So I woke up this morning to a bunch of texts telling me I needed to check out Spector's latest. That it was rebuking some of the rumors I had posted. There are some writers out there who I would have worried about...but not Lyle Richardson..I was quite sure it was just a solid, logic-based argument against some of them.
Lyle Richardson (aka "Spector") is the forefather of hockey rumors bloggers on the Internet and a man I have enjoyed reading for years. Lyle does am outstanding job at parsing out rumors from all the mainstream media in the NHL and giving his two cents by pulling from his vast experience on the subject and in general giving solid reasons why logic would dictate a rumor is unlikely. Lyle and I have spoken on the phone, I have met Lyle and sat in the press box at the NHL draft, and thoroughly enjoyed speaking with him. He is absolutely respectful and a gentleman.
Waiting for the "but" here?
Not happening. Honestly as much as the funny, few, bored, hockey message board types might want some vast rift of animosity to exist between Eklund v. Spector...it just doesn't. Sorry. I have absolutely no issue with Lyle pointing out the logical reasons things won't likely happen. It is a great counter point to my blogs. There are always more reasons a trade or signing wont happen then there are reason it will....or, as Lyle points out often, and even in his most recent story, it "would have happened by now."
But there have of course been times when things do happen. Times when "logic fails"...well, wait, that's wrong...times when "logic based on what is known beyond those closely involved fails." When forging an argument or taking a side logic is only as solid as the known parts.
If I were to write I saw a dog eat a house this weekend, you would say "wait that's not logical." If I added it was an old gingerbread house that we sort of forgot about, you'd be kind of grossed out, but you'd get it...not a great example but you get the point.
My gig is simply reporting what I hear. When I kept saying the Flyers were in on Lecavalier and the favorite I was bombarded with people telling me they didn't have cap space as if I wasn't aware of the cap space issues on the Flyers. Of course I am aware of the Flyers cap issues. We have an entire section on Hockeybuzz dedicated to Cap space. That said, when a top source, who you have known for years, tells you the Flyers have a great shot, you go with it. I have long since learned to not insult the man by asking how the hell he will work out his business. He knows they have cap space issues better than any of us, right? Those issues always get worked through. Since the onset of the salary cap how many NHL teams have forfeited games for not being cap compliant?
You could argue as a reporter I should ask about the cap space. And at times I have but that a lot always leads to a dead end of some kind due to the fact the stuff teams must do to get cap compliant involve the kinds of things they either (a) aren't comfortable discussing or (b) will only tell you "off the record." (Buyouts, waivers, shopping players, etc...). Being told something "off the record," while it may sound cool and exciting, is also a not-so-subtle trick used to block reporters who a source knows at some point will find that info "on the record" and be screwed. See once it's in the vault it's really hard to call a source you swore secrecy to and say, "well, someone else told me the same thing, so I am going with it." There have been occasions I have indeed made that call, but there are only a handful of people I would be comfortable saying that to...people who I know very personally and who know I would only be doing so if I had this from many other places...and by the time many people have told me you can be sure many people have told Dreger, McKenzie, Lebrun, etc...
So when I hear Lecavalier is heading to Philly I simply state in the most simplest way possible Lecavalier to Philly (e4). I leave the rest to you, the reader. I try to get the rumors to you and get out of the way. I don't allow the obvious known logical pieces to trump something told to me by a person who has way, way more parts to the puzzle than I do.
I feel I know you guys and girls pretty well. You are very, very hockey smart. My readers know about the cap rules, and the NTCs, and NMCs...and also know a no-trade clause is only exercised when a player is in a position of strength and hasn't been convinced of a better situation.
I throw a lot at you...but I figure that's why you are here, right? I fully expect you to find the holes in the known logic. I wouldn't expect anything less. As an example, when I was touting Briere to Montreal I was inundated with "why would the Habs sign another small forward?" If it was just any small forward that logic would make sense. But to those of us who have seen what he does and when he does it, the Habs didn't sign "another small forward."...they signed Danny Briere...a player who scores goals at the most important times...when no one on the team is stepping up. Briere is a "Season-Extender."
I am not saying what I am doing here is anything revolutionary, nor am I saying it is any better than anyone else. Believe me I have huge respect for so many in my field, and I sure wish I had an editor before it is given to the masses (aka all-knowing editor in the sky)
I am simply saying this is my space in the hockey world. I talk to sources constantly and I get bits and pieces to you so that you may have a little more insight into the underbelly of the beast. Lyle's job is explaining why rumors posted anywhere do or do not make sense based on his experience.
Listen, I am not blind to the basic realities of this business.. every source has an agenda. Even my friends. Even guys who have invited me to their weddings...it is their job. I am not above asking those close to me "why are you telling me this?" The answer is often telling and can be widely varied, but the secret to my deal is they want to talk to me because they know I am talking to many, many others... It really isn't much more complicated than that.
Do I get played? We all do. But I usually don't get played by the same person twice and they know this too.
So with all that in mind I thought I would do something I have NEVER done before. Respond directly to a piece written about me and reply to the SPECTOR'S NOTES from his most recent blog with EKLUND NOTES. All in good fun, because ya gotta think if Spector is responding to my rumors "it's a slow day for pundits who write about others in the media generating rumors..."
Below is Lyles latest which can be found here. I highly recommend checking Lyle's blog every day to find out any or all rumors out there, and his take on each. Highly informative.
ANYway, here goes...
It’s a slow day for media-generated rumors, so let’s take a look at what rumor bloggers have been posting in recent weeks.
Looks like it’s been slow for rumor bloggers since mid-July. The only site with any consistent rumor updates over the past couple of weeks was HockeyBuzz. If anyone knows of a hockey rumors blog that’s been updating regularly for the past two-three weeks, send along their link. If it’s something notable, I’ll post it up here in a future “Rumors from the Blogosphere” update. Anyway, here’s what’s been reported by “Eklund” over the past week or so:
Wondering which club Mikhail Grabovski will sign with has generated considerable speculation in the rumor mill.
- A “source” claimed the Edmonton Oilers were making a late push for Mikhail Grabovski. “Eklund” claimed Carolina, Ottawa and Washington were also “in the mix”. He subsequently reported Washington was out of the Grabovski bidding, but “Ottawa, Carolina, Anaheim, and NJ remain”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators have plenty of cap space, but they’re under a self-imposed cap and still have Jared Cowen to re-sign, so I doubt they’re in the bidding for “Grabo”. The Hurricanes have been shopping for defensemen for months, so I’ll be very surprised if they sign Grabovski, especially since they’re already deep with top two line centers (The Staal brothers, Jeff Skinner).
The Ducks have limited cap space (roughly $4.3 million) and wish to leave room for Teemu Selanne if he decides to return next season. The Devils still have to re-sign Adam Henrique, but they have the cap space to add someone like Grabovski if they wish. Still, I’ve heard nothing in the MSM linking him to the Devils this summer. As for the Capitals, Grabovski seems like he’d be a perfect fit, but GM George McPhee last month expressed no interest in this summer’s free agent market.
EKLUND'S NOTE: funny thing I have learned about self-imposed caps...they are self-imposed. The Canes have indeed been looking for D help for months, but no one is more patient than Rutherford. Most recently the canes made a big pitch for Jagr...and he is not exactly a defensive stalwart. As for the Ducks...some have suggested the reason Grabo is comfortable without a team in early August is because he is waiting on a team "which is waiting on the decision of a current player." So isn't it possible that Grabo takes a spot is Teemu leaves? As for NJ, saying something isn't happening because it hasn't leaked into the NJ media is your weakest argument. with the notable (and highly charged) exception of Jagr, when has the media in NJ EVER been out there reporting who the Devils were interested in? Any team who can hide the Cory Schneider trade at a draft in your own building from TSN is TIGHT LIPPED. Finally, using McPhee's general statement from over a month ago that he isn't interested in anyone from the UFA market is short-sighted. GM comments have a few hours of shelf life. We see this time and time again.
- On August 3, “Eklund” suggested a Ryan Miller for Ales Hemsky swap wasn’t impossible.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Miller (who has a partial NTC in which he lists eight teams he won’t accept being dealt to) doesn’t want to be traded to the Oilers, then it is impossible. Sure, as a short-term move for one season for both clubs to move players which don’t fit into their long-term plans, it seems like a good idea, but if so, one would think it would’ve happened by now.
EKLUND'S NOTE: Miller's main focus right now is the US Olympic Team. It drives him. He is currently competing with Quick, Howard, and the rest...all of who have good teams willing to give them most of the time in net. The list Miller made of possible teams was made at a very different time, almost six months ago. I am reminded of a discussion you and I had about Phaneuf before he was traded to Toronto...things change. Lots of thing that haven't happened by now in the NHL will indeed happen.
- Back on July 28, “Eklund” claimed the Devils were looking at Damien Brunner if a possible Thomas Vanek trade couldn’t be worked out. He also claimed there was “a lot of speculation” over a possible Canadiens-Canucks trade, in which the Habs were seeking a defenseman for “some power play insurance”.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sabres GM Darcy Regier last month claimed teams he’d spoken to about Vanek and Ryan Miller wanted him to absorb part of their contracts, which doesn’t sound like something Regier wanted to do. I thought the Devils would pursue Brunner to add speed on the wing, but his rumored asking price ($3.5 million per season) is what’s dampened interest in him around the league.
Looking at the Canucks roster, the only d-men who’d provide “power play insurance” is Alex Edler and Kevin Bieksa. The Canucks aren’t moving the latter, while the former’s expensive contract is too much for the Canadiens to take on.
EKLUND'S NOTES: I don't claim stuff. I report what others claim to me. I am not involved in any of these to make personal claims..Brunner's rumored asking price is also changing. Logic dictates he wants to continue his NHL career. NJ not being interested at a higher price is consistent with what I have been told. And it was not Bieksa...that is true. As for the Sabres...they are up against it for sure. Something has to give...interesting developing situation...
Cheers...
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