Written by Chris Wassel | 28 February 2009

So this time next Saturday, when I once again plunk away on this keyboard, the best day of the NHL regular season will have come and gone. The NHL trade deadline is March 4 and the day is easily one of my favorite events of the spring time. If the Oilers don't make the playoffs it may just be my favorite event of the Spring time period. Either way the conversations that a hockey fan can have leading up to and the day of the deadline is what does it for me. Speculation, and the joy of trying to predict what who will go and who will stay put, is what does it for me. It's a game that, much like predicting standings, can make you look pretty smart or pretty dumb in a giant hurry. If your lucky you get some right and some wrong and you turn out to be average. So with that said, lets look at some names and what might happen.

Vincent Lecavalier:

My beef with this conversation is the belief that the Bolts didn't look at trading the guy. The whole "Blame Canada" angle drives me nuts, as it's as much crap as saying the Lightning, from the ownership down to the management, didn't have long conversations about the thought of moving the power forward. Not only did they talk about it, they looked long and hard at offers from both Edmonton and Montreal before they walked away. The ONLY reason the book is closed on this is because the Board of Governors, in the Lightning organization, was split on the topic and without everyone being on the same page the team wasn't going to act. Either way, it's best for the team that he stays and he isn't getting traded.


Chris Pronger:

Maybe the one thing Kevin Lowe doesn't get enough credit for is signing Pronger to maybe the best value deal for one of the best players in the game. It's that contract that will allow the Ducks to deal the big blueliner if they so desire, as while it's not a small contract it isn't a horrible overpayment either. I don't think the Ducks trading for Ryan Whitney means it's certain Pronger is on his way out either, it could just be that the Ducks organization realize that that both Niedermayer and Pronger are not getting any younger. They aren't going to play forever. I think the idea of Pronger being moved is a coin toss at best.


Thomas Kaberle:

Although not as good as Chris Pronger on the ice, his contract is once again the story here. It's good enough Burke is tempted to just hold pat, but it will also be something other GM's will covet. Burke is on record of saying he won't trade Kaberle unless he gets an offer like the one that got him Chris Pronger from Edmonton. If that's really the guns Burke sticks to, Thomas Kaberle will still be a Leaf next Wednesday. He's good, but not Chris Pronger good, so it will take a sucker to pay the asking price laid out be the Leafs.


Ryan Smyth:

One of the most interesting names to pop up in the last 2 weeks or so. My first question is why? Without Sakic and Stastny in the lineup, Ryan Smyth may have been the Avalanches best forward this season. Others would argue that his no trade clause puts the story to rest before it even leaves the gate. The truth is NTC's just give the player some control, they don't stop trades. Oddly, this is one that seems very unlikely to happen, but it's my wild card in saying it does, with my pick being the Canadiens that land him. Just for kicks and giggles of course.

Then again, this is just a damned opinion.

< Prev		Next >