Florida GM Dale Tallon appears to be getting a jump start on the rental market, making a trade on the second straight day. On Saturday, he dealt veteran backup Michael Hutchinson (who was insurance if Roberto Luongo got hurt) to Toronto for a 2020 fifth round pick and today he swapped tough blueliner Alex Petrovic to Edmonton for defenseman Chris Wideman and a third round pick.
Both Petrovic and Wideman are pending UFA's, but the Oilers were in desperate need of a defenseman who could play in their top six after losing Oscar Klefbom to injury.
Wideman had only played five games since being acquired from Ottawa last month.
The Oilers need to turn things around now that the initial bump from hiring Ken Hitchcock has gone away. They have lost their last five games and appear to be in desperation mode to shore up their D, as they made another deal late Sunday, shipping forward Drake Caggiula and veteran Jason Garrison to Chicago for former Flyer blueliner Brandon Manning and prospect Robin Norell.
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This list CAN be changed. If you make a solid argument in the comment thread here, I will throw it to twitter for a vote.. Below I will list the teams top 6 (in my opinion, also debatable) but when voting for these teams I am looking at the entire top 20 roster...so depth matters.
#31 Vegas #30 Arizona #29 Florida #28 Columbus #27 Carolina #26 Minnesota #25 Nashville #24 Winnipeg #23 San Jose #22 Vancouver
And now onto the next 6....as voted on twitter @eklund.
#21 Ottawa Senators Roster Stars: Yashin/Spezza Alfredsson Heatley Karlsson Redden/Chabot/Chara Anderson
#20 Dallas Stars Roster Stars: Modano, Seguin, Benn, Zubov, Sydor/Hatcher Belfour
#19 Buffalo Sabres Perreault, Briere, Eichel Mogilny , Housley, Zhitnik Hasek
#18 Anaheim Ducks Kariya, Getzlaf, Selanne/Perry Niedermayer, Pronger, Giguere.
#17 Calgary Flames Nieuwendyke Iginla Mullen Gaudreau Macinnis Giordano Kiprusof
#16 Washington Capitals Backstrom Ovechkin Bondra Johansson Langway Holtby
Remember these Rankings are subject to change.....if you make a case I will take it to the masses to vote..
What's the Buzz?
Who Should Be In The Next 5?