Hockey Trade Rumors

My opinions on Trade Rumors from Spector:THE LATEST ON FLEURY.

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS: John Dellapina reports Rangers hotheaded winger Theo Fleury denies GM Glen Sather has asked him to waive his no-trade clause. Fleury said he wouldn’t know how to react if Sather did ask him, and said Sather did suggest earlier in the season that he’d trade him if Fleury didn’t clean up his act.

Theo Fleury better be prepared if Sather will ask him to waive his no-trade clause. I think Fleury had a good career with the New York Rangers and he did give it all he had. If Sather can get more value in return for Fleury, then he will trade him.

STARS DENY SHOPPING BELFOUR.

DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Chuck Carlton reports Dallas Stars team president Jim Lites says there is no trade imminent involving Ed Belfour. Lites claims the team has no plans to move “the Eagle” and may consider offering him an extension when the season is over. Belfour claimed he wasn’t bothered by trade rumours.

I think this all depends on what can the Stars get in return. If the offers are not that great, then they will not trade him. I think they should trade Belfour and get Turco ready for the next regular season, and start getting him in shape for playoffs.

OILERS AND ISLANDERS TALKING?

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson reports Oilers GM Kevin Lowe and NY Islanders GM Mike Milbury may have talked trade during the recent general managers meeting in Florida. The two teams have a recent trade history, with the Oilers having dealt Roman Hamrlik to the Isles in June 2000 for Eric Brewer and Josh Green. Matheson claims Milbury may be interested in Oilers defenceman Tom Poti and winger Anson Carter, while Edmonton is believed to have interest in Isles forward Brad Isbister. Matheson expressed concern about trading Poti for a forward, claiming it could weaken the Oilers blueline.

I think it is foolish to give up on a 24 year old defenseman who is capable to contribute well offensively. Carter is not going anywhere, but he needs to start scoring again, or else he could be traded. Isbister? He is not worth much at all. This “big-strong” forward will never be a true power forward unless he starts hitting harder, be more of a bully, and start scoring more, when could he ever achieve one of those three things though? I don’t think these two team will come to a conclusion.

THE LATEST ON THE LEAFS.

TORONTO SUN: Lance Hornby reports the Toronto Maple Leafs are engaged in “exploratory talks” with other teams regarding potential trades, but team executive Bill Watters is saying there’s no guarantee the club will make a major trade. The loss of goaltender Curtis Joseph and defenceman Dmitri Yushkevich has fuelled speculation the Maple Leafs will make a major play for a replacement for one or both men. The Leafs are rumoured to be interested in blueliners Darius Kasparaitis of Pittsburgh, Tom Poti of Edmonton, and Jiri Slegr of Atlanta. Gritty Leafs forwards Darcy Tucker and Gary Roberts might attract some interest, but Watters said he’d be “shocked” if the Leafs were to deal them.

I do not like Watters at all. The Leafs should worry more about goaltending because they will not scare any teams, not even the Rangers (if making the playoffs). The Leafs are in trouble, and trading Darcy Tucker might not be that bad of a loss because Tucker will not be an important player 3 years from now, he is just an enforcer.

THE LATEST ON THE DEVILS.

NEW YORK POST: Mark Everson reports Devils GM Lou Lamoriello was talking trade with his counterparts at the recent GMs meeting in Florida. The Devils are seeking a scoring forward, and Everson claims Lamoriello is seeking a defenceman he’ll then add with one of his forwards to bring in the sniper he needs.

Watching this team get shut out by the Avalanche and then lose to the Coyotes, yes they do need a scorer. Elias can’t always score for this team. Gomez is having a horrible season. Sykora is slumping, Brylin should be used as a trade bait. This should lead to a trade for a scorer. The Devils have been good under Constantine, but they played underdog teams as well (i.e. Back-2-Back v Sabres). Who should the Devils go after though? Selanne is one player, and I think they have a better chance with Selanne than any other scorers. If the Devils trade Bobby Holik, it would be a very big mistake (depending on what they receive). If the Devils trade Jason Arnott, it would be a smart trade since Arnott has scored for the Devils, but he comes and goes. They also need a better defenseman than Zyuzin, he appears to be a bust, as he was with a heavier defensive team (TB).

THE LATEST ON THE SENATORS.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports a tight payroll will likely limit any potential moves by Senators GM Marshall Johnston to bolster his roster at the trade deadline. Garrioch claims the Sens would love to trade for Dallas’s Joe Nieuwendyk, Pittsburgh’s Robert Lang or Vancouver’s Andrew Cassels, but only “for a reasonable price”. The Senators may consider shopping wingers Shawn McEachern, Magnus Arvedson or defenceman Chris Phillips, but the reporter believes it “unlikely” the club will make major changes.

I agree that the Senators will keep this current team, probably trading McEarchen though. Phillips should be considered untouchable, and Arvedson is the player you need in the playoffs. Plus, this is a post-season without Yashin, which could be better.

THE LATEST ON THE BLUE JACKETS.

COLUMBUS DISPATCH: reports Blue Jackets GM Doug MacLean is listening to offers from other teams, but isn’t close to making any deals. He maintains he’s not trading veterans such as goaltender Ron Tugnutt and defenceman Lyle Odelein.

If Doug McLean does not trade Tugnutt or Odelein, then this Columbus team has a very long way to go. The Minnesota Wild have a better advantage, they just trade the useless veterans. Is Tugnutt useful? Not as much. Odelein? Trade him to a team that needs Odelein. McLean could just be acting like this in order to get better offers, I hope so.

THRASHERS CLOSER TO MOVING SLEGR?

ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION: Jeff Schultz reports negotiations between the Thrashers and impending UFA defenceman Jiri Slegr are moving slowly, prompting GM Don Waddell to suggest Slegr could be dealt by the March deadline if he cannot come to terms. It’s believed Slegr is seeking a three-year deal worth $8.8 million.

Trade Slegr and in return get a younger-cheaper defenseman who has a good bright future. The Thrashers can’t spend that money on Slegr, it’s not a smart move.

RANGERS AND COYOTES TALKING?

660 WFAN in NY reported that the Rangers were on the verge of sending Theo Fleury and a 3rd round 2002 pick to Phoenix for Shane Doan and Danny Markov. This was pending on Theo waiving his no trade clause and the Rangers maybe picking up half of his option. Also it was rumoured in the same segment that the Blues are offering Tyson Nash, Mike Van Ryn and Fred Brathwaite for Mike Richter while Sather is insisting on Barrett Jackman, Tyson Nash and Brent Johnson. Also mentioned was the Nedved for Poti deal as stated on your site but it was Nedved and Filip Novak for Poti and Mike Grier.

I would even trade Fleury and a 2nd round pick for Doan and Danny Markov. A line with Doan Lindros and York would be awesome. Tyson Nash, Van Ryn, and Brathwaite for Richter? No thanks. Barnaby is better than Tyson Nash. Nash does not even fight. Van Ryn is a highly touted prospect (1st rd pick of the NJ Devils) and a good player in the NHL, but Barrett Jackman (better prospect) was going to be a Ranger last season if Richter did not get injured. I like the 2nd one with Nash, Jackman, and Johnson, bt I don’t even care about Nash, I would rather have a 2nd round pick instead of Nash. The Nedved-Novak for Poti-Grier is a not that great, and not even a big change for either teams, except Grier could be of better use in the Rangers for defensive purposes.

Micki Peroni

In courtesy of Spector Trade Rumors