Travis and I are almost a third of the way through this little time killer we call "Trade Wars". Just to refresh your memories, we have managed to complete four deals thus far:
1. The Ottawa Senators offer F Zack Smith to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a 2015 first-round pick.
2. The Carolina Hurricanes offer F Tuomo Ruutu to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for D Zbnyek Michalek.
3. The Buffalo Sabres offer D Tyler Myers and F Drew Stafford to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for F PA Parenteau, F Alex Tanguay, and D Andre Benoit.
4. The Tampa Bay Lightning offer D Andrej Sustr and a third-round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft to the Calgary Flames for F Mike Cammalleri.
Yost ignored my last two deal attempts (boo) and fired three back at me. My comments on each are as follows:
(1) The Florida Panthers offer F Nick Bjugstad to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for D Zach Bogosian.
I always need to remind myself which end of a deal I'm on. Last year, Yost would have been representing the Jets. This year, he's the Panthers and I'm the Jets.
It's a terrible deal. Bjugstad has done nothing to impress me. Bogosian is like many young, promising defensemen: Solid one night, not solid the next. Bogosian will be a Top 4 guy; already plays Top 4 minutes. Not sure Bjugstad is an upgrade over the current 1st or 2nd line centers in Winnipeg. Pass.
(2) The Montreal Canadiens offer F Lars Eller and D Dalton Thrower to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for F Justin Williams.
Accepted. Justin Williams blows. It's not that he lacks talent, he just gets hurt too often. He's one of those guys that his stats never seem to match what his talent level is suppose to be. And then there's cap issues, Chuck. The Kings are capped out now, with a signing this morning. They have no money to sign Kyle Clifford. Moving Williams allows to them do so, as Eller's final year is something like $1.35mil. Great deal for the Kings.
(3) The Washington Capitals offer F Alex Ovechkin and D John Erskine to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for F Taylor Hall, F Ales Hemsky, and D Denis Grebeshkov.
Oh good lord, no.
Ovenchicken is going to pull a Kovalchuk at some point, and he'll run for it. I don't care if he was the MVP of the regular season in 2013. His teams never seem to do anything in the playoffs, and that's the point. Huge talent, completely questionable leadership. If someone offered me the offensive brilliance that is Ovechkin vs, let's say, Jonathan Toews, I'd pick Toews, because he's the kind of guy who wins cups.
Hall is younger than Ovechkin, he's got way more heart, and a much better contract. 'Nuff said.
As much as I wouldn't make this deal, I was greatly amused at the inclusion of Hemsky and Grebeshkov. No one...ever...will deal for those.
Okay, my turn. Hang on, I need to make a list of the 20 teams left and figure out what teams are needing.
1. The Nashville Predators offer Shea Weber to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Defensemen Jake Gardiner and Morgan Rielly, plus center Nazem Kadri.
Rebuild 101. The Leafs get one of the Top 3 defensemen in the world, and the Preds two future Top 4 defenseman and a Top 6 center. Add Seth Jones and Roman Josi, and you have the Preds D for the next 7-10 seasons all sorted out. Kadri is becoming a 60pts center, and the Preds are always starving for offense.
2. The Columbus Blue Jackets offer Ryan Johansen to the Phildelphia Flyers for Brayden Schenn and a 2nd round draft pick.
I'm not sure I like this deal, even if I'm the one offering it. While Schenn is perhaps more proven, Johansen could turn into an absolute beast. This deal scares me. It does, however, temporarily offer the Flyers some cap relief. Yost will like that.
3. The Vancouver Canucks offer Ryan Kesler to the Washington Capitals for Marcus Johansson and Troy Brouwer
Depth move for the Canucks. Johansson could develop into a solid 2nd line center, and Brouwer gives the Canucks a 3rd line two-way presence they are currently lacking. Kesler, if he ever rediscovers his full potential, is clearly the best player in this deal, so it's a win for Washington.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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