Hockey Trade Rumors

After seven long months, I’ve decided to return with “A different look on trade rumours”. This edition: the Derek Morris trade, Byron Dafoe and Kyle McLarenTHE DEREK MORRIS TRADE

Perhaps one of the Calgary Flames’ boldest moves was the trading of the promising young defenceman Derek Morris to the Colorado Avalanche last week. Morris, along with Dean McAmmond and Jeff Shantz, went to Colorado for two centres, Chris Drury and Stephane Yelle (two former Quebec Nordiques draft picks), giving the Avalanche a fourth premier defenceman and the Flames two good centres.

This deal I think should work out for both clubs. With the loss of Ray Bourque and now Darius Kasparitus, the Avalanche needed a young, quality defender who could stick around for more than a year or two and Morris should be that defender. McAmmond and Shantz should help their checking unit, especially McAmmond, who had a career year as a Flame. Drury should blossom beside Jarome Iginla, and, with Craig Conroy, should form one solid first line. Yelle will aid the second unit immensely, and, with Marc Savard (if he decides to play) should give the Flames another scoring option. While Calgary probably won’t challenge for the Stanley Cup like Colorado will, the Flames just may have enough to gain a play-off berth.

BYRON DAFOE

It’s official: Byron Dafoe has signed and Elvis Presley’s still alive. Just kidding. Dafoe is still at large despite rumours to the contrary, but at least three teams have come to the forefront looking for his services. The Vancouver Canucks, St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks are apparently interested, but, in truth, only the Blues and ‘Hawks really need him.

True, the Canucks’ goaltending isn’t stellar, but Dan Cloutier and Peter Skudra did their job last year and should be even better this year, so Dafoe automatically doesn’t fit in the Canucks’ plans. It’s already widely-known that the Blues are not impressed with Brent Johnson, and clearly if anyone needs a goaltending boost, it’s the Blues. Chicago did reasonably well with Jocelyn Thibault, but the ‘Hawks would also benefit with Dafoe. Chicago is penciled in for a nose dive this season, but, if they land Dafoe, that could all change.

KYLE MCLAREN

Holdout defenceman Kyle McLaren so far hasn’t gone anywhere and probably won’t be back with the Boston Bruins at all this season. The Edmonton Oilers have apparently shown interest, but no deal so far has been made. It’s also not clear who the Oilers could give up for McLaren.

Reports have suggested Janne Niinimaa was headed for Beantown but the Oilers have denied it and rightfully so. Niinimaa, as noted by Spector’s, has a better injury record than McLaren and is overall the better defender. Plus, the Oilers probably want to improve their defence, and they won’t do that trading away their top defender for the Bruins’ top defender. Other reports have suggested Jason Smith, but the Oilers’ captain isn’t exactly worth McLaren on the trade front, so, if the Oilers truly want McLaren- and it seems they do- they may have to get creative.

Well, that’s this edition of “A different look on trade rumours.” Feel free to comment on these and/or other trade rumours.

-DG