Looking For a Big Name? Niedermayer Might Fill a Need
Al Cimaglia | Jan 05, 2010 | Comments 6
Last night was all hockey talk for me.
The boys from Hockeenight, CT and Forklift were great to converse with as we gabbed away for over 90 minutes. It was during our chat fest I was made aware of another first line player who was traded at the deadline and went onto win the Stanley Cup in the same year.
Glenn Anderson was traded to the Rangers from the Maple Leafs for Mike Gartner, back in March of 1994.
Anderson, along with Rob Blake in 2001, would be the only top unit players since 1994 which were acquired and then won the Cup. My math was wrong on the XM interview audio clip below; it would be a 15 year span not 25. Actually the 2010 trade deadline would make 16 years.
The point is the same, blockbuster acquisitions seldom happen at the trade deadline which lead to the grand prize in the same year.
In my XM radio interview last night with Jamie Shalley and Bruce Bolton we covered a range of Blackhawk topics.
We touched upon the Ilya Kovalchuk rumors, and I added my thoughts on Scott Niedermayer possibly wearing the Indian head before this season is finished.
I am not advocating making a big reach to acquire a player who won’ be with the Hawks the following season. But the Cup experience of Niedermayer plus his ability to strengthen the defense and help the power play would make him an interesting acquisition before the trade deadline. There would be salary cap consequences but much depends on the liklihood of Dave Bolland playing again this season. With the strong play at center from Patrick Sharp the Hawks may look to add depth on defense if they make any trade deadline moves at all.
We also chatted about the Hawks goal tending and reviewed Saturday night’s Blues contest.
The link for the audio clip of last night’s XM Ice Cap interview is below.
http://rcpt.yousendit.com/798372056/064b721f3dfe48ad4d68e79df8d46d3e
blackhawkswin@comcast.net
Filed Under: Chicago Blackhawks • Featured • NHL
Al, sorry I missed the call-in last night for the Puckcast, but I look forward to listening to it via the link. Thanks.
To second your point, Scott Niedermayer would be an infinitely more intelligent choice than Kovalchuk, as a rental player.
As you say, not only is Niedermayer still one of the finer d-men in the game, his experience as a multiple Stanley Cup winner, and his intimate familiarity with both sound defensive hockey with the Devils and two way teams like the Ducks (teams whose approaches have influenced the current Hawk model), make him a perfect fit.
His time alongside John Madden is a plus, as will be his time playing on a the Team Canada Olympic squad with Keith and Seabrook.
Ducks GM and former Hawk Bob Murray knows the Chicago organization well and there is a trading history there.
One supposes Cam Barker is implicated in a prospective deal. It is interesting to look over the two teams’ depth charts and prospect pools to see what other assets might possibly be involved.
What are your further thoughts on this potential interaction?
It will depend on cap space and the status of Bolland.
Scott N. may not even play next season…so depending if the Ducks are going to the playoffs he probably would ok a trade.
Murray would be looking for picks/prospect and the Hawks have both to give. NJ could have an interest also and maybe some others.
Barker would fit with the Ducks and also allow them to bank cap space for next year.
Thanks again for coming on.
Considering how the Devils have been bringing back prodigal sons the past couple years, like Holik and a couple other guys, Niedermayer might wind up back in the swamp with his brother. Not to mention, the Devils have more cap space.
His cap hit is as big as Kovalchuk’s. Maybe you put him up with Campbell and slide Hammer back to third pair with Sopel (I’m using Barker as a given in any deal). Does it really add enough value to the Blackhawks to give up that many players for a rental?
I’m not sure that it does.
Gentlemen, I believe we agree that adding a super-rental like a Niedermayer or a Kovalchuk is a hypothetical at best, given the necessary financial finagling to make either one fit in Chicago.
FYI Fork–NJ has about 2.75 in cap room–unless Lou Lamoriello is sending Paul Martin or Brian Rolston to the Ducks, he’s got no room at the inn for Scotty Nieds.
Gentlemen, if I may add a footnote to my previous post…having checked CapGeek after writing this, it appears Mr. Lamoriello has about $3 million and change in cap space, permitting him to add a maximum contract value of $6.2…still not enough, but if anyone ‘can do’, it’s Lou.
If they can swing the cap consequences and just give up Barker maybe. If Bolland can’t play that gives a bit more room…
I would not take the team apart but for me he makes a lot more sense than anyone else.
He could play on the power play and they would get him close to 20 mins a night. It would take some pressure off the top three….and Keith wouldn’t have to play so many minutes every game.