LOTS OF SPECULATION AHEAD OF FRIDAY'S TRADE FREEZE
DARREN DREGER
The arrival of Kari Lehtonen in Dallas via trade with Atlanta has re-fuelled speculation that Stars goaltender Marty Turco is on his way out.
However, according to Stars general manager Joe Nieuwendyk, trade interest in Turco to this point has been minimal.
One reason is that even though Turco becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer, his $5.7 million cap hit this season is still a stumbling block.
Carolina’s Ray Whitney remains a prime target for the Los Angeles Kings. The Pittsburgh Penguins have also shown interest but it’s unlikely the Pens will meet the Hurricanes’ asking price of a first-round draft pick and a prospect.
Meanwhile, Canes’ centre Matt Cullen has at least four teams interesting in his services. Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford wants at least a second-round draft pick for Cullen.
The thirteenth-place St. Louis Blues say they are still in the playoff fight, but the Blues have alerted teams to defenceman’s Carlo Colaiacovo’s potential availability. St. Louis will consider interest in any of their soon-to-be unrestricted free agents as well, which also includes forward Paul Kariya and Keith Tkachuk.
Finally, NHL trade speculation wouldn’t be complete without the Toronto Maple Leafs involved.
Alexei Ponikarovsky continues to draw interest from as many as 10 teams. However, there have been no offers. The Leafs are asking for a second-round draft pick and a prospect or a roster player in return.
Toronto’s Tomas Kaberle remains firm on his desire to stay with the Maple Leafs, so failing a sudden change of heart, he will not be submitting a list of teams he would consider waiving his no-trade clause to join.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=309708
25 Responses to LOTS OF SPECULATION AHEAD OF FRIDAY'S TRADE FREEZE
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My speculation:
To tor: talbot 2nd rd pick
To pitt: poni
To car: purcell 2nd rd pick
To la: whitney
To edm; schneider
To van. Cogliano, dubnyk 2nd rd pick
Done. Talbot could really help the PK.
This seems horible to say but seems like a lot for schneider, and i would do the Pitt trade in a second. not sure LA is gonna still be wanting whitney after trade fell apart.
ANY LEAF FANS THINK THEY SHOULD HOLD ON TO PONIKAROVSKY? HE'S ON PACE FOR AROUND A 25 GOAL, 60 POINT SEASON.
IF HE IS TRADED TO PITTSBURGH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ERIC TANGRADI COMING BACK THE OTHER WAY, I'M SURE BURKE WOULD TOO.
I think they should trade him we NEED assets. I would love to see a 2nd rounder and anybody come back. I think he would resign in TO if his salary was reasonable. His wife is from toronto and her whole family lives there. It would be a great way to get a little further ahead.
Not sure if I believe Kaberle is not gonna submit a list of teams and was sure I read somewhere he quietly has already. I mean you would think he may like a little control? They almost traded him this off-season, you have to think he knows they will again if they like the offer? I would just assume he would like a little control is all? Not to mention that if he submits a list maybe Burke trys to stay to that list in the off season?
I don't know about the Leafs trade. I like Talbot but I would like Caputi or Tangradi better. 😛
Yeah its good points. I think Burke is saying that because he doesn't want the media to set his price. That happened with the Antropov trade last year and it hurt us. I think it happened with the almost Kaberle trade in the offseason and hurt us again.
If he keeps denying it, the media won't set a price on Kaberle and Burke is free to get what he wants. Or he is free to get whatever he can and then the media won't be disappointed if he gets less.
For sure that would be great however at one point nobody thought we would get more than a 2nd rounder for him. So a 2nd + is amazing to me. especially since i truely believe he is easily resigned.
Talbot is annoying the heck out of me this year. He was really good last year and lights out in the playoffs, particularly against Detroit.
But come on .. he is blowing chunks this year. Yes, he had shoulder surgery and it takes awhile to get back into the swing of things. But many others have gone through it and came back fine.
However, he is signed for another year at a really good rate for what he normally brings to the table so I cant complain TOO much.
Ya I almost think we need to move him now. While his replacement may not be as offwensive he represents our best chance at getting better sooner. If it is not at the deadline he will be traded this summer….no NTC means see ya later, I think. And who knows maybe someone nobody forsees gets in the game?
Is anybody else interested at all in Olesz form FLA? It is rumoured he could be had for almost nothing as he is fairly high paid. He has a tone of talent and is only 25. Might even be able to get something else for taking his contract. I believe he is a 3mil player til 2013-14 I think. Could he be a steal and work out in a different place? The now more upbeat and enjoyable Leaf room?
Yeah exactly. If it were me I would move him now if I could but only for a top 3 young forward. While Phaneuf is more goal scoring defense than puck moving, I think he can replace him ok. ANd the way Gunnarson is progressing, he could effectively take away some of the pain of losing Kaberle.
Plus, Burke could be, like "Yeah, we are going to trade you, but its to make our team better. We won't be a contender this season and we feel that we owe you a chance at the cup. But just to let you know, we feel that after this next season we will probably have the need for a puck moving dman to make us into true contenders, and you know, we would love to reward a guy who we feel has the skills and was with us a couple years ago and maybe giving him a nice career ending contract."
I don't know about Olesz. He has never scored more 14 goals and 30 points. 3.125 million for him? Thats like 104 000 grand per point. But yeah he has a lot of talent and he could work out in another team and environment. But I don't think he and Wilson would get a long well.
ANd if we got him, we would most definitely be getting something more with him.
He could very well be that nice, or he may be like listen we have decided you are the new official jockstrap cleaner…….so if you have anything you wanna tell me about it feel free…lol
That's what I am saying if you say trade for him plus….for almost nothing…is it worth a chance? or exchange a not great contract or expiring one for him. Say Ex for him and a 2nd?
Well apparently Burke has upped his asking price because of the market and his play. I think he wants a 2nd and a prospect or even a roster player in return.
But with the lack of quality forwards in the upcoming free agent market, I could see Burke trying to sign him again and viewing this as giving a long time leaf a chance at a cup and then having him come back. Especially if he loves toronto as much as is being reported (with his wife here and all).
Yeah thats a good point.
It could work out well. And at worst, we just bary him in the minors.
I am not saying i am right….lol…i'm wrong several times a day….just ask my kids. I just wonder if something like that is worth it. I mean they are rumored to be looking at Muller a similar type player. If you can get one for nothing plus extra the wow. And say if the Leafs somehow and i am not saying they can get tangradi out of pitt. that gives three skill players for a line with a big body on it creating space. Not that i see the Leafs breaking up Kessek/Bozak soon. I just need these trades done they are distracting….lol
Tor
Grabovski(7g, 18a in 42games)
Stefanovich
Phx
Mueller(4g, 12a in 51games)
Phoenix apparently were apparently only looking for a prospect. They get a forward who is producing more plus a decent prospect.
Tor
Ponikarovsky
Stempniak
Hayes
Dal
Glennie
2nd rounder
Dallas is 3 points behind Calgary for the 8th spot in the west with a game in hand.
Tor
Kaberle
Slaney
Oreskovic
LA
1st rounder(likely around the 20th pick)
B.Schenn
Teubert
Sign- Ponikarovsky, Kariya
Resign-Gustavsson,Kulemin-Primeau
Ponikarovsky-Meuller-Kessel
Kariya-Schenn-Kadri
Kulemin-Bozak-Hanson
Stalberg-Primeau-Orr
Phaneuf(C)-Schenn(A)
Beauchemin(A)-Komisarek(A)
Gunnarson-Teubert
Giggy
Gustavsson
If that could be done i would smile like I just got a piece…..maybe better….lol
Mueller has put up terrible numbers this year, he would start as a 2nd line guy and see if he could work his way back up, but he would not be given the #1 center position.
Also, if your B. Schenn deal went down their is no way we could get Teubert. L.A is not going to sacrifice 3 years of 1st rounders for Kaberle.
It would look more like this:
Kaberle, Hayes for B. Schenn, Harrold, 2nd
Kariya-Bozak-Kessel – Two playmakers, 1 goal scorer
Poni-Schenn-Kadri – Well balanced line.
Kulemin-Mueller-Stalberg – young, effective checking line with good scoring potential
Hanson-Primeau-Orr – typical 4th line
Phaneuf-Schenn – minute munching, physically dominating defensemen
Beauchemin-Komisarek – same deal
Gunnarson-Harrold – Reliable 3rd pair
Giggy
Gustovsson
Grabovski and Stefanovich is too much to give up for Mueller. THey pretty much have to trade him, because he doesn't want to sign there (apparently), is unhappy with the whole situation, and will likely await an offer sheet. Any teams interested in his potential, can just hand him an offer sheet in the summer that is the maximum dollar amount for a 2nd rounder as compensation. Phoenix will not be able to afford that much for a struggling, unhappy player. THat is why he is on the block. Dreger says the asking price is a roster forward. Grabovski would be good on his own.
Like leifmeister said, Schenn, Teubert and a 1st might be asking a bit much from LA. I could see them doing Schenn and Teubert, as Teubert's develpment isn't coming along as smoothy as they had hoped, but not three years worth of 1st rounders. Regardless, I don't think Burke is interested in players that young right now. He will try and turn Kaberle into a legitimate NHL center (Carter, Staal, Pavelski), and look at acquiring someone like Brayden Schenn when we have picks to burn again.
We have enough unproven forwards that will be trying to crack the roster next season. Next year the roster will include Tyler Bozak, Christian Hanson, Viktor Stalberg, and probably Nazem Kadri. As well, Chris DiDomenico is going to challenge for a 4th line role alongside Joel Champagne, Tyler Ruegsegger (better stats than Bozak in the NCAA right now; same age), and possibly Mikhail Stefanovich. Tangradi is actually behind all of these guys in his development, having a very meagre season in the AHL.
Tangradi is a guy who's talent was blown out of proportion last season. The reality is that he was an overaged, over-sized player when he started dominating the OHL.
If anything, we need to be looking at defensive prospects to take Kaberle's place in moving the puck up the ice, and running our powerplay.
TRADE DEADLINE:
============
Player Deals:
To NSH: Alex Ponikarovsky, Phil Oreskovic
To TOR: Jonathan Blum, 5th round pick 2010
To LAK: Garnet Exelby, 5th round pick 2010
To TOR: 2nd round pick 2010
To WSH: Lee Stempniak
To TOR: 2nd round pcik 2010
(surprizingly bad on the PK – Stemps has been very good there lately)
Salary Deals:
To MIN: Alex Foster
To TOR: Petr Sykora, 4th round pick 2010
To CLB: Tim Brent
To TOR: Fredrik Modin, 4th round pick 2010
To EDM: Kyle Rogers
To TOR: Fernando Pisani, 4th round pick 2010
AT OR NEAR THE ENTRY DRAFT:
======================
To CHI: 2nd in 2010 (LAK), rights to Jimmy Hayes
To TOR: Dustin Byfuglien, Brent Sopel
(they give us Byfuglien at a reduced cost for taking Sopel off their hands)
To PHX: Mikhail Grabovski
To SJS: Peter Mueller, 2nd in 2011 (TOR)
To TOR: Ryane Clowe
(Massive salary dump for the Sharks; leaves room to resign everyone)
To VAN: Tomas Kaberle, John Mitchell, 3rd round pick 2010 (TOR)
To PHI: Cory Schneider, Jordan Schroeder, 1st round pick 2010 (VAN), rights to Willie Mitchell
To TOR: Jeff Carter
(that's a pretty substantial package for Carter. JVR and Schroeder are old linemates, and Schneider provides a potential franchise goalie. The organization is extremely thin on picks as well. Plus, this deal helps them manage their cap a lot easier for the next 2-3 years. VAN is rumored interested in Kaberle, and we know Toronto wants Carter.)
RESIGNS AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS:
===========================
-resign Jonas Gustavsson, 3 years, 5.4 million (1.8 cap hit)
-resign Nikolai Kulemin, 4 years, 9 million (2.25 cap hit)
-resign Christian Hanson, 2 years, 1.95 million (0.975 cap hit)
-resign Wayne Primeau, 2 years, 1.7 million (0.85 cap hit)
-waive Jeff Finger; reassign to the Marlies (AHL)
-waive Brent Sopel; reassign to the Marlies (AHL)
ROSTER OF 2010/2011 SEASON:
=======================
L1: Ryane Clowe (3.625) – Jeff Carter (5.0) – Phil Kessel (5.4)
L2: Viktor Stalberg (0.85) – Nazem Kadri (1.75) – Dustin Byfuglien (3.0)
L3: Nikolai Kulemin (2.25) – Tyler Bozak (3.725) – Fred Sjostrom (0.75)
L4: Wayne Primeau (0.85) – Chris Hanson (0.975) – Colton Orr (1.0)
D1: Dion Phaneuf (6.5) – Luke Schenn (2.975)
D2: Mike Komisarek (4.5) – Jonathan Blum (0.942)
D3: Francois Beauchemin (3.8) – Carl Gunnarsson (0.8)
GT: J.S. Giguere (6.0) – Jonas Gustavsson (1.8)
CAP HIT – 57.492 million
And again, the team can exceed the cap quite a bit because of the many inflated cap hits that are aco*****ed for in the bonus cushion.