes he is. Is he a great faceoff man? sure he is.
Listen, I love both of these players. They are top line guys no two ways about it. They are usually all-stars. No doubt.
But if there is one thing that people are missing here is the fact that prior to the lockout many people saw the Lightning as "The Team of the Future." They had it all and won the cup with a young and vibrant team. Had we played hockey the next season, I believe the Lightning would have been pretty much unstoppable. They were killed by the lockout.
When we returned they had a decision to make...they chose to let Khabibulin walk and kept the big three. It was a tough call, but they believed they could continue to outscore the rest of the NHL and that their goaltending would be good enough.
Well, last year it wasn't. In fact, and I will say this as well, I have been told by sources on both sides, there was (as I reported) serious talks regarding getting Khabibulin back at last year's deadline. Prior to the deadline, the Lightning went hard after Rolosen and regretted not pulling the trigger there I would imagine.
At the end of the day it was goaltending that killed them in the playoffs. Who can forget how they played so tentatively in front of both goalies in the Ottawa series. A goaltender can make everyone play better.
I am not going to sit here and say that I agree with this trade, but I think you can't put a price on the emotional lift that Khabibulin could bring to that team right now.
I did write, and I will continue to say this isn't a one-for one deal. In fact I have heard the Cullimore could be involved, and that a young prospect from Chicago as well could be involved as well as Marc Denis.
Will this trade happen? I have ABSOLUTELY no idea, but it does make some sense from both sides. In Chicago, OFFENSIVE DEPTH is killing the Hawks. Healthy they can play with anyone, but a few injuries and they are terrible. In Tampa, they still can't get the goaltending needed to put them back as a serious competitor. Vinny, who IS one of the best players this year, has been impressive and guys like Prospal and Fedotenko could benefit from more playing time.
Again, I wouldn't do it, but it is not "Ridiculous" and even if it was ridiculous don't I have a responsibility to report it if it is a rumor. This comes from three sources that are with these teams, and two other media sources who later confirmed it to me.
I will never forget the call I got from our own Kevin Lee this past summer (Kevin will be back on the Sens beat with another Sens guy shortly). He told me that Garth Snow was the new GM of the Islanders according to his sources. I said, "How can I report that the backup goalie is now the GM? If that doesn't happen it would be suicide. Can you imagine?" I asked.
Kevin was steadfast, and I sat and read 30 minutes later on TSN that Garth Snow was the new GM in NY.
So I have decided to never again edit based on what I deem to be "ridiculous."
After all, Garth has turned out to be a fine GM so far, so what do I know anyway?
There is a blog (from a writer I respect a great deal) that implies that I fabricated the rumor that the Lightning are looking at Khabibulin. He goes on to say that logically it doesn't make sense. He states that St. Louis is "one of the best, if not THE best player in the league right now." Wait a sec. I love Martin (Go VERMONT!) but to say he is possibly "the best" player in the league right now....well, I wouldn't say that. And Brad Richards, who is also a big-time clutch player, is having a tough year so far. Is he a leader? Yes he is. Is he a great faceoff man? sure he is.
Listen, I love both of these players. They are top line guys no two ways about it. They are usually all-stars. No doubt.
But if there is one thing that people are missing here is the fact that prior to the lockout many people saw the Lightning as "The Team of the Future." They had it all and won the cup with a young and vibrant team. Had we played hockey the next season, I believe the Lightning would have been pretty much unstoppable. They were killed by the lockout.
When we returned they had a decision to make...they chose to let Khabibulin walk and kept the big three. It was a tough call, but they believed they could continue to outscore the rest of the NHL and that their goaltending would be good enough.
Well, last year it wasn't. In fact, and I will say this as well, I have been told by sources on both sides, there was (as I reported) serious talks regarding getting Khabibulin back at last year's deadline. Prior to the deadline, the Lightning went hard after Rolosen and regretted not pulling the trigger there I would imagine.
At the end of the day it was goaltending that killed them in the playoffs. Who can forget how they played so tentatively in front of both goalies in the Ottawa series. A goaltender can make everyone play better.
I am not going to sit here and say that I agree with this trade, but I think you can't put a price on the emotional lift that Khabibulin could bring to that team right now.
I did write, and I will continue to say this isn't a one-for one deal. In fact I have heard the Cullimore could be involved, and that a young prospect from Chicago as well could be involved as well as Marc Denis.
Will this trade happen? I have ABSOLUTELY no idea, but it does make some sense from both sides. In Chicago, OFFENSIVE DEPTH is killing the Hawks. Healthy they can play with anyone, but a few injuries and they are terrible. In Tampa, they still can't get the goaltending needed to put them back as a serious competitor. Vinny, who IS one of the best players this year, has been impressive and guys like Prospal and Fedotenko could benefit from more playing time.
Again, I wouldn't do it, but it is not "Ridiculous" and even if it was ridiculous don't I have a responsibility to report it if it is a rumor. This comes from three sources that are with these teams, and two other media sources who later confirmed it to me.
I will never forget the call I got from our own Kevin Lee this past summer (Kevin will be back on the Sens beat with another Sens guy shortly). He told me that Garth Snow was the new GM of the Islanders according to his sources. I said, "How can I report that the backup goalie is now the GM? If that doesn't happen it would be suicide. Can you imagine?" I asked.
Kevin was steadfast, and I sat and read 30 minutes later on TSN that Garth Snow was the new GM in NY.
So I have decided to never again edit based on what I deem to be "ridiculous."
After all, Garth has turned out to be a fine GM so far, so what do I know anyway?
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