I will have a MAJOR update tonight around 7 as I am meeting with a major source this afternoon in Philly. This source has been responsible for some of the best info I have received in the past few years.
We are meeting in 45 minutes, at 3:30 for an early dinner. He promised to fill me in on everything he has heard that is going on. He is very connected to Vancouver, Toronto, Atlanta, Dallas, NJ, all three NY teams, and Colorado...
We were supposed to meet at noon, but his flight was delayed. I jokingly told him I couldn't wait until tonight for a rumor update and he said he would give me a tease for you all...
Tell your readers: "There is a Western Conference team who is sitting on MONSTER of a deal. A deal which will force many others in the pack to make moves as well, or risk not making the playoffs. It is a deal with an Eastern team, currently out of the playoffs, which could also go on to define the Eastern Conference team's future."
Pretty good tease, eh?
So I will have more sometime between 6 and 8. My source is also going to look at the Rumor Chart with me and give me his opinions as well. He also told me he has probably 3-5 players to add to the chart, and 1 I should remove.
On Forsberg....
Welcome to 2006.....Peter Forsberg is skating with Colorado and I am told by people close to Forsberg, people who have given me solid Forsberg info in the past, its at least 80% that Foppa will be skating with the Avs in the NHL again in the next 30 days.
I am hoping for two things here:
#1. That he can play at a level he is comfortable with. I talked at length with Peter at the Olympics in Vancouver and I have known Foppa for years. Vancouver was the first time I ever spoke to hm where he looked as though he was comfortable moving on from hockey. In the Olympics he was "healthy" but not really a factor or effective. Make no mistake about it, if he is healthier now, and can be even 70% of what he was, I am all for Peter playing in the NHL. He is one of my top 5 favourite players all-time. I just don't want him to come back at too much less than he was.
#2. I fear the distraction Forsberg can become. The questions about his foot were endless in Philly and took away from the team. Peter can be an amazing influence on young players. I remember talking to Shea Weber and Chris Mason who were in Nashville for that month Forsberg was a Predator. While most would say the trade was a disaster for Nashville, because they didn't win, it is hard to quantify the impact Peter had on the young players in the Preds room. Both Mason and Weber spoke glowingly about how in awe they were of being in the room with Forsberg, watching the way he dealt with playing and how he knew how to win and exuded confidence.
On Claude Giroux...
There have only been a few Flyers who can pass and see the ice like Forsberg can. One was Pelle Eklund, the other is Claude Giroux, who was dominant today against Chicago in the Flyers 4-1 victory in the Cup rematch today. Giroux's three assists and two-way play, on NBC in America has maybe finally proven to the world what many already know. Giroux is a world class player...
More to come....
Ek's RUMOR TIP> Trade Deadline is Coming Fast!
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Updated Players On Rumor Chart
Click to see the Latest on: Regehr, Semin, Phillips, Madden, Higgins, Arnott....Added to Chart: Miettinen, Handzus, Weiss 
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