Breaking...it sounds like the Canucks are extending their assistant coaches contracts to match the term of their head coach...more on that as we get it...

had an interesting conversation today with a scout out west regarding the dreaded "American Thanksgiving" and what that means now in the NHL . For years, teams who have been out of the playoffs when turkey hits the table are for the majority out in April.

But the last few years that has been changing as we have seen a few more teams make it into the dance even if they weren't there by November's end, and of course last year we saw a team who was dead last in the NHL in January not only make the playoffs, but win it all...

Either way, the scout tells me that teams are very much ramping up their scouting of other teams in an effort to find a diamond in the rough out there....a player the team could add sometime before the trade deadline to put them over the top...And this year looks to be very unique and has the potential for some HUGE surprises.

Three reasons for this...

#1. More than any season I can remember, there are some truly desperate teams who are either on the playoff bubble or who are looking at the Cup as potentially "anyone's game"...which it is.

#2. The salary cap is low and that is why many feel this goes right to the deadline and this deadline favors the more experienced GMs who know how to make player for player trades versus just UFAs to be for picks...

#3. Seattle is coming and some young teams need to start looking at their roster spots and finding ways to creatively keep that going...

I am launching the Rumor Chart in the next day or so, and one of the big factors in the chart is finding the teams who are buyers or sellers...and that is very tied to who is the most desperate...

It also helps to look at which teams I feel could make the playoffs but aren't in there now...and of course the opposite...(teams in now who could fall out...)

In my opinion, the teams most likely out who could make it in are...
Pittsburgh, Tampa, Dallas, Winnipeg, Chicago, San Jose, Philly...

The teams in who could fall out are...
Carolina, Montreal, Florida, Arizona, Vancouver, Calgary....

That is 13 teams who are on the bubble!


Rumors will be plentiful, and it all starts soon...

What's the buzz?

Who do you think could fall out or sneak in?

Join the Discussion: » 54 Comments » Post New Comment

» UFA Season Starts Now. Top Five Centers.

» Four Games on Monday: Who Are Your Picks? Mon's Buzzcast

» Home Teams Ruling the Day. Will It Continue? [email protected]. UFA's Tomorrow.

» Get Ready for The Utah Outlaws.

» The Buzzcast Predicts The First Round