if anything, it would be ward ++ for eberle.........i'm finding that more and more lately, dreger seems to be smoking crack (maybe he hangs with ford in over there in toronto). i found that he used to be bang on all the time, but he seems to be getting worse and worse the last couple of years.

that being said, why would edmonton even want ward. he's gonna be 30, his numbers have gotten worse each year for 3 or 4 straight years, and he's always hurt. i wouldn't touch him, there are WAY better options out there, IMO
- sensarmy_11

Good to know I'm not the only one I don't think it's so much of question of if there's better options, but more are those options available. Ward at least brings a history of starter quality goaltending behind another weak defense.

Daydream central:

Greening-Nuge-Eberle
Hall-Anisimov-Perron
Kulemin-Gordon-Yakupov
Smyth-Hendricks-Pitlick

Has got some potential.
- Morris

yakupov on the 3rd line? seems like a waste of great potential.


also like the sens lines after that trade

macarthur - turris - ryan
hemsky - spezza - stone
conacher - zibanejad - michalek
condra - smith - neil

I wrote a blog about the trades yesterday. Don't worry: I pretty much don't rehash anything that's been said a hundred times since yesterday.

http://my.hockeybuzz.com/...er_id=32924&post_id=15899
- Morris

As usual, great blog You really ought to blog somewhere more consistently (only if you have the time, of course). You have real talent for conveying your thoughts concisely and articulately!

yakupov on the 3rd line? seems like a waste of great potential.


also like the sens lines after that trade

macarthur - turris - ryan
hemsky - spezza - stone
conacher - zibanejad - michalek
condra - smith - neil
- sensarmy_11

I see the top three oiles lines as relatively even in overall skill. I think the thing for the oilers is to acquire some of the size elements that they need and then see what kind of chemistry forms. Although now that I think about it, I'd rather go Smyth-Arcobello-Hendricks than have Pitlick in there for next year.

I feel like there's some good depth there in the go-ahead on the Sens roster. And Hemsky isn't your typical "enigmatic European" so I think there's strong potential he re-signs with whoever acquires him.

As usual, great blog You really ought to blog somewhere more consistently (only if you have the time, of course). You have real talent for conveying your thoughts concisely and articulately!
- MaximumBone

Thanks man!

yakupov on the 3rd line? seems like a waste of great potential.


also like the sens lines after that trade

macarthur - turris - ryan
hemsky - spezza - stone
conacher - zibanejad - michalek
condra - smith - neil
- sensarmy_11

I think in that instance, we're running the top-3 lines for about 13-16 minutes at EVs (the better performing line getting the higher totals) and leaving the last 4-5 minutes at evens to the 4th line. Under normal circumstances I'd like to have a stronger 4th line, but if we can run a top-9 like that, I'm not concerned.

I can't get it out of my head, but for whatever reason I just love the Sens roster. There's great balance, diverse skill sets, a strong top-9, top end skill, and a fair deal of youth throughout the line-up. It's even more impressive that Murray has done this with as tight of an internal cap as he does!

I think in that instance, we're running the top-3 lines for about 13-16 minutes at EVs (the better performing line getting the higher totals) and leaving the last 4-5 minutes at evens to the 4th line. Under normal circumstances I'd like to have a stronger 4th line, but if we can run a top-9 like that, I'm not concerned.

I can't get it out of my head, but for whatever reason I just love the Sens roster. There's great balance, diverse skill sets, a strong top-9, top end skill, and a fair deal of youth throughout the line-up. It's even more impressive that Murray has done this with as tight of an internal cap as he does!
- MaximumBone

i question some of the freeagent signings that murray has made in teh past (although signing macarthur this year makes up for a lot of it).....but you have to give it to him and his team, they really scout and draft well....and some of the trades he's made in the last 2-3 years have been brilliant.

his 3 biggest trades in the last 3 years:

ottawa has added - turris, ryan, anderson

ottawa gave up - elliott, silfverberg, rundblad, noessen, 1st rd pick, 3rd rd pick

pretty solid if you ask me.

it sucks that he let alfi walk, but i think that was 100% on melnyk, not murray.

Fair enough. I don't know about my fellow Oilers fans, but I'd accept that deal with enthusiasm!
- MaximumBone

sign that deal up for edm-ott from what i heard, ott is not interested in a player with any financial commitment beyond this season. definitely a rental.

if anything, it would be ward ++ for eberle.........i'm finding that more and more lately, dreger seems to be smoking crack (maybe he hangs with ford in over there in toronto). i found that he used to be bang on all the time, but he seems to be getting worse and worse the last couple of years.

that being said, why would edmonton even want ward. he's gonna be 30, his numbers have gotten worse each year for 3 or 4 straight years, and he's always hurt. i wouldn't touch him, there are WAY better options out there, IMO
- sensarmy_11

i don't like the deal for edm at all. not even sure would i give up gagner for ward, even though there was some word that edm-car has been talking about a goalie from car to edm. i rather look for other inexpensive options in the off season.

So, any off season targets for UFA dmen?

Player Pos Age Team Cap Hit
Dan Boyle D 37 Sharks $6,666,667
Dion Phaneuf D 28 Maple Leafs $6,500,000
Kimmo Timonen D 38 Flyers $6,000,000
Andrei Markov D 34 Canadiens $5,750,000
Joni Pitkanen D 30 Hurricanes $4,500,000
Andrej Meszaros D 27 Flyers $4,000,000
Marek Zidlicky D 36 Devils $4,000,000
Kyle Quincey D 28 Red Wings $3,775,000
Sami Salo D 39 Lightning $3,750,000
Brooks Orpik D 33 Penguins $3,750,000
Nick Schultz D 31 Oilers $3,500,000
Willie Mitchell D 36 Kings $3,500,000
Henrik Tallinder D 34 Sabres $3,375,000
Dan Girardi D 29 Rangers $3,325,000
Stephane Robidas D 36 Stars $3,300,000
Jonathan Ericsson D 29 Red Wings $3,250,000
Chris Phillips D 35 Senators $3,083,333
Rostislav Klesla D 31 Coyotes $2,975,000
Matt Greene D 30 Kings $2,950,000
Derek Morris D 35 Coyotes $2,750,000
Matt Niskanen D 26 Penguins $2,300,000

That list is lousy, not many great pieces there.
- moondawg

Is Pronger available!?

Is Pronger available!?

- ChetManly

can't believe the flyers (with the help of insurance companies) are still paying him for anohter 4 years

his salary this season is 7 million, for hanging around his house.

can't believe the flyers (with the help of insurance companies) are still paying him for anohter 4 years

his salary this season is 7 million, for hanging around his house.
- sensarmy_11

i thought phi had him on some advisory or scouting role?

About the worst thing about the hockey blogosphere is that a team's roster moves are judged almost entirely by the quality of the team. "EDMONTON MADE A TRADE? HOW DARE THEY! DO THEY THINK THIS MINOR MOVE WILL HELP! PLAN THE PARADE"

One day in the future, the Oilers will be good, and some team like San Jose will have naturally gone in a down turn. They'll make a trade like the Dubnyk-Scrivens move and Doug Wilson who right now is extremely highly regarded as a GM will get absolutely trashed for this minor and not unhelpful move. And I will have bookmarked this post and I'll play it gleefully like a surprise full house on the river and all of hockeybuzz will see what twats they've been all along.

can't believe the flyers (with the help of insurance companies) are still paying him for anohter 4 years

his salary this season is 7 million, for hanging around his house.
- sensarmy_11

But seriously guys, the Oilers are morons for overpaying Matt Hendricks 900k

Almost every team overvalues their players, especially their young ones, so that's nothing new. Also, Sportsnet sucks.
- MaximumBone

I've known that for years. The NHL is going to be painful to watch and listen to for the next 12 years on Sportsnet

i don't like the deal for edm at all. not even sure would i give up gagner for ward, even though there was some word that edm-car has been talking about a goalie from car to edm. i rather look for other inexpensive options in the off season.
- deks1

if i'm edmonton (and this is just my opinion), i'm not looking for the "big name" goalie. i'd be looking at guys like:

enroth, lindback, neuvirth, etc

those guys are young, talented, and could probably be had for a fair return.....and they could actually grow with your young core

i don't like the deal for edm at all. not even sure would i give up gagner for ward, even though there was some word that edm-car has been talking about a goalie from car to edm. i rather look for other inexpensive options in the off season.
- deks1

Agreed...There is no (frank)ing way we should trade Eberle for a goalie... I am not even sure I trade Gags for a goalie... as shown in the past goalies do not cost alot- and this year especially when you consider all the UFAs that will be available...

if i'm edmonton (and this is just my opinion), i'm not looking for the "big name" goalie. i'd be looking at guys like:

enroth, lindback, neuvirth, etc

those guys are young, talented, and could probably be had for a fair return.....and they could actually grow with your young core
- sensarmy_11

Completely agree

I've known that for years. The NHL is going to be painful to watch and listen to for the next 12 years on Sportsnet
- ChetManly

except if you're a sens fan, cuz their regional contract with sportsnet is up at the end of this year, and the rumour is that TSN is salivating at the mouth to get the contract.

bad news.....i live in halifax

So is anyone else eagerly anticipating a 17 paragraph post by HallFan ripping apart these deals today? I'm sure he's gonna say that Dubey was worth at least a first or second, and that Scrivens is absolutely terrible...Mac T sucks , blah , blah, blah
- Jeropotato

You forgot to add in his comments about firing Klowe.

Agreed...There is no (frank)ing way we should trade Eberle for a goalie... I am not even sure I trade Gags for a goalie... as shown in the past goalies do not cost alot- and this year especially when you consider all the UFAs that will be available...
- saskoil21

if you're gonna trade eberle for a goalie, we ALL know it should be for craig anderson

Clouts has never trashed hockeybuzz. I know everyone here likes to hate on him but it just never happened.
- NEEDSMORHORCOFF

Yeah you did.... now get the (frank) back to your pathetic website RC

if i'm edmonton (and this is just my opinion), i'm not looking for the "big name" goalie. i'd be looking at guys like:

enroth, lindback, neuvirth, etc

those guys are young, talented, and could probably be had for a fair return.....and they could actually grow with your young core
- sensarmy_11

no lindback. neuvirth is an interesting option. edm should inquire how is the orlov and neuvirth drama coming along.

there's alot of talk about ward's health. i think hurricanes are beginning to show concern about his ability to stay healthy for the remainder of the contract.

except if you're a sens fan, cuz their regional contract with sportsnet is up at the end of this year, and the rumour is that TSN is salivating at the mouth to get the contract.

bad news.....i live in halifax
- sensarmy_11

Just stream it illegally homie. I got fed out with the Halifax blackouts on everything that wasn't a Leafs game

Ryan is garbage. Hopefully I don't get banned for it, but it's true. Matt's blogs on the other hand are grade A. So at the very least if he actually said that, he was half right.
- NEEDSMORHORCOFF

Cloutier dedicated quite a few post HB blogs ripping Eklund and HB apart.