Quick Hits
It's hard to imagine, isn't it? Two weeks from today the Fan will be on and ready to be hit. Today the entire hockey world continues to be playing word games...and you gotta love it, because the more trades that don't happen now the more money is out there and the more we could be in store for an a great Deadline Day.
As one source put it, "Prices will start to drop this week, and you will start to hear the GMs on teams with money to spend saying 'We owe it to our organization and our fans to leave no stone un-turned. If we can improve our chances to win a Stanley Cup we will do so."
That's when prices come down and teams with fading commodities to move start saying, "We would love to have gotten more for this player, but since he is a free agent in four months we knew we had to accept the best deal available."
As of right now, we aren't yet at that point...
On Montreal...
Don't look now, but the Habs have won 4 straight and are only 7 points out of the 8th spot. (8 points behind the 7th place Sens, but having played 2 less games. The rumors of Moen and Gill and others getting dealt will begin to shift back to the Habs making a play for Ales Hemsky with a few more wins. Montreal has never fully abandoned the idea of being a buyer through this whole process. For a great perspective on the Habs current position I highly recommend reading Steve Hindle's latest
"What Five Wins in a Row Could Mean for the Habs.".
On Toronto...
The 5-0 home loss to the previously mentioned Habs was the kind of loss which immediately changes things... the kind of loss which requires organization reflection and prompt reaction. And now the Leafs (perhaps fortunately) are heading out of town to play three in Western Canada. When the Leafs next come back they will be facing 4 straight at home and the deadline....If Burke is to make a deal, which most feel is inevitable, it could very well be this week...while the team is away.
Sources I talk to are all very certain when saying essentially a few big (yet not fully refined) deals are sitting on the table. The possibility of picking up Penner would be "an aside to a bigger deal, and would be brought on by opportunities elsewhere."
The Leafs are very interested in Rick Nash, and as of today I still put Nash as their #1 target. I am not buying into the Eric Staal rumors, only because I have only heard them as rumors...not from actual sources..I have heard further interest in Philly's (suddenly hot scorer) Brayden Schenn in Toronto. The Leafs won't move Schenn for Schenn though.
On Buffalo...
We all knew the Sabres were too good of a team to not be heard from at all. However, so far I am not hearing the Sabres option to be a buyer...yet.. I am basically hearing the Sabres are sellers or neutral. The Hawks, Flames and Kings have all shown interest in Derek Roy... This week will prove crucial for Buffalo as well. The rumors that Robyn Regehr is available are also only rumors I have heard from readers..nothing from a source, in fact a Sabres source confirmed not a chance he is moved.
On Phoenix
You want to know how the Phoenix fans really get screwed? It happens when the team without an owner finds itself playing great hockey, in the playoffs, with Cap space, and yet the Yotes aren't in the Hemsky sweeps or any other sweeps. Tippet and company deserve better. In fact it's so messed up that Doan's name has been brought up in more rumors since the Yotes went on this run...
On Boston...
The Bruins are the latest team to put messages out to sellers that they are willing to turn and walk out of the showroom...Ryan Smyth is the name that keeps coming up associated with the Bruins...I would be surprised if Smyth was dealt and left Edmonton again..even as a rental. I am quite certain however the Bruins are looking to upgrade in a big way. I keep hearing Jason Blake's name tied to Boston.
On the Mighty Blues...
No offense to the amazing season guys like Tippet, Tortorella, Dineen and Babcock are putting together, but when Ken Hitchcock took over the Blues back on November 7th the team had lost 7 games in their opening month of the season and were 6-7-0. In over three months Hitchcock's Blues have only doubled that loss total and are 34-14-7. Yes the Blues, under Hitch, have gone 28-7-7. They are only 3 points behind the Red Wings currently with two games in hand. There is no doubt Hitch is the coach of the year right now. I wonder if any coach who has taken over a team has ever put together a better winning percentage than this one (I am sure if they have, one of you fine folks will be quick to find it)
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