DAILY RUMORS: Shooting Down Some Silly Rumors . . .

With just over a week to go until the February 28^th trade deadline there’s already been several notable trades which has only further stoked the rumor fires as the deadline draws nearer.

It’s also given rise to some pretty silly rumors, which is par for the course at this time of year.  Here’s a brief rundown of some of the latest.

Ales Hemsky to Dallas. The Stars are already loaded at left wing (James Neal, Brendan Morrow and Jamie Benn). They have no need to acquire Hemsky.

Marek Zidlicky to the Rangers. He may have been a draft pick of the Rangers ten years ago but he’s not going back to help them at the trade deadline. Wild GM Chuck Fletcher has said he won’t be a seller but rather a buyer if possible at the trade deadline.

Brent Seabrook to Vancouver. Seabrook won’t be going to the Canucks or any other team. As if the Blackhawks would ship him to their arch-rival from the Northwest Division. Chicago GM Stan Bowman has already shot down the Seabrook rumors, insisting he intends on re-sign the blueliner.

Sergei Gonchar to the Rangers. OK, I realize the Rangers have over the years earned a reputation for overpaying talent but they’ve rarely if ever taken on another team’s contract mistakes. Besides, the Blueshirts wanna leave enough cap space freed up to pursue Brad Richards in next summer’s free agent market. Can’t do that with Gonchar’s $5 million per season eating a hole in the payroll.

Ed Jovanovski to the Rangers. I’m sure whoever floated these did so because Jovocop’s a UFA this summer and he’s playing for the Coyotes, but that person hasn’t been very observant with what’s going on in Phoenix. The Coyotes are very much in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race, and they intend on opening contract talks with him once the sale of the team has been finalized. Oh, and he has a full no-movement clause and no desire to waive it.  His recent sidelining to a fractured orbital bone will also keep him out of the trade market.

Alex Kovalev to Montreal. The Habs already saw Kovalev’s decline in his final season in Montreal. Then-GM Bob Gainey opted to go in a different direction, which current GM and former assistant Pierre Gauthier will continue.

Brad Richards to Toronto. Why would Richards, who has a “no-movement” clause, agree to be dealt from a playoff contender to a team which by their very moves over the last ten days have almost no shot at making the playoffs? Maybe – emphasis on “maybe” – Richards signs with Toronto as a UFA this summer, but he won’t accept a trade to a non-playoff club this season.

P.A. Parenteau to the Penguins. The Islanders just re-signed Parenteau to an affordable one-year deal, yet I’ve heard the suggestion he’ll “want to move on” after next season. If he wanted to move on, then why re-sign with the Isles when he was going to be an unrestricted free agent this summer and could’ve moved on then? Sorry, doesn’t make sense. The Penguins would probably love to land him but he’s staying on the Island because – believe it or not – he wants to stay there.

That’s it for now, though I’m sure next week will bring another treasure trove of wackiness.

Lyle Richardson
Spector’s Hockey
www.spectorshockey.net