And this is the exact reason we need to get rid of Howson as EDM is the only team he can truly deal with and it's going to screw us in the long run. Would much rather see Howson acquire two top 6 picks and draft Galchenyuk and Dumba. Sometimes I wonder if Howson wants to tank again next season in hopes of winning the MacKinnon sweepstakes, only to lose the lottery two years back-back.
- dasnut

I can tell ya if CBJ loose the lottery again, it won't be to EDM...at least I hope, I personally do not want to see EDM in the bottom barrel next season.

Suter is interested in Colorado? Is Colorado interested too? Or as I should say, interested to the point of actually forking up the cash to sign him?
- martok2309

i hope he is interested in Colorado, that would be a big pick up for this team.

you have to realize the PR spin on this in Columbus is outweighing the logic to a point. A team with an established base/history of successes could do what you are saying. The Jackets are trading away Nash remember. They need star power. Nail gives them what they need..."a story"
- Eklund

its not definite that nash will def be traded, there is a good chance he is traded but its not set in stone, in fact its far from set in stone, columbus needs to have a good enough offer from a team nash wants to go to and feel that it will make them better

Your coverage of the Conference Finals has been breathtaking Ek. Just marvelous..
- Kovaltron

I am one person and I always take the Conference finals to get my rumor chart together since we have about two weeks after the Finals (which I travel to and cover). I wish I could do it all, but i simply can't. We do have great coverage from Todd, Jan, Matt and Adam...so we are covered.

right now, 26 teams aren't playing. so i focus my energies there.

its been fairly clear and accepted here by the fans suters chance of returning is somewhere south of " it would be a miracle".

Komisarek would be included in any deal for Luongo....(just a little something for those of you on the comments thread only)
- Eklund

Thanks for the tip.

its not definite that nash will def be traded, there is a good chance he is traded but its not set in stone, in fact its far from set in stone, columbus needs to have a good enough offer from a team nash wants to go to and feel that it will make them better
- dmarsden2988

lol. I know Rick Nash....I would not want to be around if he isn't dealt for real this time. It's as close as you can get to a guarantee...but yes, you are correct.

Komisarek would be included in any deal for Luongo....(just a little something for those of you on the comments thread only)
- Eklund

When you talked to the "Canucks" today what else did they have to say?

its been fairly clear and accepted here by the fans suters chance of returning is somewhere south of " it would be a miracle".
- predswilrule

not THAT bad, but I would mentally prepare for the possibility.

When you talked to the "Canucks" today what else did they have to say?
- Cptmjl

for me to know and you to find out.....

what ryan johansen+ john moore/JJ would not be enough? or if edmonton kind of balanced that out?
- Mapleleafs_91

It's not that those are bad proposals, I think there's value there for Edmonton. I just don't know that Edmonton makes such a drastic decision when either Murray or Yakupov are good fits for them as well.

for me to know and you to find out.....
- Eklund

Can't wait

If new york rangers lose this round against the devils, im sure Nash will be going to either san jose or the rangers. Toronto is a no go, LA is a no go, and i say boston is a no go.

you have to realize the PR spin on this in Columbus is outweighing the logic to a point. A team with an established base/history of successes could do what you are saying. The Jackets are trading away Nash remember. They need star power. Nail gives them what they need..."a story"
- Eklund

CLB doesn't need a "Story", it needs to win. Fans are not going to come back no matter how many "potential superstars" they draft. So any trade that mitigates future success for a potential star is irrational and will only result in pushing the fan base even further away.

Maybe we see a 3-way deal.

Tampa Bay gets:

Roberto Luongo
Tyler Bozak

Toronto gets:

Vincent Lecavalier
Mason Raymond
Vancouver gets:

James Reimer
Ryan Malone

I'm not sure how the trade would work but it would kind of fit that Lecavalier lands in Toronto when they need a center, Canucks get Malone and another young goalie and Tampa Bay gets a younger center and a goaltender.

Well that's my piece, feel free to rip me apart
- martok2309

So the Leafs weaken their already hurting goaltending situation by trading away a decent young goalie that has great upside and and a decent C in Bozak who is much younger than Vinny and had only 2 fewer points in 9 more games for a soft winger who spends half the game on his ass and who is due for a raise AND an hugely overpaid C past his prime who would have to waive his NMC to come to the media circus that is Toronto?

Consider this ripped, actually destroyed... NO. (frank)IN'. THANKS!

Maybe we see a 3-way deal.

Tampa Bay gets:

Roberto Luongo
Tyler Bozak

Toronto gets:

Vincent Lecavalier
Mason Raymond

Vancouver gets:

James Reimer
Ryan Malone

I'm not sure how the trade would work but it would kind of fit that Lecavalier lands in Toronto when they need a center, Canucks get Malone and another young goalie and Tampa Bay gets a younger center and a goaltender.

Well that's my piece, feel free to rip me apart
- martok2309

i think Toronto needs to give up more then just Reimer and Bozak, maybe throw in Armstrong.

If new york rangers lose this round against the devils, im sure Nash will be going to either san jose or the rangers. Toronto is a no go, LA is a no go, and i say boston is a no go.
- Mapleleafs_91

I would put San Jose, Nashville and Toronto and possibly even Boston ahead of the NYR either way...a surprise team to look for...Montreal.

CLB doesn't need a "Story", it needs to win. Fans are not going to come back no matter how many "potential superstars" they draft. So any trade that mitigates future success for a potential star is irrational and will only result in pushing the fan base even further away.
- CBJ18

yeh, but you talk to the folks trying to sell tickets for October...they NEED a story now. and to win this year.

Eklund: Rumors: Edmonton/Columbus Talking? Nash? Can Suter Be Bought? Luongo...
- Eklund

What I really don't understand is why they would need to trade the picks. If they have different needs and clearly want to draft different players... then just draft those respective players. They're 1/2... just Occam's Razor solution here. Them being chums just adds to Murray goes 1, Yak goes 2, end of story let's get some tea.

So the Leafs weaken their already hurting goaltending situation by trading away a decent young goalie that has great upside and and a decent C in Bozak who is much younger than Vinny and had only 2 fewer points in 9 more games for a soft winger who spends half the game on his ass and who is due for a raise AND an hugely overpaid C past his prime who would have to waive his NMC to come to the media circus that is Toronto?

Consider this ripped, actually destroyed... NO. (frank)IN'. THANKS!
- As_I_See_It

I don't know if you meant it that way but I LOL'd. Must be your winning personality.

Suter growing up and his family all were Hawk fan for generations, his family wants him in Chicago if all else is equal (I know for a fact), and Chicago wants him.

I think it will come down to there, Nashville or Minnesota. Detroit is not the shoo-in some believe. They have money but not a lot of the other factors he will be looking at.

What I really don't understand is why they would need to trade the picks. If they have different needs and clearly want to draft different players... then just draft those respective players. They're 1/2... just Occam's Razor solution here. Them being chums just adds to Murray goes 1, Yak goes 2, end of story let's get some tea.
- nfph

When you have an asset...you need to treat it as such. You owe it to yourself.

yeh, but you talk to the folks trying to sell tickets for October...they NEED a story now. and to win this year.
- Eklund

I guess you could say I just don't believe it will sell more tickets. We had plenty of "stories" last year, and that blew up big time. Fans are tired of putting money down on stories.

Thats kind of a weak deal, if im the edmonton gm, your thinking, if columbus wants yakopov and they want to keep their 1st rounder to draft galchenyuk as well, john moore+2nd rounder is kind of a weak offer. I would try to pry both john moore and ryan johansen if anything even if edmonton had to offer a bit more to get them.
- Mapleleafs_91

Moore + CBJ 2nd round is weak, but I don't think CBJ will cough up the world to move up one spot...only now though if they see Yakupov would bring hockey glory to CBJ. If CBJ wants to pry the 1st pick and keep 2nd too, it would be a overpayment for CBJ for sure. They will probably give up players that create holes in their roster and then plug them back up with the draft and trading Nash. Reports trade deadline NYR would offer 3-4 bodies to CBJ for Nash. Dubinsky, Erixon, Ryan McDonagh or Michael Del Zotto, plus 1st round pick. Now if CBJ gets Yakupov and Galchenyuk like Sarnia Sting reunion...CBJ can snag literally up to 6 players and trades John Moore+Johansen to EDM? I don't think EDM bites...sound like one more body needs to go back to EDM, but it really shows how important the trade of Nash can be to CBJ. They can sell high for Nash, but got to buy low from EDM, which not going to happen.

what ryan johansen+ john moore/JJ would not be enough? or if edmonton kind of balanced that out?
- Mapleleafs_91

CBJ is not going to trade any of that combination for the number one pick when the number 2 pick will yield a quality player. Johansen, Moore and JJ are going nowhere. It's not as if CBJ only has one hole to fill.