I've often wondered if Steely Dan were talking about NHL owners and GMs in their 1975 masterpiece "Black Friday".
When Black Friday comes
I'll stand down by the door
And catch the grey men when they
Dive from the fourteenth floor
When Black Friday comes
I'll collect everything I'm owed
And before my friends find out
I'll be on the road
I interpret the lyrics in a hockey context. The narrator is the agent of an NHL player. The "grey men" diving from metaphorical buildings are NHL GMs whose teams are in need of an infusion of new players and talent in order to compete for Lord Stanley's Cup. The agents have the resources and the solutions. The agents have the players. The owners and GMs want the players. The agents catch the owners and GMs before they fall to the basement of the standings.
There are NHL owners and GMs who are craving solutions on this blackest of Black Fridays.
How much will Garth Snow and the NY Islanders overpay to get their hands on a quality NHL goaltender? Snow is also badly in need of goal scoring and a puck moving D.
David Poile and the Nashville Predators have a glaring need for a starting goalie.
What will Washington Capitals get in return when they inevitably trade disgruntled players Martin Erat and Dmitri Orlov? Will the Caps be willing to trade a first rounder and a top six forward for a staring goaltender?
Minnesota Wild GM Chuck Fletcher may be trying t pry UFA to be Thomas Vanek away from the NY Islanders. Garth Snow can shore up h
The Florida Panthers are out of the race and began selling veteran contracts last week when Kris versteeg was sent to Chicago. The Cats will continue to purge vets like Boye, Campbells and kopecky.
Will the Montreal Canadiens be trading Max Pacioretty?
Will Evander Kane be a Winnipeg Jet for very much longer?
What if the LA Kings get bad news this week about the progress (or lack thereof) of Jonathon Quick's Grade 2 groin strain? They will be in search for starting goalie, of they haven't begun to inquire around the NHL for one already.
The Anaheim Ducks are struggling mightily in recent weeks. They can't keep the puck out of their own net despite having three NHL starters on their roster. Hiller is a UFA to be.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been searching high and low for a veteran puck moving D.
The Pittsburgh Penguins aren't sold on Marc Andre Fleury as their starting goalie. "The Flower" is playing well now, however, he hasn't won a playoff series since the 2009 Cup championship run.
The St. Louis Blues are in a familiar situation with Jaro Halak. Good goalie now.However, he's not been able to stand up to the pressure in May and June the past two seasons. Halak is a UFA to be.
The Calgary Flames have to decide whether Mike Cammalleri will be traded or re-signed.
Will Bryan Murray shakeup his Ottawa roster? The team is struggling to score goals. Jason Spezza has been ice cold lately. He needs a winger not named Bobby Ryan to work with.
In Buffalo, Ryan Miller and Steve Ott are UFA-to-be. I expect Miller to be traded. I expect Ott to be re-signed.
The Robin Lehner is going to be the Ottawa Senators goalie. Craig Anderson has been a mess thus far thus season.
Anderson was shelled by the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night. He now has given up 4G his last 4 games. His save % is .894 and his GAA is 3.51. He's allowed 40 goals in 11 starts. Last season, it took 24 games for Anderson to allow 40 goals.
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