ALBERTA BEEF!
Enough Leafs and Habs already! Lets talk WEST SIIIIIIIIIDE! What’s gonna happen in Wild Rose Country? What do the Flames need? Are the Oilers buyers or sellers? Who’s going and who’s coming?
Lets start in E-Town:
RW Erik Cole looks to be on the move. There’s been a lot of talk over the last couple of weeks that the Boston Bruins, without Marco Sturm due to injury, are heavily involved in any Cole talks. Some names mentioned heading back to the Oil – F Vladimir Sobotka, D Matt Lashoff, D Matt Hunwick.
Robin Brownlee of Oilersnation.com (and a well-respected, former beat writer with the team) states “While Kevin Dupont of the Boston Globe, who is as connected as any newspaperman in the NHL, and other scribes in-the-know have written about the possibility GM Steve Tambellini will send Cole to Beantown for prospects, I’m led to believe Cole could again be a Hurricane — the team he spent six seasons with. ” [http://www.oilersnation.com/2009/02/carolina-calling/] Names mentioned coming back – F Tuomu Ruutu, D Dennis Seidenberg, D Anton Babchuk.
And what about F Alexei Kovalev in Montreal? It appears as though he may be on his way out. Even-up swap for Cole?
Some other potential destinations for Cole – Pittsburgh, Buffalo, New Jersey, Philadelphia, NYR.
D Denis Grebeshkov is another guy that could be moved because of his upcoming RFA status, but unless its for another defenseman, its not gonna happen.
Mark Spector of Sportsnet.ca says: “Watch for dealings with Rangers and Columbus, with President of Hockey Operations Kevin Lowe’s ties to Glen Sather and Howson. Lowe’s Oilers have missed the playoffs for two straight years –- he’ll go hard at deadline to improve, with a penchant for making a splash”, and added that D Derek Morris could be on the Oilers radar with the recent injury to D Lubomir Visnovsky. Morris, an Edmonton product stated: “I like Edmonton. I was born there. Believe it or not, I do miss the snow, the weather, the four seasons. I don’t miss the 40-below days… But we miss Alberta, we love Alberta.”
Who else could be on the Oilers’ wish list? D Jay Bouwmeester? F Chris Neil? F Bill Guerin? F Alex Frolov?
Thoughts?
And in Cow-Town:
The Flames may tinker a bit looking for a top 4 defensemen, a veteran forward or a backup goalie. F Matt Lombardi is the name that seems to be coming up most. The Flames may look at moving him.
Mark Spector of sportsnet.ca reports: “If Florida decides they can’t sign D Jay Bouwmeester (UFA), Calgary will be hot in pursuit. If not, UFA D Derek Morris will be targeted. They would be all over D Chris Pronger (1 year, $6.25 M) or UFA D Scott Niedermayer if they hit the open market. Flames GM Darryl Sutter may also shore up with a backup ‘tender at the deadline, as long as he can get one for a later round pick.”
One report I heard had the Flames talking with Buffalo, with the names of F Tim Connolly and D Adrian Aucoin coming up, although I’m not sure of the validity.
Goalies Mikael Tellqvist (Pho), Manny Legace (StL), Martin Gerber (Ott) are a few possibility’s as a backup.
What else could the Flames have up their sleeve?
Thoughts?