Well, what made the Montreal Canadiens’ trade of top line winger Michael Cammalleri so different was the fact that he was traded during the second intermission of a one-goal inter-division game!

It all started early in the second period on Thursday with an oddly secretive looking group of Montreal management huddled outside their suite in the TD Garden press box. At first glance, one would have thought nothing of it. In fact, it even lead me to cracking a few lighthearted jokes via Twitter.  However, it was early in the third and final frame that things began to get interesting, as the 5’9″ Ontario native was noticeably missing from the Habs’ bench, with no reports of injuries sustained. This coupled with the knowledge of Wednesday’s comments made by Cammalleri, in which he questioned the collective mindset of his Canadiens’ team, and it was enough to get some folks thinking that the proverbial shoe was about to drop.

“I can’t accept that we will display a losing attitude as we’re doing this year. We prepare for our games like losers. We play like losers. So it’s no wonder why we lose.” – Michael Cammalleri

Reports upstairs then broke the news that Cammalleri had indeed been removed from the game and had been sent to a Boston hotel to wait for further instructions. As if this wasn’t enough to tip anyone off about a potential deal, word from TSN in Canada began to emanate the fact that the undersized forward had indeed been traded. It was then that the game concluded, with the host Bruins holding on for a 2-1 victory over the Habs, and every reporter in Boston made a bee line for the Montreal dressing room.

While questions about the game were asked here and there, the elephant in the room was clearly the Habs’ missing first liner. Unfortunately for the large contingent of reporters and beat writers, Montreal players were just as confused as we were.

“Was he traded?  I really don’t know.  This is the first time this has happened to me?” – Tomas Plekanec

“I don’t really know anything so I don’t have a comment right now.” – Hal Gill

“I don’t know if it (a trade) has happened I can’t give much insight.  I can’t really give an opinion.” – Carey Price

It was then, as the media scrum descended on head coach Randy Cunneyworth’s press conference that he revealed the fact that there was in fact a trade that had sent Michael Cammalleri out of Montreal. “Well, obviously there was a trade made” said Cunneyworth when asked about the absence of his first line left winger. The much-criticized interim bench boss went on to explain how he had only learned of the deal at the start of the third period, and that his players where left in the dark completely as to the whereabouts of their teammate.

Finally, as the swarm of media members were consumed by the ever-growing TwitterSphere, trying to be the first to report the trade’s details, we learned that Cammalleri had been dealt cross country, back to Calgary — a city where he played in 2008 and 2009–.

Ending all the hype and confusion  was Habs’ General Manager Pierre Gauthier, when he stood in front of the aformentioned sea of reporters and delivered the news of the deal, first in French and then repeated himself in English. The English portion of the press conference can be viewed in it’s entirety via the video below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Along with Cammalleri, the Canadiens forfeited the rights to European netminder Karri Ramo and a fifth round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft in exchange for currently-suspended winger Rene Bourque, prospect Patrick Holland and a second round selection in the 2012 Entry draft.

Now, I’ll leave the analysis of this deal to those folks who are closer to the situation and know more about the skills and tendencies of each of these players. However, I would just like to point out this little doozie of a quote, courtesy of the Calgary Flames official Twitter account:

“I might be in trouble… I don’t speak French, even if I have the most French name on that team.” – Rene Bouque

Well there you have it folks, a first hand account of the first ever mid-game trade in NHL history. On what was once thought of as an uneventful night and a boring game between two once-fierce rivals, history was indeed made. It just goes to show, you really never know what is going to happen next in the National Hockey League.

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However, something happened on the way to making the NHL more palatable to the masses. You might have noticed that your favorite player or players have been missing in action quite a bit this season.As of Thursday, 51 NHL players have been lost to concussions this season. On that list is the player many believe is the league’s best, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Crosby has played in just eight NHL games since suffering a concussion on Jan. 5, 2011.

That list has become a gargantuan story this season, much to the alarm of the league and teams, who have in the past attempted to minimize what independent medical experts have been citing for years: hockey has a concussion epidemic on its hands.

< READ MORE ON CBS New York >

Other pieces on CBS by BD:

HOW PLAYERS, NOT THE ISLES COACH WILL WALK PLANK THIS SEASON

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE? TELL THAT TO NY ISLANDERS FANS! 

All over the Flames early, the Bruins would cash in first as fellow sophomore Tyler Seguin tapped home his 16th of the year after Patrice Bergeron outworked two Calgary defensemen and fed the puck to the front of the net. It didn’t take the B’s long to add to their lead as a mere 2:03 later Milan Lucic was credited with his 14th of the season after his shot redirected off the leg of Flames’ forward Olli Jokinen and past goaltender Leland Irving in what was one of the flukiest goals scored this season.

The Black and Gold did not stop there. After Zach Hamill — filling in for Marchand — drew a tripping penalty to Tom Kostopoulos, the B’s would add their third tally of the night as Rich Peverley connected with David Krejci on a beautiful cross-ice feed that would lead to a Bruins power-play goal. The goal was Krejci’s 9th of the season and extended his point streak to seven games (3-7-10).

In the second, the B’s did nothing but further the onslaught, pouring it on for four more goals as they chased Irving from the net in favor of veteran Finn Mikka Kiprusoff. Wasting little time, it was Patrice Bergeron collecting his third tally in two nights after a spin-o-Rama feed from Tyler Seguin. In what’s becoming a frequent habit for the B’s this season, Boston would score again only 0:47 seconds later thanks to Chris Kelly’s hard-work in front of the Flames’ net. This would mark the 13th time that the Black and Gold have scored back-to-back goals in under a minute.

From there it became the Nathan Horton show. The Welland, Ontario native would poke home two rebound goals in the second after attaining strong position in front of the opposing netminder. Criticized after a slow start to the season, no. 18 has come on strong as of late, scoring three goals and adding one assist in his past two contests.

“He had a good jump tonight and a good battle. He was shooting more – he went to the areas where he excels and because of that he was able to score a few goals.” – Claude Julien

The third period of this game became all about the “quest for ten”, as the 17, 565 Black and Gold enthusiasts began the “we want ten” chants. Unfortunately for Boston, those chants went unanswered as the Bruins were only able to add two more tallies in the final frame, and finished with a 9-0 victory. The win was Boston’s second in as many nights and improved their record to 23-3-1 over their past 27 games.

Undoubtedly the biggest reason for the Bruins’ success as of late has been their incredible depth and relentless commitment to the “team” mentality. B’s forwards Benoit Pouliot and Patrice Bergeron echoed those sentiments on Thursday evening.

“We’ve got depth and we back each other up when we’re missing one of our best players and our goalies have been playing awesome all year long.” — Benoit Pouliot

“I think it’s confidence honestly. I think the depth we’ve been talking about all year has been helping us a lot, and every line wants to contribute and go out there and find ways to score.” — Patrice Bergeron

From The Room:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Seguin

KEY STATS

Goals–                       CGY (0)                 BOS (9)

Shots–                       CGY (25)                 BOS (42)

Power-Play–           CGY (0-2)                BOS (1-2)

Penalty-Kill–           CGY (1-2)               BOS (2-2)

• Ben’s Three Stars– ….. 3.) Nathan Horton ….. 2.) Patrice Bergeron   ….. 1.) Tyler Seguin

What’s Next?

Up next for the Black and Gold is the heavily anticipated Stanley Cup rematch with the Vancouver Canucks that will take place on Saturday afternoon at TD Garden. With a little cooperation from the Rangers (In the form of a Thursday night loss) , Saturday’s matinee could be a battle for first place in the NHL standings. The Flames also have a big match-up slated for Saturday, as they return home to host the division rival Minnesota Wild.

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Tonight’s Line-Up (Subject To Change):

FORWARDS

Marchand–Bergeron–Seguin

Lucic–Krejci–Horton

Pouliot–Kelly–Peverley

Paille–Campbell–Thornton

DEFENSE

Chara–Boychuk

Seidenberg–Corvo

Ference–McQuaid

GOALTENDER

Rask

Thomas

Scratches– ….. Hamill (Healthy) , Kampfer (Healthy)

NEWS & NOTES

– The Flames, losers of four striaght games, haven’t won a game since a 2-1 shootout victory in Columbus on December 27.

– Tonight marks the first and only time that these two squads will face-off this season. Boston won the only meeting last season, taking home a late February 3-1 victory at the ScotiaBank Saddledome.

– Tuukka Rask, who has only allowed one goal in 216:08  of ice time, is expected to get the start in net for Boston tonight, after Tim Thomas was given the nod last night in New Jersey.

– The Flames will be without one of their top-six wingers this evening, as Rene Bourque has been suspended by NHL discipline czar Brendan Shanahan after his elbow to the head of Washington Capitals centerman Nicklas Backstrom on Tuesday evening.

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I’ll use the top seven defensemen of each team as a reference and will take the financial numbers from CapGeek.com. Players that are injured are included in the calculation.

1. Philadelphia Flyers – $24,33 millions 25 games 15 wins 7 losses 3 OTL 33 points (5th EC)
Kimmo Timonen – $6,333,333
Chris Pronger – $4,921,429
Andrej Meszaros – $4,000,000
Matt Carle – $3,437,500
Braydon Coburn – $3,200,000
Matt Walker – $1,700,000
Andreas Lilja – $737,500

2. Los Angeles Kings – $22.56 millions 26 games 13 wins 9 losses 4 OTL 30 points (7th WC)
Drew Doughty – $7,000,000
Jack Johnson – $4,357,143
Willie Mitchell – $3,500,000
Rob Scuderi – $3,400,000
Matt Greene – $2,950,000
Alec Martinez – $737,500
Davis Drewiske – $616,667

3. Winnipeg Jets – $22.30 millions 26 games 11 wins 11 losses 4 OTL 26 points (11th EC)
Dustin Byfuglien – $5,200,000
Ron Hainsey – $4,500,000
Tobias Enstrom – $3,750,000
Johnny Oduya – $3,500,000
Zach Bogosian – $2,500,000
Mark Stuart – $1,700,000
Randy Jones – $1,150,000

4. Toronto Maple Leafs – $22.04 millions 26 games 14 wins 10 losses 2 OTL 30 points (6th EC)
Dion Phaneuf – $6,500,000
Mike Komisarek – $4,500,000
John-Michael Liles – $4,200,000
Luke Scheen – $3,600,000
Carl Gunnarsson – $1,325,000
Jake Gardiner – $1,116,667
Cody Franson – $800,000

5. Phoenix Coyotes – $21.48 millions 25 games 13 wins 9 losses 3 OTL 29 points (9th WC)
Keith Yandle – $5,250,000
Michal Rozsival – $5,000,000
Rotislav Klesla – $2,975,000
Derek Morris – $2,750,000
Adrian Aucoin – $2,000,000
Kurt Sauer – $1,750,000
Oliver Ekman-Larsson – $1,750,000

6. Detroit Red Wings – $20.96 millions 25 games 16 wins 8 losses 1 OTL 33 points (4th WC)
Nicklas Lidstrom – $6,200,000
Brad Stuart – $3,750,000
Jonathan Ericsson – $3,250,000
Niklas Kronwall – $3,000,000
Ian White – $2,875,000
Mike Commodore – $1,000,000
Jakub Kindl – $883,333

7. Vancouver Canucks – $20.53 millions 26 games 15 wins 10 losses 1 OTL 31 points (5th WC)
Kevin Bieksa – $4,600,000
Dan Hamhuis – $4,500,000
Keith Ballard – $4,200,000
Alexander Edler – $3,250,000
Sami Salo – $2,000,000
Andrew Alberts – $1,225,000
Aaron Rome – $750,000

8. Chicago Blackhawks – $20.31 millions 27 games 16 wins 8 losses 3 OTL 35 points (2nd WC)
Brent Seabrook – $5,800,000
Duncan Keith – $5,538,462
Niklas Hjalmarsson – $3,500,000
Steve Montador – $2,750,000
Nick Leddy – $1,116,666
Sean O’Donnell – $850,000
Sami Lepisto – $750,000

9. Calgary Flames – $19.75 millions 26 games 11 wins 13 losses 2 OTL 24 points (13th WC)
Jay Bouwmeester – $6,680,000
Mark Giordano – $4,020,000
Cory Sarich – $3,600,000
Anton Babchuk – $2,500,000
Chris Butler – $1,250,000
Scott Hannan – $1,000,000
Derek Smith – $700,000

10. Washington Capitals – $19.07 millions 25 games 13 wins 11 losses 1 OTL 27 points (8th EC)
Mike Green – $5,250,000
Dennis Wideman – $3,935,500
Roman Hamrlik – $3,500,000
Jeff Schultz – $2,750,000
John Erskine – $1,500,000
Karl Alzner – $1,285,000
John Carlson – $845,833

10. San Jose Sharks – $19.07 millions 23 games 14 wins 8 losses 1 OTL 29 points (8th WC)
Dan Boyle – $6,666,667
Brent Burns – $3,550,000
Marc-Edouard Vlasic – $3,100,000
Douglas Murray – $2,500,000
Jason Demers – $1,250,000
Jim Vandermeer – $1,000,000
Colin White – $1,000,000

In comparison, the league-leading Minnesota Wild with 37 points, are spending only $12.36 millions on their defensive brigade.

As you can see, there is no guaranteed success if you spend a lot of money on your defensive brigade, as only the Chicago Blackhawks are leading their division amongst the teams that spend the most money on their blue line.

2010-11 rankings
1. Philadelphia Flyers – $24,89M
2. Toronto Maple Leafs – $24.28M
3. Vancouver Canucks – $23.35M
4. Detroit Red Wings – $21.83M
5. Calgary Flames – $21.59M
6. Chicago Blackhawks – $21.29M
7. Atlanta Thrashers (Winnipeg Jets) – $21.06M
8. Montreal Canadiens – $20.25M
9. Pittsburgh Penguins – $19.11M
10. Boston Bruins – $18.58M

———-
Fred is a freelance sports write and translator, as well as a featured Montreal Canadiens blogger on http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/ and a baseball columnist on http://www.dobberbaseball.com/. Fred also joined HabsAddict.com in time for the 2011-12 season.

Follow Fred on Facebook and Twitter

We know a few games ago the Isles were fragile. Well, what happens when they are broken?

What Has Come To Pass

Back over the summer I warned on what plans the Isles had with one Blake Comeau. In fact, if you follow me on twitter, I’ve been saying it since the end of last season. Despite the 24 goals and 46 points within last season’s chaos, the Isles saw him as a bottom 6 player, to play the 3rd line to be exact. In fact, some wondered if he was only one of those players that could only be a difference-maker within complete chaos and bad teams. With kids coming up and development of prospects, his fate was sealed.

Lo and behold on the third line he was placed, not helped by his training camp play. Comeau has had start issues before with the Isles, landing in Scott Gordon’s doghouse as well.

The Isles original plan was to have three offensive lines. His linemates was Josh Bailey, and to play on the other wing was to be P.A. Parenteau. This changed when Niño went down to injury, and PA found himself back in the first line plans. PA ended up having incentive to play his ass off and is sticking to that first line. See, sometimes competition is a good thing.

But more on that later…

What turned out in the third line was a complete stunt of play and effectiveness that the isles offensive plans turned to mush. The Isles turned instead to a one-line team that could be focused on and contained. So it is small wonder that they have fallen into a tailspin. In fact, it was my number issue I cited for the offense in my preseason primer. Where would the scoring come?

While other player outages have also gone along with Blake Comeau’s, those others like Bailey, Okposo, Nielsen and on defense: Andy MacDonald (takes a while to get to 100% from last years injury) and Hamonic have found at least glimmers. Comeau instead went into freefall.

The “Imminent” Deal That Never Happened…

Back during last summer, Comeau was almost dealt, likely in the “deal that never happened”. You might recall the alluded to deal that others made after Hunter for Rolston happened. Well, once August 1st failed vote in Nassau County, whatever deal that was to be also went kaput… Likely due to the $$$ that also would have came back. Charles was not going to eat more loss over and above maintaining the bottom cap floor level when he felt fans failed to be the job done in Nassau County.

Why was Comeau almost dealt? Well, in his contract negotiations he and his agent were far apart with the Islanders. Snow wanted a #2 or 3 defenseman, having been unable to sign Ehrhoff. In the end, Comeau signed. Any deal to be struck via trade was long dead despite the terms of “imminent” or “next” still touted around. Garth was hamstrung thanks to Charles, and then had to change gears.

So we instead had this long sordid seasonal tale of Blake Comeau’s stats, 4th line drop, not even a shot in his last game for the Isles. Meanwhile a crowd of forwards had developed. If the vets were not going to carry the team forth, the vision and mission was still in player development. Comeau was never considered a piece of the Isles system or rebuild. He was, like others deemed expendable like Nilsson and O’Mara who were shopped until they paid for a Ryan Smyth rental years before, predated the 2006 system and method installation that the Isles use still.

Comeau was shopped, but his stats and contract were detriments that continued to hang like an albatross on his value.

A Little Trade Reality, Folks…

The art of trades, which nobody seems to understand when writing, reading or commenting about hockey, is that beggars are not choosers. If you have a guy sucking, nobody is going to pay anything. Trades and negotiation are about positioning. It is not EA’s NHL 2012.

Someone calling others about trading a player is not in a solid footing in negotiation. It is a shame that this is again and again failed to be understood as people, even the mainstream press, fail to get this key element into their head.

In short, Garth had NO trade footing with Comeau. He set a price, and probably did not get even anything near it or acceptable below that value. To not be shown as weak, and to be able to have footing on future deals, the Isles stick to their price set or at least within their reason. He did not fold so that he can make sure that he has sway for future, probably more important deals of the future than some guy who is washing out of being a forward in one of the weakest teams and biggest opportunities in the league. I mean, let’s get real here. Had Comeau played his ass off, he could have been back on the 2nd line. The Isles have stuck with the hot hands.

So as that meeting with Capuano and Garth happened, large decisions were made. They chose to break this fragile egg and stuck group. Examples would be made. Room created. Comeau was waived with the intent of knowing he would be likely claimed. This will not be the end of such moves, especially if Rolston does not do more in the next few. You might see him go next via waivers, where call-ups and kids keep the Isles still above cap floor, and more room made.

The odd element to all this is that 99.99% of Islander fans have been screaming for Blake Comeau to be off this team for weeks now. Waived, traded for scraps, whatever…just get him gone – was the mantra. Yet suddenly, when waived, an about-face came screaming about trade value: How could be let go for nothing?

Why Players Sit

While Isles fans seem to now take a microscope game-to-game, screaming about others sitting, facts are that there has been a competition for roles. Organizations SHOULD have competition for roles. Competition for playing time. Those are elements that create growth and development. I think Isles fans have been lulled by the years the Isles had none and roles just given away to the dreck of the league.

Before we fans forget about Andy Hilbert and more, let us recall the times when the Isles had ZERO competition for roles. Sure, I can agree the stats and standing weren’t much better, but fact is the Isles have a lot of kids in development now vying for roles, and can we agree for argument’s sake that they are not fully developed yet?

So Nino sits, and there is a bang the gong of conspiracy. There are no conspiracy or money issues weighing here. He is not being sat to avoid bonuses. They did not have him do training camp and preseason on the top line to have him sit. But fact remains his camp was stunted due to injury and has a crowd at RW on the NHL team. So if he has to sit a few games as the Isles try to sort out those forwards and get others going, so be it.

Everyone wants the Isles to sort out the offensive issues and get players going, then they complain when they actually sit someone.

We are far from a turned corner, let’s be honest here. But there seems to be some distance from the listless and “fragile”, as cited by assistant Scott Allen during one of the Isles worst games in recent memory when Sidney Crosby returned to walk all over the team. The Islanders feel they moved one fragile element off the team and into the Western Conference. The braintrust considers that something of value… whether Comeau wakes up or not. Meantime, Okposo, sat for a while, has turned on the jets like careers and seasons are at stake. Hmm, I guess the Isles knew what they were doing there.

I bet when Nino finally reaches the ice and plays like a rabid dog is nipping at his heels, maybe the will be a method seen within the fan and peanut gallery madness?

We shall see. Just as we will see what shakes out at forwards.

When Nino does return to the ice, expect to see on a line with Ullstrom (up for now), and Josh Bailey (playing better, have you noticed?). Potentially, this “kid” line could be the very thing the Isles need for that 3^rd line to finally make some sort of difference.

IF YOU MISSED IT: My piece wondering if the Isles are just a bunch of heartless tin men! Read it here!
IF YOU MISSED IT: My talk with a goalie scout about the Isles goalies and prospects! Read it here!

TIPS, THOUGHTS, READ ANYTHING GOOD, OR PERHAPS YOU WROTE ONE YOURSELF? Let us know in the comments or email me at bd@hockeyindependent.com

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GOON:

In our support of the lack of hockey movies, comes this info from the movie company to us.

“We have a great throwback hockey movie coming out and we would love to get your support. Its violent and insanely funny.”

Starring Seann William Scott, Jay Baruchel, Alison Pill and Liev Schreiber
Written by Jay Baruchel, Evan Goldberg (SUPERBAD and  PINEAPPLE EXPRESS)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Synopsis
Labelled an outcast by his brainy family, a bouncer overcomes long odds to lead a team of underperforming misfits to semi-pro hockey glory, beating the crap out of everything that stands in his way.

The film opens on VOD on 2/24 and In Theatres 3/30

Based from the book “Goon: The True Story of an Unlikely Journey into Minor League Hockey”

www.goonthemovie.com

Official Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/GoonFilm

Some more on the movie comes from Slash Film

HOCKEY LEGENDS PAT LAFONTAINE AND STEVE WEBB TO RIDE 550 MILES FOR W20
FOUNDATION AND COMPANIONS IN COURAGE FOUNDATION

NEW YORK (September 19, 2011) –NHL alumnus Steve Webb and Hockey Hall
of Fame inductee Pat LaFontaine began a 550-mile bike ride this morning
from the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto in route to the NHL Powered by
Reebok Store in New York City in support of their respective charitable
efforts, the W20 Foundation and the Companions in Courage Foundation. Both
are expected to complete their historic ride on Wednesday, September 21 at
12:00 p.m. ET with a special celebration at the NHL Powered by Reebok Store
in midtown Manhattan.

“The NHL is proud to support these two hockey legends as they embark
on this epic charitable ride. On behalf of the NHL family we proudly salute
Pat and Steve, and wish them the best of luck” said Ken Martin, Jr., NHL
Vice President of Community Affairs.

LaFontaine’s Companions in Courage Foundation is an official
philanthropic partner of the National Hockey League (NHL) and helps to
create “Lion’s Den/NHL Legacy Classrooms” featuring Cisco System’s online
conferencing system, WebEx, which allows young patients to connect to
family, friends, schools and teachers anywhere in the world during a
hospital stay.

The Foundation has now opened 12 Lion’s Den rooms throughout North
America, including two with the NHL in Boston, Calgary and Montreal. The
NHL unveiled the first fully functional “NHL Legacy Classroom” at North
Carolina Children’s Hospital to commemorate the 2011 NHL All-Star Weekend.
Plans for an “NHL Legacy Classroom” in Pittsburgh were unveiled during the
2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic to commemorate the outdoor game.

Webb’s W20 Foundation provides young student ice hockey players with
partial academic scholarships to continue the pursuit of their hockey
dreams. Now the organization also highlights athletes as influential agents
of change and creates opportunities for athletes to give back in their
communities. Webb will also commit a portion of the ride’s proceeds to fund
Alzheimer and dementia research in Ontario.

The riders will be joined by a support team that includes Graham
Fraser, founder of Centurion Cycling, host of North America’s premier
series of distance bicycling events.

For more information on how you can support this please visit
www.CiC16.org
or www.w20Foundation.org.  To follow the progress of the ride, fans are
encouraged to visit www.W20Foundation.blogspot.com. ]]> http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/bdgallof/38698/feed/ 0 http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/woodwardb/38002/ http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/woodwardb/38002/#comments Wed, 31 Aug 2011 05:38:28 +0000 Benjamin Woodward http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/?p=38002  

Hello again, and welcome to Part II of my 4-Part NHL season preview.  In part I, I gave you all my Eastern Conference Predictions. In part 2, I will give you my predictions for the Western Conference.  I will approach these predictions a bit differently than I did those for the Eastern Conference. Today, I will give some strengths and weaknesses of each of the 8 playoff teams out west. I will be upfront here in saying that I do not usually follow the Western Conference as much as I do the East, over the course of the season, so many of you may have differing opinions here. Like always, feel free to chime in with your opinions below.

1) Vancouver Canucks

Strengths:

The defending conference champs return in 2011-12 as without a doubt one of the clear-cut contenders for a Stanley Cup. Arguably the deepest team, top to bottom in the entire NHL, the Canucks will once again be lead by former Hart trophy winners Daniel and Henrik Sedin. Ryan Kesler returning to full health will also be a welcome sight for Vancouver’s offense.  Perhaps the biggest strength of the Canucks, will be the retribution factor. The Canucks’ were so close to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup, they could taste it. They always say that a team must learn how to lose, before you can learn how to win;  and in 2010-11 , the Vancouver Canucks sure learned how to lose.

Weaknesses:

Truth be told, there isn’t much to put here. The loss of puck-moving defenseman Christian Ehrhoff will undoubtedly play a role in the Canucks’ success in 2011-12. However, a team that employed 9 NHL-quality defensemen in 2010-11, a replacement should not be hard to find. The only real question mark in Vancouver, is the ability of star goaltender Roberto Luongo to bounce back from a rough finish to the post-season of 2011. But even if Roberto is to falter, young Cory Schneider will be ready and willing to carry the load.

2) Los Angeles Kings

Strengths:

The popular favorite in the West, is without a doubt the LA Kings. After losing out on key free agents Ilya Kovalchuk and Brad Richards over the past two summers, GM Dean Lombardi opted to pull the trigger on a trade sending Wayne Simmonds and  uber-prospect Brayden Schenn to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for  former Flyer-captain Mike Richards. Richards should make an immediate impact on the LA roster, and provide perhaps the best 1-2 punch at center, along with all-star pivot Anze Kopitar.

Weaknesses:

While the addition of Mike Richards went a long way to solidifying the Kings 2nd line, the team’s lack of depth after the top 2 lines is perhaps the team’s biggest achilles heel. Beyond Richards, Kopitar, Williams and Stoll, the Kings lack much skill on the offensive end. In order to be successful in 2011-12, the Kings will need improved production from the likes of Kyle Clifford and Brad Richardson.

3) Chicago Blackhawks

Strengths:

The 2010 Stanley Cup Champions are perhaps the deepest team in the entire NHL. Led by stars, the likes of Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Pat Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Patrick Sharp, the Blackhawks will be back and looking for a return to the Cup Finals. Look for Chicago to once again be near the top in the Western Conference for most of 2011-12.

Weaknesses:

After making some solid depth acquisitions this offseason, the Blackhawks only true weakness entering 2011-12 is the play of young goaltender Corey Crawford. While Crawford did have an excellent rookie season, it is unclear whether or not he can continue his strong play, going forward. The sophmore slump can be a huge issue in hockey, and it will be critical to the Blackhawks success, that Crawford is able to battle through.

4) San Jose Sharks

Strengths:

Scoring. San Jose is one of few teams that can legitimately run 3 very productive offensive units. The addition of Brent Burns will also significantly help out on the back end, and go along way to replacing Rob Blake as an offensive force from the blueline, who retired last summer.

Weaknesses:

The swap of Dany Heatley for Martin Havlat will be sure to pay dividends for San Jose in the post-season , but it is unclear whether or not Havlat can produce at the same rate as Heatley can, during the regular season. However, on a team with Logan Couture, Joe Thornton, Patrick  Marleau and Ryan Clowe, I am sure goal scoring should not be an issue.

5) Detroit Red Wings

Strengths:

With Captain Nicklas Lidstrom returning for what looks to be like 1 final year in the league, 2011-12 looks like it’ll be Detroit’s last crack at the Cup for  a few years. Look to the Red Wings to rely on top end talent and a bevy of experience to lift them to the top of the Western Conference.

Weaknesses:

Perhaps the only weakness of the Red Wings, is age, and with age, comes a proneness to injuries. Star pivot Pavel Datsyuk missed most of 2010-11 with a wrist injury, but looks to be 100% entering training camp. However, if the Wings want to succeed in 2011-12, they must get key contributions from younger depth players.

6) Nashville Predators

Strengths:

The biggest strength, of a cash-strapped Nashville squad, is none other than the man standing behind the bench, Barry Trotz. Trotz, arguably the best coach in the game, always finds a way to get his Nashville team to over-achieve and get into the post-season.

Weaknesses:

Uncertainty over the futures of the big 3; Ryan Suter, Shea Weber, and Pekka Rinne, will surely cause a stir in Nashville, as the season draws on. It will be up to those 3 all-stars to put away thoughts of contracts and focus on hockey, if Nahville wants to once again be a playoff team, in 2011-12.

7)  Anaheim Ducks

Strengths:

The RPG line is unquestionably the most dynamic scoring line in hockey, and will once again be relied upon to provide most of the Ducks’ offense. The RPG line is perhaps the only line in hockey that can truly carry a team to the playoffs.

Weaknesses:

The biggest knock on the Ducks, is that they are a very top-heavy squad. Beyond the RPG line, there really aren’t many reliable offensive forwards on the Anaheim roster. Also, beyond Lubomir Visnovsky and budding superstar Cam Fowler, there isn’t a whole lot of depth on the Ducks’ blueline. Also, concerns over the health of goaltender Jonas Hiller will be huge in determining the Ducks’ success in 2011-12.

8) Columbus Blue Jackets

Strengths:

The Blue Jackets have finally found a true #1 center to play along side Rick Nash. It is my belief, that given the chance to play with a legit play-making pivot, Rick Nash can be one of the top-5 players in all of hockey. He is mean, nasty, big, strong, has a fantastic shot, and really knows how to finish. He has now been given that opportunity, thanks to GM Scott Howson’s acquisition of Jeff Carter.

Weaknesses:

The biggest issue for Columbus is their depth, or lack there of. There really aren’t many proven NHL defenders on this roster. The addition of James Wisniewski will do wonders for the Jackets’ Power-Play, however, beyond Wiz, I do not see much strength on that blueline.

9) St Louis Blues

10) Minnesota Wild

11) Calgary Flames

12) Edmonton Oilers

13) Phoenix Coyotes

14) Dallas Stars

15) Colorado Avalanche

Thanks For Reading!

Be Sure To Follow Me On Twitter at @BruinsHockey365

That being said, it is a tall order for the Flames to actually make the playoffs. So today’s blog is a Flames panel. Our esteemed guests are regulars, Mike and Dearen, and first time guest Rob. The question put out there is:

What needs to happen for the Flames to make the playoffs?

First up, my fellow blogger, Dearen you can follow him on twitter DKAY1987.

Craig Hartsburg got brought in because he believes the same fundamentals as Brent Sutter. And the players now will have two strong voiced mouths cramming the “systems” into their heads. Last year, a few players did not buy in, I believe Regehr was one of them. This year, the players will have no choice. Familiarity issues won’t be there, since 95% of the team is back. Needless to say, all the excuses are out of it for the players, and it is now time to perform. And if certain players are not capable or choose not to buy in, they need to be held accountable. The team has more depth than it has in the past five years, which should allow the coaches to send some messages to players that are not playing the way they want them to. I also believe the fact that many players are in a contract year; we could see some a strong campaign out of a few. Iginla and Tanguay will not have the same success; at least I don’t believe so. So a fully committed team night in and night out will be the key.

In addition to buying in, the Flames will need some surprises. The players I put in this category are the three “B’s); Backlund, Butler, and Bourque. All three of these players will need to provide the Flames with that secondary talent that is so greatly needed in the NHL for success. Karlsson will need to be a sounder goaltender and put some pressure on Kipper while making the coaching staff use him more.

The Flames do not have a bad roster and can be a playoff team, but unless they toss the excuses and play the way they can, another disappointing year is ahead.

I totally agree on your first point. Players have to be held responsible for their play. Too often last year, the coaches let the players off the hook. That has to stop this year. If you put Hartsburg in another room and asked him about the system, he would say the same thing. If the players don’t buy into it, this will turn ugly. The problem is trying to figure out whether or not they will buy into it. Great insight Dearen.

Next let’s move onto Mike. You can follow Mike on twitter mwalsh20

In my opinion, the Flames are a playoff team with the current roster. But in order to remain a playoff team, here is what has to happen. First, they have continue where they left off. They earned points in something like 35 of their last 46 games or something close to that, they really cannot afford a major slip up from that. Second, the Flames have to stay healthy, especially up front. With most teams who battle all season long just to make the playoffs, the Flames do not have enough depth. The prospects who are closest to playing and pushing for time with them are blue liners. If the Flames lose a couple key guys for a prolonged period of time, it could really hurt the Flames’ chances of making the playoffs. Third, they must get the balanced contributions that they received last season. Iginla needs to be in the 80-90 point range and Tanguay the 70-80 range. The secondary scoring forwards: Jokinen, Bourque, Glencross, even Morrison all need to be in 40-55 maybe even 60 point range. Mikael Backlund needs to take another step forward, I’d settle for 40ish points. It would be a real bonus if one of Stajan or Hagman could rebound as well. They must get more scoring from the blue liners, Bouwmeester must improve on his 4 goals and 24 point season. And finally, there must be a better commitment to team defense. As a 5 man unit on the ice, they all need to be committed to help keep the puck out of the net. The Flames will finish anywhere from 5-10th in the conference, I will say they finish 6th and play Vancouver in the first round.

I agree, Mike, the Flames have to start off fast they must not start slow again this year. Injuries do play a major role and Flames losing any of their core would be devastating. The secondary scoring is huge for this team the top 6 must get help from the last two lines. Some fans would say the Flames don’t have enough top 6 forwards. As I said in one of my earlier blogs, Jbo has to take on a major role this season. He has a lot of responsibility. Great insight ,Mike. As usual, you are right on again.

I would like to welcome the last member of the panel, Rob, our first time visitor. You can follow him on Twitter as etchysketch.

If there’s one thing that has plagued the Flames post-2004, it’s the inability to be consistent. In fact, if you look at the stats, the Flames have been fairly consistent at being inconsistent. After last year’s amazing record of 26-11-9, following the Darryl Sutter era, the Flames looked to be a contender following Boxing Day 2010. Unfortunately, losing Morrison during the final stretch didn’t help the team’s cause and everything seemed to fall out of place. That being said, the Flames finished the season strong, going 3-0-1 in the final 4 games. If the Flames can play like they did in the second half of the season, for the entire season, I can see them making a serious bid for a playoff spot come next Spring. And although a lot of us may not really understand the Flames’ strategy this off-season, there’s one thing we can all agree on… Only 32 days until pre-season.

Watching the Flames last year was like watching Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The Flames last year totally blew it in the first half so much so that they could not overcome it in the second. I totally agree. Can they play the first half like it’s just as important as the last half?

Now for my answer. As I sat and thought about this, two major thoughts came to my head. The Flames’ strength on this team is the goaltending. Kipper and the Tower can, and probably will, steal at least 10 games this season. That is the key point. Karlsson has to play 20 games and win half of them, if not more. Last year, like every year, Kipper got worn out. We need a fresh Kipper the last part of the year.

My last point is that Iggy and Tangs need to repeat last year, and if Lanks can return to his numbers, the Flames will have a major first line. If the offense can add a little more numbers, mainly if Stajan and Hagmen can produce, then yes, it can happen.

I would like to thank the guests Rob, Dearen, and Mike. They are great guys with huge hockey knowledge. I will try to keep this a regular event. Thanks again guys.

Until next time, take care.

Randy

The problem with this is that the Flames really do not have the assets to put off the acquisition of a first line center. Unless we are thinking of trading people like Backlund, Giordano, Kiprusoff, Bourque, Iginla, or Tanguay, and let me say on behalf of all Flames fans — fat chance.

Actually, I could see the Flames trading Bourque and maybe Bouwmeester. Of course, Jay’s cap may be hard for teams to take on. The main problem is Iggy really needs a center – or does he? Bear with me; Iggy had a great year taking passes from Tanguay. Alex could be as good as any other center out there.

This is the confusing part. Why are the Flames going after a first line center instead of a top 6 forward? I would really love to get a winger like Booth from the Panthers. Maybe even Alexander Semin.

All I have heard lately is that Feaster wants a first line center. Dare I say a top 6 winger may be more appropriate for the Flames this season.

Other question fans may ask is why did Feaster put all of his eggs in one basket? It really seemed that the Flames were caught off-guard and took no other precautions to pick up another center.

Yes, there are also 14 defencemen on the team. This direction I like. You can never have too much defense. The problem is there are too many 5,6 and not enough 3,4.

The problem with having to many 5 and 6 defencemen is: Can they be trusted in enough in pressure situations? The Flames will be relying on some young defensemen, hoping they mature in a hurry. I feel confident that they will do enough to get by. But if they do falter, this Regehr trade may very well haunt them for some time.

So yes, I am quite confused with the direction this team is going. You really cannot call it a rebuild, but you cannot say they are going for it. We really need to pick a direction and stick with it right now. That is not happening.

Randy

With the NHLPA collective bargaining agreement up soon, no-one is going to want to take a long term contract on unless it is really in their best interest to do so. The only way the Flames are going to get a team to take Stajan’s contract is if the Flames make it worth a team’s while to do so.

The problem with that, is that next year draft is very deep, and Jay has already traded his second round pick away in the Regehr deal. That was done so that the Flames could get rid of Kotalik off the books. If it costs a second to get rid of Kotalik, how much would it cost the Flames to get a team to take a $3.5 million multi-year contract in Stajan. The Flames really cannot afford to sell a team that bad of a contract.

The Flames really don’t have much wiggle room here. We don’t have that many assets. In fact, most of the ones we do have are not on the market. You can pretty much take out Gio, Iggy, Tangs, and more than likely, Kipper.

Then there is the Jaybo situation. Do we trade him? Or more to the point, would there be a team that is willing to take his $6.67 million dollar cap hit? The other problem is that he is basically the second-best dman on the team. I hate to say this, but I am predicting Jaybo to have a break-out year. I really feel strongly that he will return to his Panthers numbers. The main reason that I feel so strongly is that Sutter will adjust the system to him.

The options to trade are very limited and I am about to go in a radical direction. By that, I mean the free agent route, and here comes the bombshell — Alexander Yashin. Bear with me for a second. Yashin is going to be motivated to prove his worth. And really, the Flames won’t have anything to lose, because his cap won’t be huge either. The Flames have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Sutter has the ability to turn careers over like he did with Morrison’s. I feel he can do the same thing with Yashin. The Flames really need a number one centre. Yes, they have plenty of them, but none who are can be a number one centre.

Feaster went after Richards for a reason, no matter what he says. He feels we need a number one centre. The Flames may have quantity, but they do not have quality. They really don’t have the assets to pick up a huge player, so their best option may very well be — gulp — Alexander Yashin.

Randy

In Butler, the Flames get a potential stay-home dman who has some potential for being a top 5 dman on the team.   That won’t happen for a bit, but the potential is there.  From what I have heard, Butler has some solid defensive zone play. He hits hard and plays his game.   He is a typical stay-home defensemen with a no-nonsense style.

In Bryon, the second player, you have small, talented winger who has some great offensive upside.  His disadvantage is his size, but on the bright side, have been small players who have made it in the league.   Bryon has soft hands and has put up impressive numbers in the past.

Obviously the Flames lose one of the best stay-home defensemen in the league.  Robyn is known for his character, and his leadership will be missed.  It is common knowledge that it is no fun playing against Regehr; he hits you again and again.  He clears people in front of the net and plainly hurts people.

Of course, the Kotalik part is giving Flames straight cap relief.  This move was to save the Flames owner some cash. In reality, Alex would never have played for the Flames. The Flames were basically going to eat his hit with the Heat.

The immediate reaction from the Flames fans is: you have to be kidding! But in defense of the Flames, there was a need to make room for Tanguy. It is a necessary evil of the cap world.

The Flames used the cap relief to sign Alex Tanguay to a 5-year, $17 million contract, which I assume has an NTC .   The Flames really needed to do this. There was a lot of pressure on them seeing as Iggy wanted it done. To add to the pressure, Alex went public that he wanted to stay, so you had to know that come hell or high water, this deal was going to be done. Unfortunately, it was hell, with the loss of one of the best stay-home defensemen in the league.

The Flames were willing to pay the price, but was it the right one?  Before I answer that, I thought I would clarify what Jay meant when he said the Sabres had the best offer.  I suspect that they were the only offer where there was no cap coming back. The offer from the Sabres is what  the Flames needed in order to fit Alex and Babchuck under the cap.  As a result, it hurts me to say, but yes it was the right move.

I would be shocked if the Flames are done. I am still expecting the Flames to be going after another forward. The main reason is that I do not believe the Flames will keep Hagman and his $3 million dollar cap hit on their roster.   There is also Matt Stajan’s awful $3.5 million contract hindering the Flames.  There are a lot of questions still to be answered.  Now comes the fun part, as we wait for the answers.

Randy

Participants: Fred Poulin, Cris Cohen, Lawrence Duchenski, John Scott Moore, Jeremy Scriven, Alexander Monaghan, Jamie Fraser, Andre Garabedian, WB Philp, Al Cimaglia, Adrian Fung, Gordon Fall, Kevin Vanstone, Su Ring

Round 1
LAWRENCE 1 Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are proud to select, from the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
We believe that Ryan will be an elite player in this league for years to come. He has both the vision and the passing ability to centre our first line and we are happy to bring him into the organization.

JOHN 2 Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are proud to select, from Skelleftea HC in Sweden, Adam Larsson. The Avs most pressing issue besides a net-minder is defense. Larsson is the big man on the blue line that this team needs to be competitive. With newly acquired Erik Johnson and veteran John-Michael Liles, Larsson will complete a core of defense that should last for years. Larsson’s highly rated skating for a 6-3, 200 pound blueliner is just what the team needs. Also noted is his poise and patience with the puck, a good quality to see this early.

JAMIE 3 Panthers
The Florida Panthers select Gabriel Landeskog of the OHL’s Kitchener Ranger. Gritty. Determined. Physical. Tough. Mean. These are characteristics not common to the average Swedish hockey player. Gabriel Landeskog is truly a made in Canada Swede. He’s physical mature player who’s the most NHL ready in the draft. Landeskog is pure leadership material, he’s a difference maker every time he’s on the ice. This past season he scored 66 points (36-30) in 53 games. Here’s Landeskog take on his style “I’m a powerful guy who likes to play rough and tough,” “But I do see myself as a skilled guy but it still comes down to hard work and being gritty and being in your face. That’s what I want to do.”

JAMIE 4 Devils
The New Jersey Devils select 4th overall Jonathan Huberdeau of the Saint John Sea Dogs. Huberdeau an excellent two-way forward recently won the Memorial Cup with Saint John. He draws comparisons to Jason Spezza but with a better defensive hockey mind. Huberdeau has assets that you can’t teach such as vision, his 6’1″ frame and his ability to play under pressure. Truly a great fit for a Devils trap system. Scoring 105 points(43-62) this season in the QMJHL he has the offensive abilities to command at 1st/2nd line duties in the future.

ANDRE 5 Islanders
With the 5th selection of the 2011 entry draft, the NY Islanders are proud to select, from the Drummondville Voltigeurs, Sean Couturier. This was a very tough choice. Hamilton, Couturier, Strome, Murphy are all gifted players who can help fill a need for the Islanders and were right there for us, but the feeling was that adding a player of Couturier’s skill set, combined with his size made him a sensible choice. Not only is he a top player, but he also fills a need for size on a relatively small Islander team. He is gifted offensively, but also has displayed a commitment to the defensive side of the ice making him a solid 2-way prospect. Much of his time was spent against opposing top lines — giving him the oppor tunity to dominate at both ends of the ice. He is size speed and skill — all of the tools the Islanders need.

The “knock” on Sean was that he was coasting this season, and does not have the “commit” level that he should. We feel Sean is committed to both ends of the ice, and we are sure he will be a proud part of the Islander family for many years to come. We feel Sean is an excellent player that adds to a dynamic core of players in our development system.

JAMIE 6 Senators
With the 6th pick overall in the NHL 2011 entry draft the Ottawa Senators select Ryan Strome. Ottawa needs help for that 2nd line centre position. Ryan Strome lacks the size of Sean Couturier, but this kid put up 106 points(33-73) with the OHL’s Niagara Ice Dogs. He draws similar skill sets to Patrick Kane. Strome is a player who is at his biggest part of his game with the puck on his stick and will often make opposing defenders look absolutely ridiculous in YouTube highlight reel moments. While many of his goals belong on highlight reels, Strome has a great shot and excellent hockey sense. Make sure to follow Ryan Strome on twitter @strome18

FRED 7 Thrashers (Winnipeg Jets)
The Winnipeg team is proud to select, from the Niagara Ice Dogs of the OHL, defenseman Dougie Hamiilton. His strong and smooth st aking abilities allow him to skate out of trouble in own zone. Can quarterback the power play thanks to great vision and accurate shot. The team also needs more size on defense to complement Dustin Byfuglien. Hamilton scored 12 goals and added 46 assists for 58 pts in 57 games this season. The 6’4” 195 lb rearguard could very well become a top-2 defenseman in a near future.

FRED 8 Flyers from the Blue Jackets
The Philadelphia Flyers are proud to select from Djurgarden of the Swedesih Elite League, centre Mika Zibanejad. After trading two quality centers in Mike Richards and Jeff Carter on Thursday, the Flyers need to restock their middle lane with top-end prospects. A very intelligent two-way player with a great shot, Zibanejad has an above-average sense of hockey and anticipation. He uses his 6’2”, 190 lb frame to his advantage and his strength to battle pucks along the boards. He is not afraid to play physically and likes to initiate contact. He has excellent faceoffs skills and great skating abilities. He draws some comparisons to Ryan Kesler and Mike Fisher.

FRED 9 Bruins from the Maple Leafs
The Boston bruins are proud to select from the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL, defenseman Ryan Murphy. An exceeding talented puck-moving defenseman, the diminutive Murphy draws comparisons to Ryan Ellis and former NHLer Brian Rafalski. In 63 games last season, the offensive defenseman scored an impressive 26 goals and 53 assists for 79 points. A good fit for the Bruins as the team really needs a power play quarterback, Murphy is an outstanding skater and puck carrier a la PK Subban. He is very agile, possesses soft hands and boasts a hard and accurate slapshot. The 5’11, 175 lb will be a steady fixture on the Bruins’ blueline for years to come.

CRIS 10 Wild
The Minnesota Wild take, from the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL, Sven Bartschi. The Wild, after being a defense-first team under Jacques Lemaire their first 7 seasons and losing Marian Gaborik to Free agency in 2009, this team needs offense. Havlat with 22 goals was their leading scorer this past season and no other Wild hit the 20-goal plateau. Bartschi, and excellent skater possesses good passing and stickhandling skills and a good, quick shot. He will need to work on the defensive side of his game, though.
JOHN 11 Avalanche from the Blues
With the 11th pick the Colorado Avalanche are proud to pick Duncan Siemens of the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades. The 6’3″, 192 lbs defenseman is just too good for the Avs to pass up. Despite needs on offense, the big D-man will be an asset to the Avs in the future and possibly forming a formidible defensive core for years. Naming Scott Stevens as his favorite player, Siemens will lay a hit and even fight. But better yet he is a shutdown defenseman with mobility.

SUE 12 Hurricanes
With the 12th pick, the Carolina Hurricanes are proud to select Joseph Morrow of the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks. We like Morrow for his strong skating, great speed and talented two-way game. He has the uncanny ability to see the entire ice and create smart plays and scoring chances.
He’s also very strong on both the power play and penalty kill and uses his size to every advantage on the ice. He played a key role in helping the Winterhawks clinch the WHL’s US Dvision and Western Conference titles during the regular season and helped propel the team to the WHL Championships, which they lost to the Kootenay Ice.

SUE 13 Flames
With the 13th pick, the Calgary Flames are pleased to select Mark McNeill from the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL. McNeill can play Center but he also has experience at Right Wing. He’s big, smart and an accurate shot, whether it comes to scoring or passing. His size also makes him strong defensively- this kid is not afraid to go after the puck. McNeill led the Raiders to their first playoff appearance since the 2006-2007 season.

ALEXANDER 14 Stars
With the 14th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, the Dallas Stars take Rocco Grimaldi, Center, USA Under-18-USHL. After losing a great player like Brad Richards, we felt our organization took the best player available and added a great deal of skill. If not for his size, Grimaldi likely could have gone in the top 10 as he displays an excellent amount of agility, top speed and overall skill. In addition, we find Rocco to be a hard-working, determined individual who can eventually play on our top line. Picking at number 14, we are quite pleased to select a player of his stature.

CRIS 15 Rangers
With the 15th pick the New York Rangers select from the USHL Tyler Biggs. He brings a size (6′ 2″, 210) that most of the forwards in the Rangers’ system do not possess. He’s willing to hit opponents and fight when necessary. While not overly impressive from an offensive standpoint (19G, 12 A in 55 games) and not speedy, his size and strength should provide more room for offensively skilled teammates he could be paired with to be free to do their thing.

The second part of the mock draft will be posted later today. Stay tuned!

Jakub Voracek, 1st round pick, and....3rd round pick...(Opens Envelope) Name 3 things traded for Jeff Carter!

This year, once again with the assistance of my good friend Andrew R (and some Bitches Brew…..both the beer and the music), I sat down to do my NHL Mock Draft.  As per usual, trades were considered, and by a phenomenal stroke of luck we called Carter to Columbus for Voracek and the 8th pick….so we’re ready to go.

This was fun and challenging, as always, but especially this year, because it’s such a fluid draft and people are seriously all over the place.  I’ve seen guys ranked top 10 in some drafts and out of the 1st round in others.  I’m sure some of these picks will sound stupid, but I’m sure I’ll be wrong a lot….but hey, nobody thought Dylan McIlrath would go before Cam Fowler last year.

Without further ado, here we go…

1. Edmonton Oilers: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C, Red Deer (WHL)

I think there are a few question marks about Nugent-Hopkins, specifically his size and willingness to go to the dirty areas, but despite this the Oilers think he’s too good to pass up at #1.  They hope he and Taylor Hall form a dynamic duo for years to come.

2. Colorado Avalanche: Gabriel Landeskog, W, Kitchener (OHL)

We agonized over this pick, but we thought at the end of the day the Avalanche would be seduced by the size, heart, grit, and NHL readiness of Landeskog.  He’s a Chris Stewart type – the kind of player you hold on to, and never trade, come hell or high water!  Wait….what?

3. Florida Panthers: Sean Couturier, C, Drummondville (QMJHL)

Dale Tallon is a well-known fan of big players, and he overlooks the “analysis paralysis” in the scouting community to jump on Sean Couturier.  Back-to-back 96-point seasons (despite having mono at the start of this year), experience at the WJC, winning the Mike Bossy Award, and his size (6’4) make him the right move for the Panthers.

4. New Jersey Devils: Adam Larsson, D, Skelleftea (SEL)

The Devils, by most accounts, should have lost their 1st round pick this year in the Kovalchuk chicanery.  Instead, they won the draft lottery, and Lou Lamoriello looks like the cat who ate the canary after Larsson falls to him at 4.  He had a sub-par year in the SEL by most standards, but Larsson’s talent and hockey sense will make him the best Devils blueline prospect since Scott Niedermayer.

5. New York Islanders: Ryan Strome, C, Niagara (OHL)

I can already hear the Dougie Hamilton fans sharpening their knives, but hear me out.  In addition to resembling Mr. Burns (according to Niagara fans), I believe Strome is the best long-term fit for the Islanders.  He projects as a top center with playmaking ability and creativity, and the Islanders justify this pick by citing his higher projection.  At the end of the day, when you pick 5th, you want the guy who will be the better player down the road, not the biggest positional need or the guy who will calm Josh Bailey’s nerves about being replaced.  I’ve had a hunch about Strome for a while, and I will not back off from it like I did last year with Nino Niederreiter.

Here’s a Strome highlight reel goal:

Highlight Reel Goal From Strome

6. Ottawa Senators: Jonathan Huberdeau, C, St. John’s (QMJHL)

Huberdeau slips to Ottawa despite his incredible playoff run with the Memorial Cup champions, and Bryan Murray is glad he did (especially since Brian Burke is nowhere to be seen and can’t take the pick out of spite).  Huberdeau projects as a flashy offensive player, and he’ll be a good one for Ottawa.

7. Winnipeg Not Yet Jets: Dougie Hamilton, D, Niagara (OHL)

Gary Bettman was much like the father in this famous Simpsons scene recently:

The NHL has indeed gone back to Winnipeg, and they bring this hulking (6’4) d-man with them.  Hamilton is a smart player who will be a good fit on this team.

8. Philadelphia Flyers (From Columbus): Duncan Siemens, D, Saskatoon (WHL)

I had this as a mock trade, and now it’s a real trade.  Siemens is big (6’3), mean, and a hard hitter….just the kind of kid the Flyers love.  They pick him over my other option here, Mika Zibanejad, and hope Chris Pronger’s influence helps him become a star.

9. Boston Bruins (From Toronto): Ryan Murphy, D, Kitchener (OHL)

Fresh off their Cup win, the Bruins add Ryan Murphy, whose suspect D is more than balanced out by skilled offense.  He could be a true difference-maker on the Bruins PP for years to come, and they could always hide him with a defensive d-man in even strength situations to mask his weakness.

10. Minnesota Wild: Nathan Beaulieu, D, St. John’s (QMJHL)

The Wild step up to grab mobile but raw D prospect Nathan Beaulieu, whom some scouts have ranked above Hamilton, continuing a run on defense in this part of the draft.  Beaulieu is a few years away but the Wild fans will cheer this one tomorrow night at the Xcel Energy Center.

11. Colorado Avalanche (From St. Louis): Jamieson Oleksiak, D, Northeastern University (NCAA)

The Avalanche have their forward and possible future captain in Landeskog.  Now, playing with house money, they feel like they can reach just a bit for the hulking (6’7) defender Oleksiak, and give him time to develop at his own pace that he might not have received if he were a team’s top pick.  He may leave Northeastern to play major junior next year; let’s keep an eye.

12. Carolina Hurricanes: Mika Zibanejad, President of Iran C/W, Djurgarden (SEL)

Zibanejad finds a home with the Carolina Hurricanes, who still need depth at every position and grab the best player available.  Some teams have him ranked top 5, but he slips due to being 2nd choice for a few of the teams above (Islanders, Winnipeg, Flyers, Avalanche).  The Canes are glad to have this tough, hard-nosed player, and their fans will be as well.

And I ran......I ran so far away....

13. Calgary Flames: Joel Armia, W, Assat Pori (FIN)

The Flames go for the home run by picking Armia, one of the more talented Finnish forward prospects in the last 10 years.  There are some questions about his work ethic, but the Flames love his talent too much to let him slip away.

14. Dallas Stars: Sven Bartschi, W, Portland (WHL)

The Stars jump on The Other Swiss Winterhawk, Sven Bartschi, who was a force of nature in this year’s Memorial Cup playoffs.  Some are surprised to see him slip so far, but he was again second choice for many teams, and the Stars practically pinch themselves on the way to the podium.

15. New York Rangers: Nicklas Jensen, RW, Oshawa (OHL)

The Islanders have a Dane, and now the Rangers have one too. Jensen’s hockey sense is off the charts, and the Rangers, after targeting D in the first round in previous years, think he’s the right move at 15 this year.

16. Buffalo Sabres: Oscar Klefbom, D, Farjestad (SEL)

The Sabres go for the BPA with Oscar Klefbom, a mobile, agile, and incredibly smart Swedish defenseman.  He has the potential to be the steal of the 1st round at this slot.

17. Montral Canadiens: Rocco Grimaldi, F, US NTDP

The Canadiens have trouble finding a forward taller than 5’3, and this does not get better with Grimaldi, who would be the shortest player in the NHL should he make it (yes, even smaller than Nathan Gerbe…who is a gnat).  However, he may be the most skilled player in the whole draft, and you can’t doubt his will to make it.  The Habs will look for size elsewhere….or not…

18. Chicago Blackhawks: Matt Puempel, W, Peterborough (OHL)

Puempel is a pure goal-scorer, and the Blackhawks go for the home run in continuing the rebuild of their farm system.  There are questions about his consistency, but Puempel is a great call here.

19. Edmonton Oilers: John Gibson, G, US NTDP

The Oilers have many goaltenders in the system, including Devan Dubnyk and Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers, but none project as a solid #1 goaltender.  Therefore, with Nugent-Hopkins in the fold, the Oilers jump up and take Gibson, hoping he will stabilize the crease for years to come.

20. Phoenix Coyotes: Mark McNeill, C, Prince Albert (WHL)

McNeill is strong in the corners, kills penalties well, and generally drives hard to the net.  The Coyotes have some danglers in the system, and McNeill projects as a strong, safe pick….they’re glad to have him.

21. Ottawa Senators (From Nashville): Brandon Saad, LW, Saginaw (OHL)

Ottawa is also playing with house money after nabbing Huberdeau at 6, and they can afford to take a flyer on Brandon Saad.  Saad will either be a home run power forward or a groundout, but with Huberdeau hogging all the attention as a top pick the Senators can let the Pennsylvania native find himself without a lot of pressure.

22. Anaheim Ducks: Joe Morrow, D, Portland (WHL)

Joe Morrow rocketed up the draft board due to his hockey sense, tenacity, and offensive potential.  The Ducks grab him and hope he’ll anchor the blueline for years alongside Fowler and Sbisa.

23. Pittsburgh Penguins: Tyler Biggs, RW, US NTDP

Even though the Penguins absolutely deplore violence in all its forms, they can’t resist another boom or bust type in Biggs.  He has size and a great net-front presence, and they hope he develops into his full potential.

24. Detroit Red Wings: Jonas Brodin, D, Farjestad (SEL)

This is almost too easy.  Smooth-skating, intelligent but raw d-man out of Sweden?  The Red Wings live for picks like this.  Brodin oozes talent and potential, and in Detroit he may have the best chance to harness them.

25. Toronto Maple Leafs (From Flyers): David Musil, D, Vancouver (WHL)

At a time, the hulking Musil was rated a potential top 5 pick in this draft.  His performance steadied, and he fell amid concerns his ceiling is not as high as originally thought.  He still plays a mean game and has offensive potential beyond that of his father, Frank, and he’s just truculent enough to fit Brian Burke’s bill.

26. Washington Capitals: Alexander Kochlachev, C, Windsor (OHL)

This is another almost no-brainer, as we know the Capitals LOVE their Russians.  Kochlachev oozes skill and pure offense, making him a potential home run pick this late in the draft.

27. San Jose Sharks: Mark Schiefele, C, Barrie (OHL)

The Sharks pick Schiefele as best player available, slightly ahead of J.T. Miller from the US NTDP.  Schiefele has discipline, playmaking ability, and  great net-front presence, making him a good complement to the current crop of prospects in the South Bay.

28. Tampa Bay Lightning: Connor Murphy, D, US NTDP

Murphy is a big, competitive 2-way winger who will do a little bit of everything for Steve Yzerman’s club in Tampa.  He’s best available for them.

29. Vancouver Canucks: Scott Mayfield, D, Youngstown (USHL)

He’s big, he’s smooth, he’s poised with the puck, and he’ll be a great fit in Vancouver.

30. Toronto Maple Leafs (From Boston): Zach Phillips, C/W, St. John’s (QMJHL)

Toronto closes out the pick by making it a trio from the Memorial Cup champions.  Phillips is a smart player with great puck skills and an ability to score.  Good fit for what they’re building in Toronto.

What have the Flames have told the media and the fans? The problem is that it is all up for the interpretation. This much we do know – the Flames are not going to use buy-outs.  Which means that Kotalik or Hagman will not be bought out.

Jay Fester also has been quoted as saying that the Flames are open to the option of moving up or down in the draft. The Flames could easily move up with their two picks in the second round. But I don’t want them giving up the two second round picks to do it; the Flames need those picks.

The Flames do have plenty of options to shop Regehr or Bourque, plus their first round pick to move up.  This is the way I think the Flames should go, not by trading their second round picks. The Flames really also need to clear cap for the signing of Tangs.

I firmly believe that the Flames are desperate to sign Tangs. Iggy really wants him; from what we have heard, it is the money that is stalling negations in the Tangs talks.

What would I do if I was Feaster?  Move down a couple of spots for extra picks.  I also would go after Sven Bartschi, a skilled winger.  There are plenty of skilled forwards later in the draft, who would fit the bill.

I would also make every effort to sign Tangs and dump some major cap to do so.

Of course I am not the Flames GM, so watch them do the exact opposite to what I say. It will be interesting to see what the Flames do in the draft next week. After the draft, I will try to address free agents.

Randy

If the Flames  really wish to go after Tangs hard, they have two options.  The first one is to trade to make room for his cap hit.  Which more than likely would mean trading one of the core, something that Jay has said he has no interest in.   In reality, a General  Manager usually plays it close to the chest, and rarely leaks what he is really thinking.

I really like this option of bringing in some young talent and clearing cap room.  The problem with this option is that the core all have  either no-movement  or no-trade clauses.  Regehr seems to be the best option.   Robyn is one of the best stay-home defencemen in the league.    The other key point here is that the Flames have plenty of young defencemen who are ready to take the plunge into the NHL.

The other asset the  Flames could trade is the streaky forward Rene Bourque.   Rene has all the tools to be a star. He is very fast skater with a wicked and heavy slap shot.   He was often used on the penalty kill, because he has good speed and he can score.  Bourque was also used on the second powerplay unit; he would definitely be missed . At times, he had great chemistry with Oli and Scarface. In fact, the line was often tagged as  1A.  The main problem with this solution is that the Flames really don’t want to trade offense. They want to add offense.  In other words, trading  Bourque and keeping Tangs is almost a wash.

The other asset I have heard they are thinking about trading is Kipper.  The main reason I really oppose this is that I am not sure that Karlsson is ready to be a full-time number one goalie.   The Flames would have to get a number one goalie and re-sign Tangs.  If they took this option, it would put them in worse shape cap-wise than they are now.

Some people have asked me if the Flames are trading Sarich.  While there is nothing wrong with this  choice, the return would not be as high as Regehr.   At times, I thought Cory was the Flames best dman on the  team.  The biggest obstacle in trying to trade Cory is his 3.6 million dollar price tag. The price might be too steep.

Trading Jbo and his $6.5 million would be terrific.  He is a great dman.  He is a solid player, but his contract is really hurting the Flames’ salary cap hit. The major problem with trading him is that the Flames are obviously going to have to take cap back.  I am not to sure the Flames could save enough cap to keep Tangs.

The second option as is buyouts, or sending players down to the farm. There were a few players who really struggled last  year, such as Kotalik or Hagman.  If the Flames use this option, I suspect there will only be one player sent down, which means Hagman will more than likely be on the roster.  Kotalik might very well playing in Russia and might not cost the Flames any money  in the long run.

In the long run I would like to see Alex Tanguay on this team. For one thing, he brings the best out in  Iggy. He is our best player. As a general manager, it is my job to keep my best player happy.

The next question is: How would I go about doing it? I would consider moving Regehr. Not because of his play, but simply because it would have the best return.

So I went to my Flames panel with two questions.  Here are their thoughts.

The first of my guests is Dearen Tiest Van de Velde.

Should the Flames sign Tanguay and why? If yes at what cost?

I want to begin by saying that I preferred the Jokinen signing over the Tanguay one last year when the news broke…This probably makes me crazy but in hindsight, in my opinion both were “good” signings but clearly Tanguay was a steal!

My view is that the Flames HAVE to sign Tanguay. With the weak UFA class, no #1 Centre for Iginla, and the attitude that we want to be a winner next season, Jay Feaster has no choice. So my quick and simple answer is “YES”.

At what cost is the real question, $4.5 million per year is too much (for Calgary) but $3 million will not get it done. Can we afford him at $4 million? We can with the cap going up, but Feaster keeps saying he does not want to start the season up against the salary cap. So I assume a contract will be moved; perhaps Regehr, although I highly doubt it, or Bourque. Easier said than done, but possible, I know Bourque got a recent contract, but he is not “Feaster’s” guy, and his lack of emotion and drive last year could see him moved. Then there are Kotalik and Hagman. Moving both to the AHL roster or buying them out could open some serious money, but I do not believe that will happen to both.

I predict Tanguay signs a 3 year $11.2 million dollar deal, and Bourque is dealt at the draft.

Dearen makes some good points. Iggy needs a slick playmaker to work with, and Tangs is better than any other free agent on the market. Bourque could fetch a pretty decent return, and Hagman and Kotalik both cleared waivers.

My second guest also has his own thoughts on Tanguay. Here are Mike Walsh’s thoughts on the situation.

Should the Flames sign Tangs and why?

I think they should sign him, as long as there is no rebuild in the future. He has great chemistry with Iginla, and seemed to be a more complete player last year.

How should we do it? Trade one of the core? Or buyout Hagmen or Kotalik?

First of all, I am hoping that the Flames would be able to sign Tanguay to a 2 year deal for about $3-$3.5 million per season. However, rumors have surfaced that is it likely going to be a much longer term deal with no home-team discount; I am not for it. Those type of deals got the Flames into their current mess. I truly believe that Regehr will be moved at the draft. Possibly for a pick and a younger defenceman. I also believe Kotalik ends up going over to Europe, which would give the Flames some cap relief. I would like to see Hagman waived if he is unable to be traded. Matt Stajan is another guy who can be sent packing, but at that cap hit, I doubt he can be moved for anything of great value. I’m hoping that Feaster moves Regehr and is then able to sign James Wisniewski.

Mike made a great point; Iggy scored most of his goals with Tangs. They formed a powerful twosome on the first line. Trading Regehr makes sense. His cap hit for a top 2 dman is reasonable. Kotalik is rumoured to be going to play in Europe, and Hagman should clear this year.

Conclusion

There it is in a nutshell. The Flames need to sign Tangs, and do it quick. I would like to thank Mike and Dearen for their thoughts and contribution today. They are great and knowledgeable hockey men.

Randy

Most of my friends consider me a real downer, and say I should have more faith in the Flames. I prefer to think of myself as a realist. The Flames are a playoff contender, and for that I give them credit. There is no way I would have even considered them that in December. The concern I have is that they may not be a cup contender. I am not sure this team can beat the Wings and Sharks, and especially the Canucks.

I wonder if another first round is in the future. If this is in the cards, I wonder if planning for the future would have been the better part of valor. I love the prospects we have, but what really worries me is the lack of picks. Too many times, this team has traded its picks for a kick at the can.

I am really getting tired of the Flames either just falling short of making the play-offs or losing in the first round. I would have loved to see the Flames stop this cycle of madness. The one good thing is that Jay did not trade any high picks, which is an improvement.

Another question that came to my mind is: What is Jay telling us about how he feels about the team? It tells me that he feels this team is capable of making a run. It also makes me think that he wants solidarity in the dressing room; a policy of “united we stand, united we fall,” to give the players the confidence that management is behind them. You never know what that could do in a locker room. A boatload of encouragement might just be the medicine this hockey team needs.

So Jay feels this team is good enough to make a run, which is fine. But hanging on to Glencross is a gamble; we could lose him for nothing. In the market right now, he could very well demand upwards of $4 million a year. Now he wants to stay in Calgary, so hopefully that would mean he might take a discount. The other question mark is Babchuck, who has a bullet shot from the point. How much of a raise will he demand?

So Jay decided to play Russian roulette and keep both players, to see if the Flames play for one more kick at the cat. Ah, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

The Flames made two more deals by simply adding two more players, a young defencemn and a vet at the forward position. The first acquisition was Brett Carson from Carl. A stay-home dman, a solid 6:4 210 no-nonsense defender. I wonder where this puts Brendan Mikkelson in the pecking order? I guess only time will tell.

The last acquisition was the trade which brought Freddy Modin from the Thrashers for a seventh round pick. It pretty much cost the Flames nothing, while putting some pressure on Hagmen and Kostoppoulos by having someone looking over their shoulders. Mostly Hagmen. It will be interesting to see how they respond for the rest of the season.

The game against the Blues started out well, and ended as the Flames had a terrific first period, firing 16 shots. I thought Bishop was very good in the first. They were solid in their own zone, and they continued the pressure. A great steal by Ibby to set up Tans nicely late in the period, to give the Flames a 1-0 lead. It was a very hard-hitting first period, with a playoff atmosphere.

The Blues were very good in the second period, and probably deserved to be tied going into the third. The main problem the Flames had was taking too many penalties. The penalty killing was very solid as Sarich and Regehr were both solid. The Flames were caught at times, but generally pretty solid defensively through 40 minutes. The Flames only allowed 14 shots in the first 40.

The Flames had the best third period of the season as they pounded the Blues for 5 goals in third period. On a sloppy line change by the Blues, Morrison sets up Iggy on a two-on-one breakaway to put it 2-0. The pp, which has really struggled, gets on track with a great deflection by Moss to put it 3-0. Then the Flames get another 3-on-1 as Morrison sets up Iggy for another one-timer. Bishop has no chance, and it is 4-0. The Blues continue to make silly penalties as Sutter rewards Sarich and Regehr on the pp and Roybn rewards him with blast from the point to put it 5-0. Backlund makes a give-away and Hagmen scores on a semi breakaway to put it 6-0.

The front line in the third period could do no wrong as they were all over the puck. They took advantage of the breaks scoring on every chance they had Morrison really might have had his best game of the year making some beautiful passes to Iggy. I have to mention the save by Kipper off Bergland in the third was outstanding. Kipper isi in his zone right. the final score 6-0.

Randy.

NHL clubs made 16 trades involving 35 players today prior to the 3 p.m., ET, trade deadline. Following is a list of the transactions:

• Anaheim traded C Maxim Lapierre and C MacGregor Sharp to Vancouver for C Joel Perrault and Vancouver’s 3rd-round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft.
• Atlanta traded RW Niclas Bergfors and LW Patrick Rissmiller to Florida for RW Radek Dvorak and Carolina’s 5th-round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft (previously acquired).
• Atlanta traded G Drew MacIntyre to Montreal for D Brett Festerling.
• Atlanta traded LW Fredrik Modin to Calgary for Calgary’s 7th-round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft.
• Boston traded D Jeff Penner and RW Mikko Lehtonen to Minnesota for G Anton Khudobin.
• Carolina traded LW Sergei Samsonov to Florida for D Bryan Allen.
• Chicago traded C Ryan Potulny and a 2nd-round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft to Ottawa for D Chris Campoli and a conditional 7th-round pick in 2012.
• Colorado traded D Kevin Montgomery to Edmonton for D Shawn Belle.
• Columbus traded D Rostislav Klesla and LW Dane Byers to Phoenix for LW Scottie Upshall and D Sami Lepisto.
• Columbus traded LW Tom Sestito to Philadelphia for C Michael Chaput and RW Greg Moore.
• Edmonton traded RW Dustin Penner to Los Angeles for D Colten Teubert, Los Angeles’ 1st-round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft and a conditional 3rd-round pick in 2012.
• Florida traded D Dennis Wideman to Washington for C Jake Hauswirth and Washington’s 3rd-round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft.
• Florida traded LW Chris Higgins to Vancouver for D Evan Oberg and Vancouver’s 3rd-round pick in the 2013 Entry Draft.
• New Jersey traded C Jason Arnott to Washington for C David Steckel and Washington’s 2nd-round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft.
• St. Louis traded LW Brad Winchester to Anaheim for Anaheim’s 3rd-round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft.
• Toronto traded C John Mitchell to NY Rangers for the Rangers’ 7th-round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft.

There also were three waiver claims today:

• Atlanta claimed C Rob Schremp from NY Islanders.
• Calgary claimed D Brett Carson from Carolina.
• Ottawa claimed G Curtis McElhinney from Tampa Bay.

Trade Deadline Activity Since 1979-80

Season Date Trades Players
1979-80 March 11, 1980 3 5
1980-81 March 10, 1981 12 22
1981-82 March 9, 1982 5 11
1982-83 March 8, 1983 1 1
1983-84 March 6, 1984 2 2
1984-85 March 12, 1985 4 7
1985-86 March 11, 1986 8 14
1986-87 March 10, 1987 5 9
1987-88 March 8, 1988 8 12
1988-89 March 7, 1989 9 21
1989-90 March 6, 1990 10 16
1990-91 March 5, 1991 14 33
1991-92 March 10, 1992 11 22
1992-93 March 22, 1993 9 14
1993-94 March 21, 1994 18 35
1994-95 April 7, 1995 19 32
1995-96 March 20, 1996 13 21
1996-97 March 18, 1997 18 35
1997-98 March 24, 1998 19 38
1998-99 March 23, 1999 21 30
1999-00 March 14, 2000 12 23
2000-01 March 13, 2001 17 31
2001-02 March 19, 2002 17 35
2002-03 March 11, 2003 24 46
2003-04 March 9, 2004 20 32
2005-06 March 9, 2006 25 40
2006-07 February 27, 2007 25 44
2007-08 February 26, 2008 25 45
2008-09 March 4, 2009 22 47
2009-10 March 3, 2010 31 55
2010-11 February 28, 2011 16 35

First, the Columbus Blue Jackets have claimed veteran defenseman Craig Rivet from the Buffalo Sabres on re-entry waivers. Rivet, an impending unrestricted free agent, will bring leadership and experience to an inexperienced Jackets team. The Sabres will be responsible for half of his $3,500,000 salary prorated on the remainder of the season.

Also, the Philaldephia Flyers claimed rearguard Nick Boynton from the Chicago Blackhawks. That move was necessary due to their lack of space and the loss of their 7th defenseman, Oskars Bartulis, for the remainder of the year due to a shoulder injury. That means Adam Foote, is not in the Flyers’ plans anymore. Strange move by the Hawks as Boynton his only earning $500,000 this year (the league minimum salary).

Then, in a strange move, the Los Angeles Kings put winger Marco Sturm on waivers to clear cap space in anticipation of the next 48 hours. Sturm was claimed by the Washington Capitals, who desperately needed scoring help on their second line. The Kings had acquired Sturm from the Boston Bruins earlier this season.

The following players were put on waivers today (most notables in bold):

Jason Jaffray (ANA), Tim Stapelton (ATL), Brett Carson (CAR), Nathan Lawson (NYI), Robbie Schremp (NYI), Pascal Leclaire (OTT), Ty Conklin (STL), Curtis McElhinney (TB), DJ King (WAS).

Schremp will likely get picked up by a team looking to add depth up front. As for the other ones, I highly doubt there is a market for them. Back-up goalies are not in high demand this season… Conklin lost his back-up job to giant Ben Bishop, who earned his first NHL shutout yesterday against the Oilers. Leclaire’s season has been riddled by injuries and inconsistent play. McElhinney (acquired in exchange from Dan Ellis from the Ducks) has been dreadful so far this year and with Mike Smith (who cleared re-entry waivers) and Dwayne Roloson in front of him, the Lightning doesn’t need his services.

The Atlanta Thrashers have extended forward Chris Thorburn. The deal is three years at an average salary of $867,000 (2.6M total). The rugged winger has 7 goals and 9 assists for 16 points in 62 games for the Thrashers. He was slated to become a restricted free agent at season’s end.

With Chris Pronger slated to miss tonight’s game, the Philadelphia Flyers were forced to recall rearguard Erik Gudbranson from the AHL to take his spot. As a result, they had to send a player down, and James Van Riemsdyk was reassigned temporarily to the AHL. He will miss tonight’s game in Ottawa, and with Blair Betts nursing an injury, Nikolay Zherdev will draw back into the line-up despite having gone unclaimed on waivers earlier this week.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have reportedly been offered a first and third round pick for forward Clarke MacArthur who’s a RFA after the season. Negotiations are ongoing, but GM Brian Burke is not willing to meet MacArthur’s salary expectations following a strong season. Burke is also seeking defensive help, and he’s willing to give a 3rd rounder in exchange for an offensive d-man. The Colorado Avalanche is asking a 2nd round pick in exchange for John-Michael Liles.

As told by Jamie Fraser, the Ottawa Senators are still negotiating with impending UFA Chris Phillips in an attempt to extend the veteran defenseman. If a deal is not reached before Monday’s deadline, expect the rearguard to be traded to a contender.

UPDATE: via Bob MacKenzie, the Florida Panthers have just traded Bryan McCabe to the New York Rangers for a 3rd round pick and Tim Kennedy.

The numbers in bold indicate the team’s best season attendance-wise.
NHL attendance since the lock-out (Downloadable Excel format)

Here you can find a link to all the current NHL arenas and their capacity

Below you will find the team ranking by division:
Northeast Division:
1. Canadiens
4. Maple Leafs
6. Senators
8. Sabres
19. Bruins

Atlantic Division:
3. Flyers
10. Rangers
16. Penguins
27. Devils
30. Islanders

Southeast Division:
11. Lightning
20. Capitals
21. Hurricanes
24. Panthers
28. Thrashers

Northwest Division:
5. Flames
7. Canucks
9. Wild
17. Oilers
22. Avalanche

Central Division:
2. Red Wings
12. Blackhawks
18. Blues
25. Blue Jackets
26. Predators

Pacific Division:
13. Sharks
14. Stars
15. Kings
23. Ducks
29. Coyotes

Conclusions: All Canadian cities fare very well, five of them ranking in the top-seven teams in attendance, with the exception of the Edmonton Oilers, mainly because Rexall Place has a seating capacity of only 16,839 fans (albeit each game has been sold-out since the lock-out). Rexall Place, built in 1974, is also the third oldest arena only behind the Madison Square Garden and the Nassau Veterans Coliseum. Thus, the need to build a new facility in Edmonton.

Among the Sunbelt cities, only the Tampa Bay Lightning, the San Jose Sharks, the Dallas Stars and the Los Angeles Kings rank in the top fifteen teams in attendance since the lock-out.

Unsurprisingly, the New York Islanders, the Phoenix Coyotes, the Atlanta Thrashers, the Nashville Predators and the Florida Panthers are among the worst in attendance. Each of these teams has had moderate success on the ice since the lock-out, having problems qualifying for the playoffs.

The only exception being the New Jersey Devils, ranked 27th in the league despite being perennial playoffs team since the lock-out thanks to Martin Brodeur, among others.

Eight NHL teams are having their best season so far at the gates, such as the Nashville Predators, whose attendance numbers have improved by more than a thousand so far this year. Teams with ownership uncertainty like the Dallas Stars, have experienced the biggest drop in attendance this year, a drop of almost 3,000 fans per game.

Finally, only three teams have had an average attendance below 80% of their arena’s capacity since the lock-out. Without much surprise, these teams are the Islanders, the Coyotes and the Thrashers, three of the most unstable NHL organizations these past recent years.

You can also follow me on Twitter for more information on the NHL.

The announcement of the Flames and Canadiens was simply awesome. The feeling was hard to explain. I was more nervous about this game than any other game of the season. It felt like a playoff game. All I know is that watching a game out doors had a feeling all its own. In fact, the whole weekend had that feeling. The weekend started Friday with a Heat game, and continued Saturday with the Legends.

Watching Roberts, Newy, and Lanny really brought back the memories of that 89 team. It was so nice to remember the Flames history, and to listen to the stories of the Flames and Canadiens players. I especially enjoyed watching Lanny and listening to him. Seeing him doing the opening face-off was a nice touch. Saturday itself was awesome for the Flames and Canadiens fans.

As I watched the first period, in which the Flames pretty much dominated early in the game, I felt bad for Gio trying to control the puck during the Flames powerplay. He could not control the puck in the offensive zone. The Flames powerplay looked very good in the first period. On a two-man advantage, there was a nice set up by Tangs to Bourque, and the Flames took a one nothing lead. The ice was not the best, and both clubs took some time to get use to the bouncing puck.

During the second period, the Canadiens threw everything at Kipper but the kitchen sink. I have always wondered about that saying. Who really does throw in the kitchen sink? But I digress. The Habs were basically all over the Flames for most of the period. The Flames scored a great short handed by Babchuck. Bourque scored on a breakaway with a great move on Price, to put it 3-0 in the second period.

In the third period, Kipper continued to shine. The Habs, to give them credit, never gave up. Iggy makes a perfect pass to Tangs on the Flame pp and puts it 4-0. Tangs and Bourque were spectacular this evening. Borque really needed this game, as he has been struggling lately. But the real story had to be Kipper: he made 39 saves for the shutout. 4-0 Final.

As for the event, I will let a follower of mine, Jessica Fisher, whom I also follow, to sum it all up: “Thank you #heritageclassic for exceeding all of my expectations, and then some. Amazing game and amazing day!! @NHLFlames.”

I could not have said it better NHL. You did yourself proud this afternoon and made me proud to be a Flames fan.

Randy

The Flames’ second line (if you really want to call them that), Olli, Glencross. and Moss, have been red-hot in carrying the Flames this season.  Of course, some goalie on the Flames has pretty good too.  Kipper has been outstanding for the Flames this season.

Meanwhile, the Flames’ opponent, the Canadiens come in the walking wounded, although they got some good news today as Cammy is being dressed for Sunday’s game. The Habs have been really unlucky with injuries. They seemed to be disinterested, losing to the Oil 4-1. Price will have to be at his best if the Habs want to stay close.

The Heritage Classic weekend actually started Friday night, as the Heat started off against the Barons in AHL play.  It’s the first time the Heat played in front of the Flames crowd. As I am writing the blog, the game is tied 1-1.

Saturday, the Flames and Habs practice in the morning. In the afternoon, the end with an alumni game between the Habs and the Flames. The contest starts at 4:30. I am almost as excited about this game as I am the classic.  It’s kind of fun to watch the legends play against each other. One thing is for sure: Vernon will be in net as he makes his comeback for the Flames. Connie is playing for the Flames.

On Monday, the Calgary Hitmen will finish the event with the Regina Pats on Monday afternoon. Monday is a holiday in Alberta, as it is Family Day.