Seemingly every season since Pittsburgh Penguins superstar center Sidney Crosby broke into the NHL there’s been suggestions of how much better his point numbers would be, and in turn how many more games the Penguins would win, if he had a quality scoring winger.

The Pens had addressed that for a short period late in the 2007-08 season by bringing in Marian Hossa at the 2008 trade deadline, and following his departure found affordable but lesser talented wingers a year later in Chris Kunitz and Bill Guerin, who helped the Penguins march to the 2009 Stanley Cup title.

But with Guerin now retired and Kunitz clearly not the Jari Kurri to Crosby’s Wayne Gretzky the speculation persists in some circles of the Pens search for a true scoring winger to compliment “Super Sid”.

Hockeybuzz.com’s “Eklund” recently offered up his take, claiming he’d heard “rumblings” akin to those he heard three years ago just prior to the Pens acquisition of Hossa that the club could be in the market again for a winger for the Crosby line.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Eklund/Filatov-or-Prucha-possible-Crosby-Wingers-Habs-and-Frolov-pt-2-Versteeg/1/32683

Well this year I am hearing the same rumblings…and now it appears as though the Pens may be considering two “projects” of sorts to see if either may be the answer.

Hmmm, two “projects” of sorts? So rather than pursuing an expensive veteran the Penguins might instead consider a promising, affordable young player or two?

Well, it’s an intriguing idea, certainly one the Penguins could at this point more easily afford cap-wise. Eklund also claimed a source told him the Columbus Blue Jackets were in Pittsburgh scouting Penguins defenseman Alex Goligoski.

It’s well known the Blue Jackets are in desperate need of a skilled puck-moving defenseman, and the 25-year-old Goligsoki with 22 points in 41 games is on pace for his best season to date.

But who would these “projects” be which the Penguins are supposedly considering?

Eklund claims they’re Nikita Filatov and Petr Prucha.

No, he’s not kidding. A kid who has yet to prove he can make it at the NHL level, and a player not good enough to stick with the Phoenix Coyotes, are the “projects” the Penguins are supposedly considering.

Eklund’s reasoning that both might rediscover their lost scoring touch by playing with Crosby – just doesn’t make sense. Prucha is no longer a dewy-eyed rookie and over the past five seasons failed to follow up on his promising 2005-06 debut, while Filatov despite all his supposed offensive prowess continues to struggle at the North American pro level. It’s not as though the Blue Jackets don’t have any quality forwards to put him with. Certainly none in Crosby’s category, but putting him on a line with, say, Antoine Vermette and RJ Umberger, or Derick Brassard and Jakub Voracek, could’ve helped.

Indeed, when Kristian Huselius went down to an early season ankle injury that could’ve been the opportunity for Filatov to seize the moment and prove himself. Instead, after a couple of months he found himself still struggling at the NHL level and demoted to the AHL where things only seem to have gotten worse for him.

If the Penguins really wanted Prucha they could’ve had him several days ago when the Coyotes placed him on re-entry waivers, where the Pens could’ve picked him up for nothing and only been on the hook for half of the remainder of his $1.2 million salary for this season, which would’ve been more attractive to the cap-strapped club.

As for Filatov, the Blue Jackets management undoubtedly have concern over this kid’s stalled development but I doubt they’ll give up on him just yet. Even if they did, the Penguins aren’t going to take a chance with Filatov on Crosby’s wing and magically expect him to blossom into a 40-goal scorer overnight.

Eklund also claimed the Penguins would love to land RJ Umberger but the Blue Jackets don’t want to part with him. Even if they did, there’s the little matter of the Penguins inability to fit Umberger’s $3.75 million per season salary under their very tight cap (which they currently have just over $600K of available space) even if they agreed to ship Goligoski and his $1.833 million per season to Columbus straight up.

Lyle Richardson
Spector’s Hockey
www.spectorshockey.net

Earlier this week there was plenty of speculation out of Boston and Toronto suggesting the Bruins might attempt to make a salary-dumping deal with the Phoenix Coyotes.

Several names have been bandied about as potential trade bait for the Bruins, including Blake Wheeler, Michael Ryder, David Krejci and Matt Hunwick.

“Eklund” of Hockeybuzz.com however claimed he’d heard from three to four sources (using his rating system of “E’s” – this one being “E3-E4”) the Coyotes “may be close to acquiring Marc Savard”.

Now I realize “Eklund” is merely passing along what he claims sources are telling him but not even his followers believe this rumor. From the comments section:

“Why would Savard waive his NTC to go to Phoenix? Lol”

“Why would any team acquire an injured player…?”

“mr. eklund. you know what a huge fan i am of your work but this is an insult to any hockey fan with an i.q. above 50…..(i know, there aren’t many around here) why would anyone trade for a damaged goods, concussed player at the front end of a 7 year deal at about 4.2 mil a year? you want us to believe that there are actually 3-4 “sources” who stand by this?”

“Doubt this happens. Savard’s kids all live outside Toronto. That’s why he wanted to go to Ottawa or Toronto. The guy isn’t waiving his NTC to go all the way to Phoenix.

And why would a team bleeding money like Phoenix want to get a guy who has serious concussion issues and is under contract for 6 more years after this one?”

“Wow. Brutal “rumor”.

1.Savard has said he would only agree to a trade to an Ontario team to be close to family.

3.Savard is locked into a 7 year contract with a no trade clause and is on the wrong side of 30.”

“EK=FAIL! savard will not be traded if anything sturm will be the one traded bruins will hold him on LTIR and make him waive his NTC so he can play for his contract year. savy is remaining a bruins he would only go to a team in canada to be close to home he wants to remain in boston”

“If the yotes want a player with problem resulting from concusions, they can have Tim Connoly for a cold cup of coffee.”

“Doesn’t make sense that a team with no real owner yet, and zero cash flow would want an injured player with a longterm contract. Pointless.”

Spelling mistakes aside, I don’t think I can improve upon these critiques. Suffice to say, Savard won’t be traded to Phoenix.

Lyle Richardson

SpectorsHockey.net

twitter.com/spectorshockey

A report late last week from TSN.ca hockey insider Darren Dreger noting Montreal Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier was recently spotted scouting a Chicago Blackhawks game gave rise to speculation the Habs might be in the market for a defenseman.

Dreger suggested Gauthier might be looking, not at Chicago, but Vancouver where Kevin Bieksa has been a fixture in the trade rumor mill since last season. Dreger however noted the rash of injuries to the Canucks blueline means he’s not going anywhere anytime soon, certainly not before the new year.

“Eklund” from Hockeybuzz.com suggested not only Bieksa as one possibility but also Chicago’s Brian Campbell.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Eklund/Ottawa-Senators-Like-Kings-Jack-Johnson-Murray-Habs-like-Bieksa-Campbell/1/30942

While it’s possible the Canadiens might have some interest in Bieksa, especially given the recent uncertainty over when star blueliner Andrei Markov would be returning to their lineup from off-season knee surgery, there is no way Gauthier is interested in Campbell or that the Blackhawks are shopping him.

For one, there’s the little matter of Campbell’s limited “no-trade” clause, whereby he can designate eight teams he would accept a trade to, giving the Blackhawks only 45 days from the date of notice to move him to one of those clubs. It’s unknown if the Canadiens would be on that list but it’s probably unlikely, and besides, Campbell stated his preference this past summer was to remain in Chicago.

A bigger trade block however is Campbell’s whopping $7.145 million per season contract, which has another five seasons remaining after this one. Even if the Blackhawks were shopping him (they’re not) and if he were willing to accept a trade (he’s not), there’s no way in hell the Canadiens, with currently around $800K in available cap space for this season, could possibly afford to acquire Campbell without moving out considerable salary which would weaken their roster depth.

Any trade speculation about the Canadiens having interest in Campbell, or of the Blackhawks shopping Campbell, is not to be believed. Period.

Lyle Richardson

SpectorsHockey.net

twitter.com/spectorshockey

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa remains a fixture in the NHL trade rumor mill.

An injury sidelining fellow Canucks blueliner Sami Salo for at least half the season ensures Bieksa won’t be going anywhere for the time being but it’s assumed once Salo returns to action Bieksa could be peddled by the February 28^th trade deadline.

Of course we don’t know for certain if that’ll happen. It’s a long way to next February and much can happen which could determine if Bieksa finishes the final season of his current contract with the Canucks or is playing elsewhere by March 1^st.

“Eklund” from Hockeybuzz.com certainly believes Bieksa will be dealt and cites a source who claims the Montreal Canadiens will target him.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Eklund/The-Amazing-Guy-Boucher-and-his-Lightning-PLUS-The-BieksaHabs-Rumor/1/30782

Kevin Bieksa has shown up to play this year and has a new lease on life recently playing with Dan Hamhuis, but last night another major source of mine told me the Canadiens WILL trade for Bieksa when Salo returns. “They love him and the Canucks are thrilled Bieksa is playing better so they can get more in return…eventually.”

I’m sure the Canucks are thrilled Bieksa’s playing better, but I have my doubts the Canadiens “WILL” trade for him when Salo returns.

For one thing, we don’t know what the Habs needs will be by mid-season. They might need another puck-moving defenseman, or they might need a big scoring forward.  To suggest with absolute certainty the Canadiens “WILL” trade for Bieksa at this point just doesn’t seem plausible.

For the Canadiens much will also depend on how well rookie P.K. Subban performs as well star blueliner Andrei Markov, who’s due back later this month from off-season knee surgery.  If Markov’s showing little or no ill effects and if Subban keeps improving  they’ll have no need for another puck-moving blueliner.

I’m not entirely ruling out the possibility of the Canadiens chasing a defenseman like Bieksa later in the season but it’s far too early to say with certainty that they will.

Lyle Richardson

SpectorsHockey.net
twitter.com/spectorshockey

Given recent reports the San Jose Sharks are poised to re-sign star center Joe Thornton within the next couple of weeks,  Dallas’ Brad Richards would become the top available first line center in next summer’s UFA market.

The 30-year-old Richards is coming off a 91-point performance in 2009-10, matching his career-best single season points high, and should he come close to or exceed the same number again in 2010-11 there’s no doubt he could be not only the top center but also perhaps the best player in the 2011 UFA market.

It’s believed Stars management hopes to retain Richards but given the uncertain status of their ownership it’s quite possible they might not be able to afford him, especially if he has another strong performance this season.

That’s naturally going to lead to speculation of Richards being dealt by the February 28^th NHL trade deadline if it appears by then the Stars are out of the 2011 playoff picture.

Hockeybuzz.com’s “Eklund” has decided to avoid the mid-season rush and start the Richards trade rumor bandwagon rolling now:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=30685

An NHL source just filled me in on some rumblings he has heard, and it appears as if the Canucks and Canadiens are very interested in pursuing UFA to be Brad Richards.

“We could see a pre-emptive deadline move this year at the deadline, similar to how he Devils move for Kovalchuk, except with the intentions of signing Brad to an Extension.” A source continued, “It’s early for this kind of talk, but not surprising given the Lack of depth at center come July 1.”

No kidding it’s early for this kind of talk. Too early. Not to mention laughable to suggest the Canucks and Canadiens would want Richards.

First of all, the Canucks already have one of the best first line centers in the league in Henrik Sedin, as well as one of the best two-way centers in Ryan Kesler on their second line. So unless they intend to dump either of those guys – they’re both signed to long-term deals – they have absolutely no need to pursue Richards.

And don’t suggest they could use him on the wing, since Richards is a natural center who has posted his best numbers playing at that position.

Not only that but the Canucks have nearly $50 million committed to 16 players for next season, so if they wanted Richards they’d have to ship roughly $7 million in salary to retain him beyond this season, which of course would defeat the purpose of the Stars moving him in the first place.

The Canadiens have lacked a superstar forward since Guy Lafleur retired for the first time back in 1984 but they’ve already got solid depth at center in Scott Gomez, Tomas Plekanec, Dustin Boyd and the promising Lars Eller, not to mention nearly $14 million tied up in Gomez, Plekanec and Eller for next season, leaving no room at all for Richards and what would almost certainly be his hefty salary.

Sure, the Habs will have more cap space in 2011 (just over $25 million) but they’ve currently got just over $34 million tied up in six players – three of them being Gomez, Plekanec and Eller.

The Habs are likely to be more in the market for a physical scoring forward, which Richards is not. There’s also the little matter of his “no-movement” clause, which is iron-clad for this season, giving him the final say on where he could be dealt.

Again, I have no doubt Richards will be a prized commodity if the Stars decide in the New Year to shop him before the trade deadline. I have strong doubts however there’s any interest in him from other teams at the present time, and absolutely disbelieve the Canucks and Canadiens would be amongst them.

Lyle Richardson

SpectorsHockey.net
twitter.com/spectorshockey

As the summer of 2010 winds down and with training camps opening next month it appears the possibility of the Boston Bruins trading Marc Savard is growing more remote.

With a full “no-trade” clause in his contract which he’s reportedly only willing to waive for Toronto and Ottawa (who apparently have no interest or cap space to absorb his $4 million per season contract) Savard seems likely to return with the Bruins this coming season.

Still, he remains a fixture in the internet rumor mill.

“Eklund” of Hockeybuzz.com offers up the latest in a recent blog:

The Kings are still looking at Marc Savard. If Savard is moved, the Leafs could move Kaberle to Boston who are believed interested if they have the cap space for an extension.

Unless Savard decides to widen the number of teams he’d accept a trade to he’s not going to the Kings, whose management is more than fully aware of that fact.

As to the Leafs trading Kaberle to Boston, that ship sailed a long time ago. GM Brian Burke said he has no intention of asking Kaberle to waive his “no-trade” clause so unless the blueliner approaches Burke for a trade he won’t be moving this season.

If by chance the Bruins did somehow manage to trade Savard and then acquire Kaberle as Eklund envisions they’ll have to give up something decent to land him. Draft picks and prospects aren’t good enough as Burke made clear by not shipping out Kaberle for that kind of return prior to the latter’s ‘NTC’ going back into effect.

As for signing Kaberle to an extension, the Bruins priority is locking up Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron, who are unrestricted free agents next summer.

Assuming the Bruins lock up both to long-term, front-loaded deals providing them with a cap-friendly combined hit it will still probably push their cap hit for 2011-12 to nearly $48 million for 15 players.

Assuming also the cap makes another modest increase to, say, $62 million, that won’t leave enough for the Bruins to sign Kaberle to an extension and still leave enough to replace Michael Ryder (UFA), Mark Recchi (UFA), Marco Sturm (UFA) and to re-sign Mark Stuart (UFA), Blake Wheeler (RFA) and Matt Hunwick (RFA).

When taking those factors into consideration it doesn’t sound like a Savard trade to the Kings and an acquisition/extension of Kaberle is plausible.

Lyle Richardson

SpectorsHockey.net
twitter.com/spectorshockey

The Antti Niemi watch is on as speculation grows over where the former Chicago Blackhawks goaltender might sign since becoming an unrestricted free agent on Monday when the Blackhawks rejected his arbitration award.

Niemi goes into a market saturated with available goaltenders and likely won’t have an easy time finding a new home.

Hockeybuzz.com’s “Eklund” suggested three teams in the Southeast Division might be worth watching:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Eklund/Kaberle-KingsMara-SelanneKariya-Habs-Look-To-the-Southeast-for-Niemi/1/29612

In Florida and Atlanta you have GMs who were a part of bringing Niemi to Chicago and have a a strong belief in Niemi. In Washington, who last night I was told was not in on Niemi, only to be corrected today, you have a team who has gone out of its way to let people know they are going with their two young goalies.

However a Washington source put it best saying: “The knock on this team continues to be its inability to perform in the playoffs. Especially in net. In Niemi you can show the fans you are getting a proven winner. And reasonably…”

I wouldn’t necessarily put the blame on the Capitals recent playoff frustrations upon its goaltending, especially Semyon Varlamov, who’s twice stepped in to save his team’s bacon when former starter Jose Theodore wilted in the heat of early playoff action.

It could be said this past spring the fault lay not with Varlamov but with his teammates’ inability to put away a clearly inferior opponent when they were upset by the upstart Montreal Canadiens.

The availability of Niemi might give Capitals management reason to pause momentarily to consider their options but ultimately they’ll probably stick with Varlamov and the promising Michal Neuvirth, who backstopped the Hershey Bears (the Capitals AHL farm team) to consecutive Calder Cup championships, earning AHL playoff MVP accolades in 2009, and is probably ready for prime time now.

Florida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon and Atlanta Thrashers GM Rick Dudley are well aware of Niemi from their previous tenure with the Blackhawks organization but that doesn’t mean they’re interested in him.

The Panthers still have Tomas Vokoun, who carries an expensive salary cap hit of $5.7 million for next season plus a “no-movement” clause, along with backup Scott Clemmensen signed at $1.2 million per for the next two seasons. That’s also not counting promising goalies in Jacob Markstrom, Tyler Plante and Alexander Salak currently within their system.

Dudley’s Thrashers meanwhile re-signed Ondrej Pavelec to a two-year extension but more notably signed free agent Chris Mason to an affordable two-year, $1.85 million per season contract.  They have no reason to pursue Niemi.

Lyle Richardson
SpectorsHockey.net
twitter.com/spectorshockey

]]> http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/bdgallof/20609/feed/ 7 http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/bdgallof/20597/ http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/bdgallof/20597/#comments Wed, 04 Aug 2010 22:00:36 +0000 BDGallof http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/?p=20597 We at HockeyIndependent.com want to be your resource and filter for what is going on in the NHL. We try to disseminate the noise in the blogosphere. We don’t look to to attack those sources, but to question the veracity of the rumor with cold logic, hockey smarts and knowledge. To do that… we have partnered with the one of the best in the NHL blogosphere….Lyle Richardson of SpectorsHockey.net. Daily Rumors with Lyle Richardson will now be a regular feature on HI this summer and beyond…

A few days ago Eklund posted a rumor from a source claiming the Montreal Canadiens might consider shipping out goaltender Carey Price in a swap of starting goalies which would also land the Habs a top six forward.

Eklund didn’t provide the name of the team then but dropped a huge hint recently:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=29557&blogger_id=1

Still hearing they are talking trade and that Price may be swapped out for another starting goalie and top 6 forward…finally able to give you a clue….look to one of the California teams…one who has a proven #1, and an unsigned top 6 forward….

Hmmm, wonder which California team with a proven number one goalie and an unsigned top six forward that might be?

The only club fitting that description is the Anaheim Ducks, who gave the vote of confidence last season to Jonas Hiller by shipping out long-time starter J.S. Giguere to Toronto and are currently stuck at an impasse in contract talks with Bobby Ryan.

If Anaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray actually proposed that move  Canadiens GM Pierre Gauthier would probably jump on it in a heartbeat, not because Hiller is a better goalie than Price (Hiller played more games last season but their GAA and SP are nearly identical) but because of the big prize called Bobby Ryan.

But Murray isn’t going to make that move for several reasons. One, if we take him at his word, he has no intention of moving Ryan. Two, if he does decide to trade Ryan he certainly won’t package the young winger with Hiller for Price. Third, he has no reason to trade Hiller.

Most importantly, such a move would drive the Canadiens well over the salary cap forcing them to dump salary elsewhere.

As difficult as it is for some folks to understand, the Canadiens have made their commitment to Carey Price as their starting goalie next season…for better or worse.

Lyle Richardson
SpectorsHockey.net
twitter.com/spectorshockey

Ever since the Montreal Canadiens dealt away playoff hero Jaroslav Halak to St. Louis before the draft many Habs fans have been nervous over the status of their goaltending for next season, failing to express the same confidence in goaltender Carey Price as team management.

The latest from “Eklund” of Hockeybuzz is likely to set tongues a-wagging in Habs Nation, as he claims “a VERY reliable source” told him the Canadiens might consider swapping number one goalies with another team.

The rumor comes from a VERY reliable source and states the Habs would move Carey Price to another team for their #1 + a top six forward. And while I have not been told the names by my source “on the record” I do believe this is a trade Habs fans could wrap their hands around…if it is to occur…

Allow me to be among the first to offer up the opinion that it “isn’t” to occur.

Yes, I know all about the supposed contract “impasse” between Price and the Canadiens, but based on what I’ve heard coming out of Montreal the expectation is Price will be re-signed prior to the start of training camp.

If Price were to stage a holdout (a really dumb idea on his part as he has no leverage) that’s not going to prompt Habs management into moving him.

Even if the Canadiens were inclined to swap number one goalies with another team, they certainly won’t get a top six forward as part of the return given their limited cap space for next season.

Like it or not but the Canadiens front office still believes Price will be a goaltending superstar in this league and they’ll be sticking with him as their starter for next season…for better or worse.

Lyle Richardson
SpectorsHockey.net
twitter.com/spectorshockey

Ilya Kovalchuk’s recent contract saga has certainly added an interesting twist to what had been a dull summer in the free agent market.

It remains to be seen how this situation will shake out. Will he and the Devils restructure the contract and resubmit it to the league? Will the NHLPA file a grievance on his behalf? Could he decide to revisit contract talks with the LA Kings? Inquiring minds wanna know but it could take some time to get the answers.

In the meantime it’s created a vacuum for free agent and trade news, so into the breach steps Hockeybuzz’s Eklund with a Kovalchuk rumor:

“Another rumor that just broke is the Rangers are considering trading Marian Gaborik to the LA Kings and signing Kovalchuk. Very interesting rumor indeed. We all remember Gaborik had wanted to play in LA going into last summer’s UFA period prior to signing in NY.”

It is interesting…but it also makes no sense.

Gaborik’s currently has four years remaining on a five-year contract with the Rangers paying him $7.5 million per season, which isn’t front-loaded. He’s never expressed any desire since joining the Rangers last summer of playing anywhere else and in fact had a career-season with the Blueshirts in 2009-10. Gaborik also has a “no-trade” clause.

The Kings might have had interest in Gaborik before he joined the Rangers, and who knows, perhaps they’d have interest in him if GM Glen Sather came calling even with Gabby’s current salary.

Problem is, they’d have to part with assets to make this deal work. You see, the Kings are also thinking long-term here, as they’ve got Drew Doughty, Jack Johnson and Wayne Simmonds to re-sign by next summer, when they become restricted free agents. 

Adding Gaborik’s $7.5 million would take a huge bite out of their remaining cap space for next season making it tougher to retain those key players. That was the deciding factor in why they ultimately couldn’t match the Devils’ hefty offer for Kovalchuk.

So, the Kings would have to part with some assets to clear up some cap space. Unfortunately the Rangers are in no position to accept too much salary back.  They have just over $4 million in cap space and even by demoting Wade Redden next season to the minors to free up his $6.5 million they still couldn’t afford to take back salary from the Kings, sign Kovalchuk and fill out the remainder of their roster.

Not only that, but why would the Rangers want to trade away Gaborik, a first-line right winger whom they’re very happy with, for Ilya Kovalchuk, a first line left wing?  Because he’s a “better player”? Marginally so, but that doesn’t justify trying such a move, and for that matter, we don’t even know if Kovalchuk would want to sign with the Rangers. Yes, yes, I know, large Russian community in New York, but he’s made his commitment to the Devils and I believe he’s going to stick with them, not bail out and try to shop his services around again.

The Rangers most obvious need up front is finding a first line center, not shuffling their first line wingers.

This rumor simply doesn’t make sense.

Lyle Richardson
SpectorsHockey.net
twitter.com/spectorshockey

Earlier this month Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray after testing the trade market claimed center Jason Spezza would not be traded, finding no real interest for the center’s services.

Eklund of Hockeybuzz however insists the possibility of a Spezza trade remains likely:

Yes, I have heard Spezza is not being traded, yet I also know that two teams, the Kings and Rangers, have money and are in need of a PR hit, and are likely to get shut out of the Kovalchuk sweeps. Both teams are interested in Spezza and have been for quite some time.

There is one particular source, who maintains the Flames and Senators are still waiting on a possible Spezza for Langkow and Reghr deal. Also rumblings of the Blues…

A few points:

First, Spezza now has a “no-trade” clause (it kicked in on July 1) giving him control over where he could be moved. We have no idea if he’d favor a trade to the Kings, Rangers, Flames or Blues.

Second, the Kings are reportedly seeking a winger, not a center, as their recent on-again, off-again negotiations with Ilya Kovalchuk clearly illustrate.

Third, the Rangers and Senators lack significant cap space so to make such a deal work would mean swapping comparable contracts, not an easy task.

Fourth, regarding a possible swap with the Flames, Langkow is still bothered by a neck injury he suffered last March, which was reportedly part of the rationale by Flames management in bringing back Olli Jokinen.

Murray perhaps might wish to move Spezza but no way does he take on a center who’s still suffering from a potential career-threatening neck injury.

Regehr also has an iron-clad “no-movement” clause and for all we know he might not want to go to Ottawa, or for that matter leave Calgary.

As for the Blues, if they were truly interested in landing an expensive player they would’ve done it by now. While they kicked the tires on a few notables they’ve obviously opted to re-sign their key players and keep their payroll affordable.

Lyle Richardson
SpectorsHockey.net
twitter.com/spectorshockey

It’s well known around the NHL that one of the problems facing the Montreal Canadiens for some time has been a lack of big, physical scoring forwards, particularly at center.

The Canadiens top offensive forwards – Mike Cammalleri, Tomas Plekanec, Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta – are very skilled but none are over six foot tall and only Gomez tips the scales at 200 lbs.

So it’s puzzling to read the following recently from Eklund of “Hockeybuzz”:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Eklund/9-New-Draft-Day-Rumors-Leafs-Flyers-Rangers-Flames-Blues-Canucks-/1/29039

“the candiens (sic)are talking to the Panthers about Stephen Weiss. What a great fit that would be.”

Yes, Weiss would be a great fit…if he stood over 6-2, weighed over 200 lbs and played with a physical edge to match his offensive prowess.

Alas, he’s listed as 5-11 and 185 lbs, making him an inch taller than Gomez and the same height as Plekanec, both of whom are centers.

Maybe if Weiss were a high-scoring forward the Canadiens might overlook his lack of size, except over the past couple of seasons he’s averaged roughly the same number of points (61 and 60 respectively)as Gomez (58 and 59 points respectively).

It’s difficult to determine how Weiss would be a great fit since the Canadiens already have two centers of the same size and skills in Gomez and Plekanec.

it makes absolutely no sense for the Habs to acquire Weiss, short of perhaps dumping Gomez’s expensive ($7.3 million per season) salary, and even then Gomez would have to agree to waive his “no-trade” clause.

The Canadiens, or any other club for that matter, might have to send the Panthers a center in return for Weiss, otherwise their top two centers would be Stephen Reinprecht and Shawn Matthias.

Lyle Richardson
SpectorsHockey.net
twitter.com/spectorshockey

Hockeybuzz.com’s “Eklund” recently posted a “big trade rumor” involving the San Jose Sharks and the Ottawa Senators.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Eklund/Big-Trade-Rumor-Sharks-and-Sens-DucksHawks-Deal-Falls-Apart-PODCAST-NOW/1/28865

He wrote the deal would see “Joe Thornton, (Devin)Setaguchi and a prospect for (Jason) Spezza, Brian Elliott and the rights to (Anton)Volchenkov (which the Sharks would then move elsewhere).”

Now I realize Eklund is “only reporting what he’s heard” and I’m in no position to refute his sources.

I can however point out the major faults in this rumor.

The premise for this one is the Sharks might be interested in reuniting Spezza with Heatley, but the last time I checked, Heatley did quite well on Thornton’s line, potting 39 goals and 82 points, and Thornton’s performance didn’t suffer, with 69 assists and 89 points.

With Heatley have terrific chemistry with Thornton it makes no sense to break them up or to “reunite” him with Spezza.

Thornton meanwhile has a “no-trade” clause in his contract, which has only one more season to go at $7.2 million. While it remains to be seen if he’ll have a future with the Sharks beyond net season it’s highly unlikely GM Doug Wilson will try to move him now.

Even if Wilson were shopping Thornton, you be hard-pressed to find folks who’d believe “Jumbo Joe” would accept a trade to Ottawa after enjoying life in California, where he’s had his best seasons.

Thornton’s name in this rumor automatically makes it a non-starter.

Lyle Richardson
SpectorsHockey.net
twitter.com/spectorshockey

Brodeur for Semin?

Hockeybuzz recently suggested a potential trade between the New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals which would ship long-time Devils legend Martin Brodeur to the Capitals for 40-goal winger Alexander Semin.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Eklund/The-Big-DevilsCaps-Semin-for-Brodeur-Trade-Rumor-Ilya-would-stay/1/28810

Amongst the reasons given is Kovalchuk wants to stay with the Devils and would feel more inclined to do so if they went out and landed Semin, a fellow Russian. Brodeur meanwhile would agree to play one or possibly two years with the Capitals.

Now I realize Devils GM Lou Lamoriello has already shot this one down but I’d like to also add my two cents.

First, Brodeur has two years remaining on his contract and the Caps would expect him to fulfill that contract before acquiring him.

Second, Brodeur has an iron-clad “no-trade” clause, and while it’s apparent his playing days are winding down he’ll want to finish them with the Devils.

Third, there’s an old saying that says the reason Lou Lamoriello sleeps well at night is because Brodeur’s his starting goaltender. For a 38-year-old netminder, Brodeur still had a very strong regular season.  The two also have a good relationship.

Fourth, just because Kovalchuk and Semin are countrymen doesn’t automatically equate to them dying to play together.

Fifth, the Devils are facing a difficult situation in retaining Zach Parise after next season if they re-sign Kovalchuk. It’ll get even worse if they acquire Semin, who’ll likely command over the $6 million he’s slated to earn next season.

Sixth, and most important, who replaces Brodeur?  Yann Danis? Marty Turco or Evgeni Nabokov, who lack Brodeur’s pedigree?  Does Lamoriello trade for a replacement? Does he taken on Semyon Varlomov from the Caps as part of the return?

That’s the biggest hole in this rumor which its originator failed to address.

Lyle Richardson
SpectorsHockey.net
twitter.com/spectorshockey

GameDay: Habs Vs. Bruins

As per Dave Stubbs over at www.habsinsideout.com, here is the Montreal Canadiens lineup for tonight’s battle with the Boston Bruins:

FORWARDS

Latendresse-Gomez-A. Kostitsyn
Cammalleri-Plekanec-D’Agostini
Moen-Maxwell-S. Kostitsyn
Stewart-Pyatt-Metropolit

DEFENCE

Gill-Weber
Gorges-OByrne
Spacek-Carle

GOALIES

Halak, Sanford

The Canadiens will be icing their strongest lineup of the post-season tonight, although it is to be noted that Carey Price, Max Lapierre, Brian Gionta, Roman Hamrlik or Andrei Markov will not be playing.

The Bruins will be icing a fairly timid squad tonight as neither Zdeno Chara or Marc Savard will take to the ice, nor will Canadiens arch-nemesis Milan Lucic.

Here is who will be skating for the Bruins tonight:

FORWARDS

Patrice Bergeron, Zach Hamill, Chuck Kobasew, Guillaume Lefebvre, Jeff LoVecchio, Kirk MacDonald, Michael Ryder, Vladimir Sobotka, Blake Wheeler, Trent Whitfield

DEFENCE

Johnny Boychuk, Drew Fata, Andrew Ference, Adam McQuaid,
Mark Stuart, Dennis Wideman

GOALIES

Tim Thomas, Dany Sabourin

• With one more game to go after tonight’s tilt at the Bell Center, expect the Canadiens to continue with their cuts in the morning and to have a full NHL roster set to play on Saturday night against the Sabres.

Brisebois Hangs Up Skates, Starts Engine

“NHL veteran Patrice Brisebois, twice a member of the Canadiens, will bring his 18-year NHL career to a close when he announces his retirement tonight at the Bell Centre.

Brisebois is to awarded the Jean Béliveau Trophy before the game in what surely will be an emotional moment for the Stanley Cup winner.”

-         Dave Stubbs

Fan favourite(…am I saying that right?) Patrice Brisebois has officially called it quits.

Only a day after the news that Olaf Kolzig would not be returning to the NHL, the 18 year veteran who played over 1000 games in the NHL(mostly for the Habs), will be honoured by the Montreal Canadiens in a pre-game ceremony tonight versus the Bruins.

As Eric Engels said,

“Though Patrice Brisebois took more than his share of abuse, he leaves the game having regained some respect from the Montreal fanbase; something that likely pleases him more than anything else he accomplished, outside of winning a Stanley Cup in 1993. A chance he can thank Bob Gainey for, and a chance he made the best of in the 2007-2008 playoffs.”

Brisebois had a very rough go as a member of the Habs, yet despite innumerable occasions where Patrice was the focal point of one of the more irate crowds in pro sports, he was only too happy to return home to finish out his career as a member of the Canadiens.

Knowledgeable or not, Habs fans don’t tend to hold back. Yet, throughout Breezer’s second tour as a member of the Canadiens, he played with his head held high and managed to be one of the only stable presences in the Habs locker-room during a tumultuous and frustrating centennial year in Montreal.

A fast skater during his days in the NHL, the “Breezer” (or Breeze-by as he was often referred to) will now turn his attention to his other passion, auto-racing.

Patrice has always been a great fan of all forms of racing, yet in recent years has actually gotten himself involved in some races. He is no slouch behind the wheel and on the track he may finally be finding a use for that oft-used nickname of Breeze-by. If Patrice can keep that nickname as he attempts to become a professional driver, he just might learn to like it.

With a Cup ring from his championship with the Habs in ’93, Brisebois can retire a champion.

Congrats Patrice, here’s to a healthy and successful retirement from hockey.

Stevenhindle@hotmail.com

It was about midnight last night when the site suddenly went down. All three Gallofs resembled a Muppet skit as they sat trying to figure out which Gremlin just muddled up the site. Then it hit me . . .

So you wanted to run a hockey site, eh?

Yes, my mental voice even has a Canadian accent. After all, it IS hockey.

There is a supreme respect to anyone who can make a living or at least make a hearty dent at one with a site. From Greg Wyshynski’s amazing Puck Daddy, to James Mirtle’s par de excellence From The Rink and the strong SBNation network of bloggers, to Lyle Richardson’s must-read Spector’s Hockey, to Dave Pagnotta’s Fourth Period site and Hockey Style magazine,  to the masterful news aggregation of Kuklas Korner, to rumormill’s Eklund and Hockeybuzz, to the great HFboards forums and beyond…they do what they do well and it clearly takes one hell of an effort to get it all done.

I am not here to compete with them. HockeyIndependent.com is designed to compliment them and to add our own brand to the fabric of hockey online.

Magazines are being cut left and right. Newspapers have hit a wall. Beat writers are disappearing. Online content has filled a gap in all of sports, but especially in the shrinking paper space of hockey.

Freelance writers are still angry when you mention that we bloggers are replacing them. Yet, it holds true in almost every publishing market. The focus, mostly, has turned to a online based focus. Within that realm, those passionate fans or newbie writer has made that jump far better than the writer who needs the paycheck in a undefined online market during economic upheaval.

Do I think bloggers should replace them? Not at all. Quality and content should reign supreme in any publishing venue.

But it doesn’t these days, and it’s a damn shame. Because readers deserve the best content that can be provided.

This site contains both published and freelance writers, newbie bloggers, established bloggers, and anything in-between all this. Our concentration is content and we hope that our merry band of hockey bloggers will find our niche as hockey fans come more and more to the web.

It will take us some time to get up to speed. We actually are live two weeks ahead of schedule. Word was out even when we were in testing by some overeager peers who were being tremendously supportive.

In my day job, I am a Tech and Art Production guru for a 110 year old business to business publishing firm in NYC. Scott Gallof, your friendly neighborhood NY Rangers Senior Writer builds website for another division of that same company. Phillip Gallof, another confused Ranger fan, is playing the waiting game to find work in the field in tough times.

All three of us did this site, planning it out between Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stouts and Padilla cigars. This is a family affair, and I hope you have our trust in that we are off in the right direction. Because of our expertise, we will seek to progress how the site works as well how readers interact with bloggers.

We are planning all sorts of things, including brand new technology come October or November to use on the site. We will always seek to advance the concept what a hockey site is about and how we can best cover hockey and provide information.

So, upon this midnight clear, as the site went down as if Obi Wan Kenobi himself went to our hosting Death Star and turned off the tractor beam, one could likely hear Gallof’s cursing all along the south shore of Long Island.

So you wanted to make a hockey site, eh?

Yes, indeed. Excuse me as I roll up my sleeves.

- BD

ps. If the site is running slow for you, we have a Google Gears SpeedUp Tool for your browser! Please join IntenseDebate to post in our commenting system. Easy to join and take part.

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