Wow. The rumor mill is alive and well folks!

On Cammalleri and Gauthier.

I came out and said that Gauthier had little choice but to move him, and I do believe that to be true. This all didn't start with the "losers" comment last week. Talking to current Hab players you would be hard pressed to find any of them who are surprised by this move and even harder pressed to find a player who wouldn't tell you how selfish Cammalleri had become. One player this morning flat out told me it was "Addition through subtraction" and another adding, "the real stars in the league don't believe talent means you have no accountability." A scout called him "entitled" which is a word I also heard tied to the player when a certain team let him go without a fight...Why that same team got him back is truly amazing.

I wish I could find the exact clip from Denis Potvin who was on XM yesterday discussing Cammalleri prior to him even being traded. I really admire Potvin and his analysis. Potvin and Billy Clement are the best in the game in my opinion.

Potvin was asked about Cams comments and said, "To me it sounds like the comments of a player who has realized his minutes have fallen off and who, previously under Martin, was not held to playing consistent two-way hockey." bingo.

So Gauthier HAD to move him. But did Gauthier panic here? Couldn't he have suspended the guy and shopped him for more of a return than Calgary's own problem in Renee Bourque?..(who by the way is not French...just sounds it.)

Perhaps Gauthier could have waited, but I reminded of how quickly he moved Halak two summers back. At the time I felt he really could have gotten way more for Halak, yet for Halak he actually got quite a bit in retrospect. I am going to wait and see here.

My main issue with Gauthier's season so far is how he has not been public enough in getting people to grow up and get past the fact that Cunneyworth doesn't speak French. I get the French media's desire to have a French guy to interview and I also get the fact that French Canadian Habs fans want a French coach. I love the cultural aspect of the franchise. I just think sometimes it needs to be kept in a proper perspective and Gauthier is the one guy who could have made that more clear.

On Myers for Getzlaf...

As far as I am concerned, this would be an insane move for the Sabres to make...I think. I do have to report on this rumor however so here goes...

The rumor is the Sabres and Ducks are talking about Getzlaf and the Ducks are insisting on Tyler Myers in return...At first glance I say "no way. you simply can't move Myers for anyone EVER. The kid is huge and were I starting a team today I would have him and Shea Weber as my 1/2.
The source out of Buffalo who swears to me there are other considerations says the Sabres are of a belief that to compete in the Eastern Conference they need Getzlaf...perhaps even more than they need Myers.

I am huge Getzlaf fan as well. To me, he is Eric Lindros...but way more healthy and therefore consistent. His game is complete on all levels and he probably is a player more suited for play in the Northeast Division. The Sabres have never had a player like Getzlaf...maybe ever.

What do you think?

Is there any logic behind this deal for the Sabres and Ducks...

On JVR for Schenn...

So far this isn't a possibility. It is rumor of logic being put forth by people...The Flyers need a stay at home tough d-man, the Leafs need more up front. Unfortunately people seem to be forgetting that JVR is a winger.

van Riemsdyk is a player with a huge amount of upside who has yet to find consistency...but the upside is so big that he is the kind of player who can on any given night make 99% of other NHL players look subpar. It usually takes a few years to figure out how to do that, but anyone who watched the Bruins/Flyers series last year know exactly what I mean. The Flyers were swept by Boston, but JvR was so far ahead of everyone on both teams (with the possible exception of Tim Thomas)

A week ago, JVR out completely out-dueled Patrick Kane (Kane was taken first overall the same draft year JVR was taken second...and had it not been for unlucky ping-pong balls Kane would have been a Flyer.) Kane has been the far better player than James to this point of course...

JVR has to learn much still, but he has to learn the kind of things players like him can learn and then the sky is the limit. JVR and Kane could easily be heading up Team USA at the Olympics in Russia.

Besides consistency, the main issue with JVR right now is his play away from the puck. He is the kind of player who is amazing with the puck but at times invisible without it..the Flyers need to get him a line with players who don't want the puck as much as he does...

Look at Giroux..

The reasons Giroux has thrived is two-fold.

Jagr is teaching him the magic that Mario bestowed upon him...the killer instinct and desire to score points on every shift regardless of the opponent, the score, the standings, the game situation....whatever (oh and to not just score 1 point, but multiple points)
Giroux's linemates understand he wants the puck ALL the time. Hartnell (who SHOULD absolutely be an All-Star) goes anywhere to get the puck and then pass it off to G, and Jagr (much smarter and wiser than the Jagr who left the NHL to play in Russia) doesn't want the puck all the time like he once did..it's too much work to have the puck and you need too much speed. Jags gives the puck to Giroux and creates more space for him by getting open and misdirecting team's defenders to follow him.

Right now, JvR doesn't have those kinds of linemates and doesn't get to carry the puck like he has at his most dominant. To be fair, part of that is linemates, but part of that is also confidence and knowing you want the puck..

Would JvR get those kind of linemates in Toronto? Not sure...

Also, I get the impression the Flyers want to get a guy like Tim Gleason to give them playoff experience and veteran leadership on the back end...and toughness...there was a reason the Flyers gave up so much and paid so much for Pronger...Two main reasons..toughness and WIN NOW.

On Evander Kane for Shane Doan+/b>

There are rumors I am following today regarding this possible deal...just came through as I was working on this blog, so stay tuned..


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I am also working on the rumor chart this weekend with a targeted launch date of Monday evening...

stay tuned Buzzers...happy days are here again!