Ek's RUMOR TIP> Trade Deadline is Coming Fast! FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER HERE to find out when I post a new blog AND get "Quick Hit Rumors" between blogs
You think that people would have had enough of silly rumors...I look around me and I see it isn't so. Some people wanna fill the world with silly rumors. And what's wrong with that? I'd like to know. So here I go....again...
Yes my friends, rumors a plenty to consider and enjoy discussing today...Will they happen? Easy to say they won't. But as always there are clues in these discussions. Clues telling us just what teams are looking for. Clues telling us just how confident (or nervous) they are about their team are MAJOR puzzle pieces and snapshots inside their worlds....
GMs talk every day. They are competitive. They are fighting for their own jobs. Every day. Owners are calling team presidents and GMs hourly and telling them what they need from them. What their expectations are for the team. What their expectations are for them. And while, in the end, very few major blockbusters will be able to be pulled off, (due to cap space, contracts, and all the reasons folks say deals don't happen) it won't keep GMs from trying everything and anything to look for the slightest advantage as the playoffs approach.
And as long as they are trying to find those diamonds....I will be writing about what they are trying to do, so that you can discuss what you would try to do. Because we all have the answers and know exactly what our team needs to do....
If you enjoy the process and prospects of your team getting better...read on...
If you are a cynic and believe NOTHING well ever happen...read on. Or don't...but how will you know the great satisfaction of being able to say, "See, I was right. I told you nothing would happen."?....this house won't burn down today.
And yet...sometimes...it does. and each year, despite the realists more and more trades do occur exciting our minds to think, "What if?"
Haven't you ever said to a buddy in a bar, "Man, if they got (blank) they would so win the Cup."
Hockeybuzz has been around awhile, and by now, you either enjoy the site, comprehend the difference between a "rumor" and "a prediction," (fully knowing a "rumor" can neither be "right or wrong" but rather just "happens or doesn't happen.").......or you don't get that and just have a ton of time on your hands.
Either way...welcome back to the "silly rumors."
On Iginla and Kiprusoff....
Sources have told me they are confident the Flames are closing in on a decision as to whether or not to tear it down and use the value these stars have in the marketplace. I don't have any doubt Jay Feaster was brought in as the guy to make the rebuild happen and as one source put it:
"You either go for it or you don't. The Flames have been a good team for a long time and many teams like Calgary are looking to the Flyers model. You need to break it down and accept the fact you may suffer for it. But you need to move players to do it. The Flyers used Forsberg and Zhitnik to kick it off, but what they showed was it can go from horrible to acceptable rather quickly if you are aggressive."
And on Robyn Regehr...
There has been talk around the Habs and Bieksa since this past summer, but more and more now I am hearing the Habs have interest in Robyn Regehr....But they are far from alone. The word on the street is NJ is extremely high on Regehr as well as Jay Bouwmeester. The Devils are the most aggressive team out there looking for spark on the defensive end.
On the Flyers...
There have been some very interesting talks today in the rumor mill that Philly is perhaps waiting until after the Washington game tomorrow night to make a key decision which could dictate where they head from here.
Many of you are writing me asking, "Why would the Flyers want to change a thing right now when they are playing such solid hockey and just had an amazingly long and successful road trip?"
Well you have to understand this team's eco-system. They went to the finals last year, so Ed Snider smells blood and will stop at nothing to finish what he fell a few goals shy of last season. The Flyers are now looking at how they perform against the best teams.
They got smoked by Vancouver. They lost a game to Boston they should have won.
"The issues in those games were the same and we are going to address them." I was told. And another top team in Washington comes to town tomorrow night.
On the Canucks...
Speaking of a team clicking on all cylinders but still looking for upgrades...I have been hearing the Canucks have serious interest in Versteeg at the moment.
Hemsky for Weiss?
Here's an interesting one. Two sources today told me they heard this mentioned over the weekend, and at least three other sources told me the Oilers may indeed be looking into moving Hemsky. Rangers and Kings were mentioned...but the only actual name in return I heard was that of Stephen Weiss, who is still hurt but this season may not be the Oilers concern. As for Florida, bringing in Hemsky early could signify a last ditch effort to make a push.
Welcoming Brian Huddle!
Finally, I would like to welcome a new prospects blogger to Hockeybuzz, Brian Huddle. I love Brian's passion, Canadian Juniors, and his ability to evaluate young players in a way which informs those of us who aren't always up on the Junior game. Welcome Brian by reading his blog:
HERE
much more to come...
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