Monday, January 11, 2010

Ice Scoopz: Monday Morning

*-> The Carolina Hurricanes are pushing Ray Whitney hard. Management is making calls trying to start a bidding war according to reports. Several teams are looking at the veteran winger but would rather wait till before the Olympic deadline. The Ottawa Senators are still the leading team but Minnesota, Dallas, Montreal, and Los Angeles are close behind. The Washington Caps also are looking at him but reports have them after a bigger impact player than Whitney. The Sens may act soon as scouts were seen watching last nights game and now the lastest additions to the IR. Ottawa is struggling and their roleplayers could use a hand filling the net.

*-> Reports out of Los Angeles are saying Alexander Frolov is a goner by deadline day as long as the Kings get an offensive forward and a late pick in return. I agree with this one, he's in the doghouse for his incosistent play. It would be best to get someone whose gunna help the Kings in the post season rather than lose him for nothing in the odd season. The Caps and the Habs are both interested.

More in a bit, and in a response to Jalen I'll post my midseason top 15 for the draft.

5 comments:

Jalen said...

Scoopz,

I hope the rumours about the Sens interest in Whitney don't pan out...this team isn't on the cusp and just looking to get over the hump. Whitney could be a nice addition and provide some injury protection for a team like Washington, but apart from the powerplay, it's hard to see a significant impact (significant meaning in the standings) in Ottawa.

The Sens don't need a band-aid, they need major surgery on the backend.

They really need a hammer on the point, both at even strength and on the pp. All this talk about Karlsson quarterbacking the poweplay is nonsense in my opinion. For now, I'd be happy if he just acted as a hammer, like a McCabe.

Bloody hell, this team is going nowhere with these injuries and a bottom 5 defence corps. Matty Carkner's from my hometown and a really useful player, but there's no way he should be playing top four minutes. Kuba's decision making is awful, worse than Tiger's at a porn convention.

Fix the backend and maybe the goaltending will come around. If that happens, it says here that their forward depth will be fine.

Looking forward to your draft rankings.

And finally, what the hell's with Anaheim? They can beat anyone on any given night, they should be a hell of a lot better. I can't figure them out.

- Jalen

Scoopz said...

What about Souray? Or Vishnovsky? I think some help up front would be nice, mainly another capable centerman. Their D is brutal though. I like Kuba but he needs help. Your right about Karlsson not being that guy yet he still needs time and his shot doesn't impress yet ether. Murray should think about letting this season slide and work on the future. Maybe try a blockbuster for Phanuef at the deadline if the rumors are true......

The Ducks confuse me too. One night they look like Stanley Cup champs then the next they look like the Western Conference Leafs. Maybe a youth movement and a coaching change is in need?

Jalen said...

Scoopz,

Souray could help, particularly if Kuba is moved out, but he's got another two years on his contract that's about $2M too much. I wouldn't touch that.

I like Vishnovsky, but again that's a big contract with a lot of term left considering the make up of this team.

If the Sens commit that kind of dough to a dman, he needs to be a complete player that can help at both ends of the rink and in all situations (PP and PK).

- Jalen

Scoopz said...

What about trying to land Kaberle in the offseason window? But I doubt the Leafs would trade directly to their rivals the Sens. I,d like Vishnovsky in Ottawa, let Phillips and Volchenkov handle the PK.

Scoopz said...

What about trying to land Kaberle in the offseason window? But I doubt the Leafs would trade directly to their rivals the Sens. I,d like Vishnovsky in Ottawa, let Phillips and Volchenkov handle the PK.