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Dubinsky and Prucha for Bouwmeester(e3) |
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I have been working the past week on my upcoming blog (slated for tomorrow) that will reveal the list of players I feel are most likely to get moved. The formula I am using is based on factors including: Their current team's playoff aspirations, the player's current contract status next season, the cap space available on key bubble teams, etc...
And of course, a little common sense gets thrown in as well...:)
My goal is to have that blog up tonight/tomorrow morning.
It has been quite interesting to put together and as I have been calling around for the last week, touching base with hundreds of sources, I am shocked at the amount of early chatter among GMs this year. Never before has October/November had talk like this.
My theory as to why? A few things:
#1. EXTREME parity. As many as 1/3rd of the NHL teams feel as though they are a few players away from a Stanley Cup.
#2. A youth movement league-wide, the likes of which we have never seen. Has there ever been a time in the history of the NHL where we have had better players under 25 years old?
#3. In light of the worldwide economic slowdown, certain bubble teams are in trouble and they are looking to the playoffs like never before to get them out of trouble. Around 40% of the NHL teams need to host several playoff games to break even.
All this means there will be a lot of talk and movement that will have to occur long before the March 4th deadline...
UPDATED Trade Rumour: Dubinsky and Prucha to Florida for Jay Bouwmeester...
There was a time when we were being told that Jay Bo would be a deadline deal if at all.. Now I am told, "all bets are off as Florida is maybe two to three losses away from a panic situation."
The Rangers will have to battle the Flyers, Leafs, and Canadiens (at the very least) for Bouwmeester.
Florida is also reportedly shopping for another center...
More to come
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