Happy Post-Trade Deadline day for the NHL. I don't know about you guys but I'm glad it's over!!! Nothing too exciting happened except for the Ryan Smith deal. Depending on who you talk to the writing was on the wall for Smith to be dealt. He was demanding a huge long-term contract and Kevin Lowe wasn't going to give in. I believe that Oiler management knew well in advance that Smith wasn't going to give in to a 'hometown deal' so they could've had their ducks in a row long before the trade deadline. In other words, they should've known what the other 29 GM's would've given up for Ryan Smith. Surely, at the GM's meeting in Naples, Florida, Kevin Lowe would've had a good sense as to what team would've given him the best deal for Smith. This is why I have no idea why he traded Smith for 2 prospects and a pick!!! Kind of reminiscent of the Joe Thornton trade Boston made with San Jose...basically giving him away for a bag of pucks and a stick-boy!!! Just my two cents!!!
Anyway, from my stand-point, these are the winners and the losers...
Winners:
East
The Pittsburgh Penguins - They were able to get a gritty forward who loves play-off hockey in Gary Roberts. They also get George Laracque who's going to keep everyone honest when it comes to Crosby and Malkin. They just may be playing Ottawa in the 1st round and that would be bad news for Ottawa...unfortunately for Sens fans this would be another early play-off dismissal and I'm willing to bet that Roberts is going to have a big hand in that!!!!
West
The San Jose Sharks - In getting Bill Guerin they'll be able to spread out more scoring responsibilty. Thornton and Guerin played together in Boston so they wouldn't be strangers if paired up on the same line. Also, they picked up Craig Rivet from the Habs on Sunday. He's a solid defencman but suffering from pneumonia right now. Should be good to go soon.
Losers
East
Well the losers from the trade deadline in the east is a tough one to nail down. Ottawa wanted Roberts but got Oleg Saprykin. Not quite the same type of player.
Montreal needed goaltending so they claimed Michael Leighton off waivers from the Flyers. They could've had seasoned goalies such as Eddie Belfour or Curtis Joseph for next to nothing.
Toronto got Yanic Perrault...FOR THE THIRD TIME!!! This has got to be the biggest trade loser in the east. They get Perrault, who was a free agent looking for a team at the beginning of the season...nobody wanted him!!! Toronto trades Brendan Bell for him...Bell is a solid defenceman that is starting to mature and will only get better. I can only shake my head at the Big Smoke and laugh...if there's a more backward team in the NHL please point them out to me because I have no idea who they are.
West
And this is strictly from the trade deadline point of view. Detroit is the biggest loser by acquiring Todd Bertuzzi. This man has played 7 games all season and hasn't even been close to game shape...what are they thinking. The Panthers get Shawn Matthias and up to 2 conditional draft picks, depending on how the team and Bertuzzi do from here on in. Now I still think that Detroit will do well in the play-offs but I doubt that Bertuzzi will have any influence in any of their series!!
Well...that's my opinion on what went down yesterday. I'm sure everyone agrees with me so I won't be surprised if I don't get any comments.
Let's see how the last section of this season plays out...I'll be back next week to let you know who's in and who's out of the play-off's!!!
Till then...
Always shoot for the 5-hole...
CHEERS!!!
The Rokpig!!!
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4 comments:
Detroit the biggest loser in getting Bertuzzi?? You're mad. They got him for next to nothing. They really only pay for him if they are successful with him - the same way they are paying Hasek. They need some muscle up front and Bertuzzi brings it. They aren't in any rush to play him, given their current place in the standings. He won't dress until they feel he's back in game shape. I expect him to be big in the playoffs...I think the Sens could learn a few lessons here...Roberts and Bertuzzi were both available and they bit on neither...which I can't say surprises me in the least. Oh, one more point. Attendance in the US is down and Detroit is no exception. Even if the Bertuzzi trade does nothing else but to garner some attention to a franchise and sport that is currently lacking it, and in doing so puts some more ppl in the stands, it's worth it. Any publicity is good publicity...
My 2 cents ;-)
MM
Don't forget that Ottawa already made a trade earlier in the year: Comrie. That one, so far, turned out to be pretty good.
Looking back to previous season, how many trades made at this point in the season REALLY made a BIG impact in a team winning the cup and either lived up to, or surpassed the hype associated with them?
I don't think it's whether a trade lives up to the hype so much as
it's whether the deal turns out to be a good one. Case in point last
year Carolina acquired Mark Recchi on deadline day for Nicklas
Nordgren, Krys Kolanos and a second round pick. Obviously as we all
now know this was a great deal and on the heels of the eight person
deal to acquire Doug Weight on January 30th those two moves greatly
helped Carolina. Conversely Edmonton's acquiring of Samsonov who
recorded fifteen points in the playoffs as their major deadline deal
was a good one especially on the heels of their earlier deal in late
January picking up Dick Tarnstrom.
I think Ottawa missed the boat- again. We'll see, maybe they'll have
enough to advance further this year. Going to be one heck of a playoff
with all the movement that's for sure.
Liam Maguire
I think that Phil Esposito could hevw been traded for John Muckler......at least the Sens would have a GM younger than the tits on a dinosaur.
The Habs missed out but didn't have mich to give.....nobody was going to bite on an uner-acheiving Samsonov.....and they need Souray for the rest of the season if they have any hope to make the play-offs.The Habs will be solid in a couple of years when the young players come of age.....and goaltending is solid....although they are deep in the net department!
Detroit taking Bertuzzi is just a rental....he'll go to The Rangers in July....
Boston.....well.....Sinden still has the ropes....
Gretz has to make some deals in July to make Pheonix respectable.
Toronto still amazes me in the fact they sign old and/or players who once played there.....but that's HASBEEN town....
The Isles and The Ducks comw out ahead.....with a close third to Pitts.
So now the "second season" will begin....looking forward to it!
See You At The Lonely End Of The Rink....
Habs Fan.....
P.S.
I like the girls with no helmets..... ;-)
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