Updated:
Marian Gaborik to Los Angeles wil likely put the kibosh on Matt Moulson's chances with playing with his brother in law Jon Quick.
If the LA door closes to Moulson, the Moulson will likely be sent to Ottawa, with perhaps Chris Stewart.
I'm wondering if Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen will take back Kings' prospects Tyler Toffoli or Linden Vey in the Gaborik deal.
Did Tim Murray give Kings GM Dean Lombardi sticker shock? Did he ask for too much in exchange for Moulson?
With LA closed, will Vanek go straight to Minnesota?
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Last Friday, Murray completed his first ever NHL trade when he sent Ryan Miller and Steve Ott to St. Louis in exchange for Jaro Halak, Chris Stewart a 2015 first rounder and a conditional pick that can become a 2014 1st rounder if Ryan Miller re-signs with St. Louis or takes his team to the Western Conference Finals this season.
Murray has some more moves left to make in finding a new home for pending UFA Matt Moulson. He may also end up trading Christian Ehrhoff and Drew Stafford before the 3pm EDT trade deadline.
Thanks, Sabres.com
Murray mentioned waiver claims. Ottawa waived former Canisius College star Corey Conacher. Murray is familiar with Conacher having traded for him while the AGM in Ottawa.
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Ryan Miller is 2-0 as the starting goaltender for his St. Louis Blues.
There is a common denominator between his first two games as the starting goalie of the Blues that is radically different from the modus operandi in Buffalo.
Substantially less vulcanized rubber.
In Buffalo, with an at-times leaky D, Miller was facing 40+ shots a night under Ron Rolston. Then, Ted Nolan tightened things up and limited Miller’s average shot count to the mid-30s.
Miller’s St. Louis fortress is now protected by a kevlar vest that is fortified by an all star D corps.
Less bullets shot at Miller means less danger. It also signals a huge shift from the Buffalo model that Miller had grown accustomed to over the past few seasons.
Miller faced only 23 total shots in first start vs. Phoenix on Sunday night. Miller faced only 17 total shots in his win against Tampa on Tuesday night.
Its amazing that Miller has only has had to handle 40 total shots in 120 minutes of play with his new team. Jaro Halak predicted that Miller would see less shots in St. Louis.
Thanks, Blues TV
No wonder Millsie is smiling ear to ear thee days.
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Maybe it was his contract. Maybe its that the Bruins are more interested in trading for Keith Yandle.
Christian Ehrhoff not an option in Boston?
Bruins not interested in Christian Ehrhoff.
— Fluto Shinzawa (@GlobeFluto) March 5, 2014That's okay because there are teams that do want Ehrhoff. They include Anaheim, San Jose, and Detroit.
Last week, Ehrhoff submitted to GM Tim Murray his list of teams that he will accept a trade to.
He's not a lock to be traded on Wednesday, however, the chances are very good. Contending teams need a hammer from the point. That's Ehrhoff's calling card.
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Minnesota Wild GM Chuck Fletcher felt the sticker shock of his buddy Tim Murray's demands for Jaro Halak. Fletcher wasn't willing to send Murray a prospect ( ie: Zack Phillips 2011 1st rounder) and/or a draft choice to Buffalo for Halak so he settled for the second best goalie available to him.
Fletcher wasted little time grabbing Ilya Bryzgalov from the Edmonton Oilers by flipping the 2014 4th rounder from the Jason Pominville trade.
Bryzgalov was the safer, cheaper alternative to Halak.
Michael Russo of the Star Tribune reports that the Bryzgalov trade allows the Wild the opportunity to invest the roughly $3 million in savings in another player, like Thomas Vanek.
The Wild will not have to shed salary in order to do business on trade deadline day.
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NY Islanders winger Thomas Vanek is on the move again.
Vanek is about to be trade. Again. He was scratched from tonight's game vs. Winnipeg.
He's not injured. He's now in the proverbial trade cue.
The Minnesota Wild opted to trade for the cheaper option Ilya Bryzgalov rather than grabbing Jaro Halak. Chuck Fletcher now has saved $3 million that he can use to invest in Vanek at the trade deadline.
Why wait to sign him as a UFA in July when he can be had now.
Garth Snow is asking for a 1st rounder, a roster forward and a prospect. That's a lot to pay for a rental. There will be a GM who will step up and pay that price.
The LA Kings, San Jose Sharks, and Anaheim Ducks want to trade for Vanek as a rental.
My intel says that Vanek is heading home to the State Of Hockey. If Fletcher doesn't want the 30 goal scorer no, he'll get him in July.
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Matt Moulson to LA.
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Who saw this coming?
Who says that there is a thin market for goalies heading into Wdnesday's trade deadline?
There have been six goalies traded in the NHL since Friday night. Three contenders found solutions to their net issues, while three bottom dwellers added a future starter or a piece to be flipped at tomorrow's deadline or at the NHL entry draft (see Halak).
Lets count 'em down:
Ryan Miller traded to St. Louis Jaro Halak traded to Buffalo Ilya Bryzgalov traded to Minnesota Viktor Fasth traded to Edmonton Jakub Markstrom traded to Vancouver. Roberto Luongo traded to Florida.
#FlaPanthers acquire Roberto Luongo & Steven Anthony from Vancouver in exchange for Shawn Matthias & Jacob Markstrom http://t.co/2poXkXvlGj
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) March 4, 2014Never trust an NHL GM when he says that he likes his goaltending, That's code for "we need help and I'm going to find an upgrade".
Adding Miller was a stroke of genius for the Blues who will enjoy a long run through the playoffs this season. Bryzgalov will add immediately value to the Wild and will stabilize their goal crease for a playoff run. Markstrom won't make an impact on the Canucks this season and will likely end up in AHL Utica. Fasth will play a key role alongside Ben Scrivens who signed new two year extension earlier this week.
What now becomes of Halak?
So much for moving him at the deadline, unless Washington or Pittsburgh want to take a shot at him. The guy's stock has plummeted and is the last goalie standing after the music stopped.
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Shame of Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis and John Tortarella for using Roberto Luongo's back as a welcome mat. Frankly, I'm surprised that Luongo toughed it out for as long as he did in Vancouver what the Corey Schneider crapatacular and now most recently being benched for Eddie Lack at the Heritage Classic.
Gillis made this mess, now he can sit in it.
Luongo took his team to game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals a few years ago and he's won two Olympic gold medals. Gillis treated Luongo so poorly over the past few years.
Now, Gillis is stuck with a crap team and no Luongo, nor Schneider. Kelser will leave soon, too.
Who's laughing now?
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Florida Panthers GM Dale Tallon just served notice that Sunrise, Florida is now a respectable place to play hockey again. Trading or Luongo will go a long way towards attracting UFAs to the Panthers this summer. Tallon has a new owner who has already said that spending to the top of the $70.7 million salary cap will not be a problem in 2014-15 and beyond. Tallon spent to the floor a couple of summers ago and the Cats won the SouthLeast division.
Now that he has unlimited resources to invest and a roster of sick young talent like Barkov, Huberdeau, Bjugstad, Gudbranson, Petrovic, and more, Tallon will not have a problem selling the future to veteran UFAs. Add Luongo to the mix for multiple years and the Panthers will be relevant again next season.
Conversely, Buffalo GM Tim Murray has nearly $25 million to spend to get the cap floor this summer. Murray has great young talent to sell, however, that's about it. No Ryan Miller, no Steve Ott, soon to be no Matt Moulson, no Pat LaFonataine.
Which GM's phone calls do you think the top UFAs are going to be picking up on this July?
Murray's or Tallon's?
Sunshine or suffering?
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