THE RACE IS ON AS NHL TRADE FREEZE LIFTS
DARREN DREGER – Tsn.ca
The NHL’s roster freeze lifted at midnight eastern time, freeing general managers to close on any trade discussions that took place during the Olympic break.
Based on the level of those discussions, there’s a good chance we’ll see some movement in the next 24 to 48 hours.
Here’s what we know.
As is the case most years, veteran defencemen are a hot commodity.
The Boston Bruins are anxiously trying to improve their blueline with a player who can play in their top four.
The Philadelphia Flyers and Phoenix Coyotes are also among the many teams scouring the market for help on the backend.
The Carolina Hurricanes have at least three defencemen Canes general manager Jim Rutherford would be willing to deal.
Joe Corvo, Aaron Ward and Andrew Alberts are attracting attention, with the return for Corvo expected to be high.
Corvo returned to the Hurricanes lineup in early February after missing 28 games recovering from a cut on his leg.
By sheer volume, the Florida Panthers appear poised to be make the most significant changes.
This should come as no suprise based on a letter Panthers ownership sent to its fan base last month outlining the need for change and the reality another overhaul was about to begin.
At least eight current Panthers are available, including young forwards Rostislav Olesz and Kamil Kreps.
Olesz, taken seventh overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by Florida has 13 goals and 13 assists this season, while Kreps, a second round pick by the Panthers, 38th overall in 2003 has struggled offensively this year with just six points in 55 games.
Veteran forwards Steven Reinprecht and Cory Stillman are also being shopped.
Reinprecht’s 33 points ranks 3rd on the team, while Stillman has recorded 25 points in 41 games, proving at 36 years of age, he may provide some depth for any playoff team looking for the kind of experience a two time Stanley Cup Champion can provide.
Nick Tarnasky and Radek Dvorak are also believed to be on Florida’s trade list, along with defenceman Dennis Seidenberg.
There has been much speculation about the possibility Florida is listening to offers on goaltender Tomas Vokoun.
Sources say, at the moment, the Panthers are not considering moving Vokoun, however in the state this franchise is in, all options and any serious requests will be looked at.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=312000
84 Responses to THE RACE IS ON AS NHL TRADE FREEZE LIFTS
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i find it crazy that the flames still haven't given iginla a legit number one guy to play with at center. he had savard for a few years but that was when savard was still young. this stajan signing probably means they won't be getting iginla a legit no. 1 for at least another 4 years…when he's 36.
yeah it is a little crazy
the only thing i could see is that langkow is being traded between now and the offseason and Sutter plans on getting a guy like Pavelski (or a massive offer to Backstrom) with and offer sheet or taking a run at Marleau.
that's what i mean with the olesz contract. he sucks. plain and simple. he hasnt scored 20 goals, he hasnt scored over 30 points (should this yr though).
yet somehow he got a good contract. stajan is just blah. he is nothing special at all. but he got his money and good on his agent to use the crappy deals around to get his crappy client the big dough.
i think they should just go all out to get a guy like backstrom (although there's no way he's moving).
as for marleau, i know he was a center before but even at cnter, he's a better scorer than a passer. they just need a guy that can set iginla up. it's like when they got tanguay, a natural wing, to play with iginla a few years ago. just get the man a set-up guy at center for god's sake. i'm pretty sure he's given calgary enough over the years to provide him with that one thing.
I actually see the Stajan signing as a prelude to a trade for a guy to play with Iginla. You know who will be available possibly as soon as the summer, and definitely some time next season? Brad Richards. And next year, they'll have picks and assets to offer up once again.
To DAL: Stajan, Kotalik, 1st, 3rd
To CGY: Richards
What they're trying to do could be pretty clever, if I'm right. They're inflating Stajan's value by having him play with Iginla. Of course, it remains to be seen if Stajan actually performs consistently in that spot. If he doesn't, he'll look a lot less attractive at double his current cost.
It was always hilarious how much people hated Stajan as a Leaf though. My God, the guy made 1.75 million dollars and was forced to be our top line center. What did anyone really expect all these years?
if Calgary is giving Stajan 3.5 million per, then watch out with Ian White, who is actully a decent player……… they might as well have kept Dion Phaneuf, i mean wasent the whole point of trading Phaneuf all financial.
hey atleast they have Hagman locked for a good price……. still think they WAY overpaid for Stajan
if Calgary is giving Stajan 3.5 million per, then watch out with Ian White, who is actully a decent player……… they might as well have kept Dion Phaneuf, i mean wasent the whole point of trading Phaneuf all financial.
hey atleast they have Hagman locked for a good price……. still think they WAY overpaid for Stajan
The difference is that they'll be spending 10 million on 3 roster spots, intead of 6.5 on 1. It does make sense.
My ACC sources say something big is gonna happen. If they're not wrong, the Leafs are gonna trade Poni, Primeau and Exelby, and one surprise is coming.
Remember Kramer predicted the Kilger and Belak trades 2 years ago and the Moore and Antropov trades last year.
K-man's going for 3 for 3. More big trades this summer too.
It adds up. There are 96 forwards in the nhl under contract for the 2010-2011 season at 3.5 million plus cap hit. Stajan is 59th among forwards in scoring. He has a decent all round game, he's not spectacular but a solid second liner on most teams. His point total is trending up ward and he's only 26.
Different set of cir*****stances. Stajan was a UFA White will sign for less than Stajan.
This is a classic example of stats being misleading. A few years back, Alex Steen had stats that were similar to Patrick Marleau's (because Marleau was having a tough year) and there were people seriously comparing Steen to Marleau. No joke.
We're also in somewhat of a disagreement on Stajan's skill. A bona fide top 6 forward? I beg to differ.
I'm not just saying this because Stajan is no longer with the Leafs. I'd never do that. I've always maintained he's not a top 6.
Stajan's never scored 20 goals but he did have 40 assists last season. A set up guy for Iggy makes sense.
And Leafy, just because a guy doesn't break out offensively until he's 25, doesn't mean he should be considered a career 30 point guy. Stajan has developed at a pretty normal rate. Typical hatred of a Leaf product. Stephen Weiss was more productive earlier in his career but they are essentially equals now.
I'd say the best player Calgary got in the Phaneuf trade is Ian White. Now it would be interesting to see what sort of contract White gets.
If Stajan develops into a consistent 55-60 point guy, I take it back. I don't see it happening though. We'll see.
You don't think he's a top 100 forward in the league? There are not very many teams in the league where they have six forwards better than Stajan.
I don't know. I like Hagman I hope he plays like he did in the Olympics. Whites OK but I hope he continues the progression he had with the leafs over the last 3 years. I think the contract will probably be 2-3 years for between 2.5-3.5. Its tough to say though being an RFA It will be interested if he gets an offer if he is still unsigned.
Does anybody know what the conditional pick the Ducks got in the Artyukin trade is?
Hagman's a good player in the short term and he's having a good season. I don't know if Calgary's planning to keep him long term. White and now Stajan look to be in the team's long term plans.
interesting thread i found on another site: Post 10 significant events that have happened with your team in the years after the lockout. Starting with 05-06 to today. They can either be key events that affected the franchise in some way or another, or just a memory that had a significance. The events can be either good or bad.
1.) Toskala Acquired; Blake Signed to 5 year deal
2.) JFJ Fired
3.) Muskoka Five Stick to NTC's
4.) Fletcher Era II
5.) Luke Schenn Drafted
6.) Sundin Leaves; Signs in Vancouver
7.) Burke Arrives
8.) Sundin Returns to Standing Ovation
9.) Kessel
10.) Phaneuf/Giguere
Ironically, the start of JFJ's demise starts the list, and Burke's undoing of his mistakes ends it.
Steen compared to Marleau is crazy.
Stajan compared to Weiss, Wolski, etc. is pretty fair. Stajan was always good for like 31 points given 3rd line minutes, in in his 2 seasons with top 6 forward minutes he's been as productive as all the other guys of his ilk.
Good hands, quick playmaker, and heads up player. And leafy, to answer your statement from earlier ("if Stajan develops into a consistant 55-60 point player…") uh you might wanna take a look at him, he's now there 2 straight years, no reason to assume he'll lose it. This is a highly touted 2nd round pick who slowly developed into what was expected of him. Now approaching his prime he's looking like a safe bet for 60 pts over the next 5 or 6 years.
Sorry leafy, everyone doesn't have a career year when they're 22 or 23. I hope you understand.
White is not worth as much as Stajan. Besides, White in Calgary can look at the pecking order and know that he has no chance at being a top pairing guy, and the Flames will have that as leverage.
Stajan(s agent), looked at the depth at centre and knew that Matty was high on the pecking order.
White will get maybe $3 million, at most $3.5, which would mean the 3 Leafs (Mayers excluded) would combine for around $9-10 mil for 3 roster players. That's not bad cap-wise, and you should still be able to see the logic of the Phaneuf trade from a Flames perspective.
Also if you think Stajan is way overpaid you are underrating him. If he reverts to a 30 point guy next year, and the following year I will disapear from HTR
Top 5 favourite moments:
1)Sundin OT hat trick (short handed, unassisted, OT all time record breaking) 500th career goal.
2)JFJ is fired!
3)Mats Sundin scores 4, assists on 2, Leafs stay alive (Nieuwy trick same night)
4)Phaneuf/Giguere trade
5)Brian Burke hired
Top 5 significant moments (negative) :
1)Islanders defeat Devils in the shootout. Leafs out.
2)Mats Sundin refuses to waive NTC, Kubina, Kaberle, McCabe Tucker follow
3)Jeff Finger is signed to a 4 year deal…. worth $14 million
4)Pogge annointed "saviour". Belfour bought out. Tuuka Rask for Andrew Raycroft
5) Black Friday (July 1st 2005) – All key veterans bolt from Toronto except Sundin, Belfour, and McCabe. Roberts and Niewy to Florida, Leetch to Boston, Mogilny back to Jersey, Nolan bought out. Goodbye playoffs. 6 years and counting.
To clarify, I'm not comparing Steen to Marleau. I'm just saying that numbers could be misleading at a certain time point.
It is true that around 2007, Steen was up and coming and his numbers were similar to Marleau's, who was having an off year. There were people here who were discussing a Steen for Marleau swap. I remember distinctly. The point, in case you missed it, is that numbers could be ridiculously misleading.
"White is not worth as much as Stajan".
Well obviously we both place different value on each of those guys, because I think the exact opposite.
While I agree that White is a better player at his position than Stajan I don't think he will get more than Stajan for a contract given it's different cir*****stances.
I think his contract will be close in dollar amount but white will want a shorter term.
People fall in love with small, little "try-hards". White is a marginal player.
Here is the average Leaf fans dream, all-star line up:
Tucker – Wellwood – Jeremy Williams
Dempsey – White
Joseph
I hated all these guys ('sept for cujo)
Tucker was a good player from around 2000 to 2004, and even the year after the lockout. One of the key Leafs. He was small but he played big. Same with Domi.
They can be misleading when a star player has a big drop off season, like Marleau did. Which was really just a blip.
But not when a young guy keeps getting better every year, then busts out when given the oppurtunity to play top 6 minutes at age 25. Follows that up with another good season, and you call him a career 30-40 point guy based on his play as a young 3rd line centre.
Tucker pre-lockout, yes.
Tucker post lockout tapped in a slew of goals on the PP standing 5 feet away and it got him a huge contract. We'll be paying him for 4 more years. He didn't even have a good season. See leafy, now that was a situation where the numbers were misleading.
I like big players more also, but sometimes you get the occasional small guy that's pretty good.
That's true. Here's hoping for Chris Didomenico. lol