Atlanta Thrashers
Status: Seller
Story:
The Thrashers now have no legitimate superstar after GM Don Waddell traded their two best players in the past 3 seasons. The Ilya Kovalchuk era is officially over now with him shipped out to the New Jersey Devils and an unofficial rebuild is under way yet again. The Thrashers however remain 2 spots out of 8th in the East and have been somewhat of a surprise story. The Thrashers are still looking to shop all their potential UFA's for picks and prospects looking to subtract and make due with its young core. However saying that it wouldn't put it past Waddell so try and save his job by making a huge push for a playoff birth.
Needs:
The Thrashers need a potential superstar to emerge as this franchise is slowly sinking and has been even with Kovalchuk at the start of the season. The Thrashers are especially weak on the left hand side as now that Kovalchuk is gone and Kozlov most likely out the door leaving Evander Kane as their number one guy. They need a player on the right who can help now and let Bryan Little go back to the middle as well.
Potential Trade Candidates:
LW - Slava Kozlov - Vyacheslav Kozlov's era with the Thrashers is just about finished after a length healthy skratch before the Olympic break. Kozlov requested a trade nicely after rumors have him being highly disapointed by Atlanta's trading of fellow countryman Ilya Kovalchuk and the direction of his club. Kozlov does have a no trade but he's willing to waive it if the move is right and many are saying as long as its a playoff bound team and away from Atlanta. Teams Interested: Los Angeles, Boston, Detroit, Montreal, Nashville and Washington.
C - Todd White - Kanata native Todd White has been battling it out in Atlanta since leaving the Wild. The center posistion has been a crowded one in the ATL and Todd White somehow has produced each season even with ice time reducing. White is a valuable player especially this time of year not only because Todd White can put the puck in the net with third line minutes but also has an incredible defensive game and faceoff skills. Atlanta looking to once again rebuild might decide to deal him finally. Teams Interested: Vancouver and Nashville.
RW - Colby Armstrong - Colby Armstrong is one of the pieces left from the Marian Hossa deal that sent him to Pittsburgh. It's expected Armstrong will be dealt as he's a valuable piece of any teams playoff dreams. A gritty effortless player with tremendous heart and a scoring touch. Armstrong is a UFA at the end of this season so the Thrashers would like to get some return before he too bolts. Teams Interested: Ottawa, Vancouver, Buffalo, and Phoenix.
RW - Maxim Afinoganov - This has been a rebound year for the speedy Russian as last season he finished with a miserable 20 points and work ethic was questioned the entire season. To make matters worse nobody wanted him this season till his buddy Ilya Kovalchuk put in a big pitch for his friend and he was signed to a cheap one year deal. Another ATL UFA this summer the thrashers may have to deal him as they want a return before he joins his fellow countrymen walking out the door. He could be a bargain for any team looking for very cheap offensive help for a playoff run. Teams Interested: Phoenix, Montreal, Washington and Detroit.
D - Pavel Kubina - Pavel Kubina has anchored the Atlanta all season long and has gave them the stability they needed to compete. Kubina has a hefty cap hit at 5 million but he is a UFA at the end of this season so thats a plus for any team just looking for a rental. Kubina also has a no trade clause so only he will decide where and if he goes. Atlanta would love to retain him for next season however. Teams Interested: Ottawa and Boston.
D - Christof Schubert - The defenseman turned winger turned defenseman is a great pickup simply because he is so versatile and can player ether forward or defense. He makes an ideal 7th defenseman and has that gritty element that Western Conference teams love. He's also unrestricted at the end of this season so he too could be another player shopped if the Thrashers decide they can compete without him or decided for another rebuild. Teams Interested: Dallas.
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Carolina Hurricanes
Status: Sellers (Major)
Story:
The Carolina Hurricanes have decided to a full out rebuild after this season has been a miserable one for the Raleigh club. GM Jim Rutherford has stated the Canes plan to rebuild around Cam Ward and Eric Staal so everybody else could be avaliable for the right price. The Hurricanes have half a douzen players that could attract interest and gain some valuable prospects and picks for the struggling team to ensure that their rebuild isn't a long one.
Needs:
The Canes really have no needs at the moment. They know their out of the playoff race and are just looking to full out fire sale most of the roster to make room for youngsters and off season free agents. The Hurricanes however need some bonifide prospects especially some on the wings and in net.
Potential Trade Canadidates:
LW - Ray Whitney - The veteran Ray Whitney has told his club he'd waive his no trade clause as long as it's to a contender and as long as he can get a gaurentied deal under his conditions. Whitney has that scoring touch that many teams are looking for as well as Cup experience and leadership. Ray has been the number one player on the market officially after Ilya Kovalchuk was traded and interest in the winger has only gained especially since a deal between the Canes and the Kings folded over the amount of years in his contract. Rumors have Whitney making this difficult for some teams on purpose as he reportedly wants to be a Penguin. Teams Interested: Los Angeles, Boston, Vancouver, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Calgary and Nashville.
LW - Sergei Samsonov - Samsonov is another speedy Russian success story, except this year he's hit a snag playing on a lowly Carolina team. Last year was a revival of his career after being dealt then waived and not wanted by anybody. The former Calder Trophy winner is talented but his work ethic has been questioned since leaving Boston and some believe that Joe Thornton was the main reason why his numbers were so great. Saying this though, he has been a consistebt playoff performer and had a great run with Edmonton and then Carolina last season. Teams Interested: San Jose.
C - Rod Brind'Amour - Brind'Amour has started finally to show signs of slowing down this season and it's almost to crawl. To say it's been a bad season for Brind'Amour is an understatement, first a healthy scratch for the start of the season, then a demotion to the 4th line and then a stripping of his captaincy to make room for Eric Staal. It's no secret his era in Carolina is coming to an end as well as his career. There still is a demand for Brind'Amour as he's got great leadership abillities and still can play the special teams. The only issue is his age and the fact he's signed at 3$mil for another 2 seasons after this one. Teams Interested: Washington.
C - Stephane Yelle - If teams are looking for an affordable version of Rod Brind'Amour with lesser talent teams should look to Carolina for Yelle. A leader and penalty killer, he's valuable on the back half of any teams forward lines. A UFA at the end of this season. Teams Interested: New Jersey, Buffalo, New York Rangers, Colorado and Vancouver.
RW - Tom Kostopoulus - Another one of Carolina's gritty third/forth liners that could be a good playoff pickup for a team lacking grit. He is signed over the next 2 seasons and hits the 1.1$ mil mark in 2 seasons. Teams Interested: Vancouver and San Jose.
RW - Scott Walker - Walker whose been sidelined most of this season with a shoulder injury is set to come back before the playoff might attract some interest but many teams will be scared off by his injury. Another depth guy who will be a free agent at the end of this season. Teams Interested: Colorado.
D - Joe Corvo - Joe Corvo was on track to be dealt before he went down due to injury. He's back now but hasn't looked the same as before he got hurt. Some people around the league are saying he's still hurt but Carolina rushed him back to get him dealt and some return for him as he's a UFA. Corvo can work the point and can instantly help any team looking for offense from the back end....if he's healthy. Teams Interested: New Jersey, New York Rangers, Boston, Vancouver and Montreal.
D - Aaron Ward - Ward is a gritty defensive defenseman who can help out on the penalty kill and help shut down opposing teams forwards. He's been waived at the start of the season and didn't attract much attention but this time around should gain much more interest. Teams Interested: Boston, Ottawa and New Jersey.
G - Manny Legace - Many people forget including I that Manny Legace is still going in the NHL after being signed as an injury replacement when Cam Ward got injured at the start of the season. Manny Legace is a capable backup and teams with limited cap space should be placing a call to the Canes for his services. Teams Interested: Philly, Washington, Tampa Bay, Los Angeles and Detroit.
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Florida Panthers
Status: Sellers (Shake Up)
Story:
Florida once again has had a mediocre season and is looking in at the teams in the playoff picture. Many key injuries have held the Panthers back this season and many individuals have struggled and underachieved. GM Randy Sexton has hade enough with his club and has vowed to shake up the team, even so much as stating the team will no be the same come next season. Many believe that anybody and everybody is avaliable except for a few young prospects such as Michael Frolik and Dmitry Kulikov. The deadline will be an interesting one for Randy Sexton and the Cats.
Needs:
Well the biggest need for the Panthers is a shakeup to warn many of it's players that they too can be moved if they don't perform. The Cats could use another body on the left side as well as proven players that can contribute since this isn't quite a rebuild or a firesale. Expect Sexton to only make even moves or unless it's a too good to be true situation or to ship out deadweight.
Potential Trade Candidates:
LW - David Booth - The often injured David Booth has been the subject of many trade rumors this season as it seams the Florida management is sick of waiting for Booth to get healthy. Many believe he may not be the same player as before and Florida might be interested in exploring their options with him. Booth could pan out as a potential steal so the Panthers will look to get max value if they ever decided to deal him. Teams Interested: Edmonton, Calgary, New York Rangers, Ottawa and Buffalo.
LW - Cory Stillman - For a goal scorer Cory Stillman hasn't put up very many goals this season with 11, especially after he was signed to carry the offensive load for Florida. Still has struggle but still has managed to carry a +1 which is rare in Florida at the moment and is a plus. Teams looking for a little veteran offensive help could make a call to Sexton the Panthers. He's still signed on a moderate salary of 3.5$ mil for next season. Teams Interested: Vancouver, Buffalo, Anaheim and Calgary.
C - Nathan Horton - Horton's name on this shouldn't come as a surprise as his name just keeps popping up. Rany Sexton has denied trying to shop Horton several times and has even called out Ottawa Sun writer Bruce Garrioch over his reports that Florida was testing the waters. A major shake up could mean Horton out the door as he'd fetch the biggest return out of any Panther on the roster. Could this be that shake-up Sexton spoke of? Teams Interested: Buffalo, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay, Calgary, Montreal, Carolina and Nashville.
C - Kamil Kreps - Kreps has taken a step back this season and no longer looks like a servicable NHLer. Kreps has struggle in all aspects of the game and the Panthers would love to try and get something before they pass on him for next season. He has shown some talent in the past few seasons and could be a depth forward. Teams Interested: Atlanta.
C - Radislav Olesz - One of the players Randy Sexton refered to while discussing his planned shake up for his struggling club was Radislav Olesz. Olesz who has taken longer than planned to develop no longer looks to be the offensive genius that they thought they had drafted but now a lower level second liner. Olesz could have a rebound with another club as the talent is definately there. He is on pace for a career year with 34 points and is only 24 years old. The main downside is that if he does bust the club who acquires him is stuck to a long term increasing contract they may not be able to shake in the future. Teams Interested: Colorad0, St. Louis, Toronto, Phoenix, and New York Islanders.
C - Steven Reinprecht - A late addition to Florida after not looking like he'd make an NHL club this season. Reinprecht is the ideal checking line center as he plays the part well and can fill in if needed on an offensive line if necessary. Teams Interested: Colorado, and Vancouver.
RW - Radek Dvorak - Florida's longtime checking right wingers tenure with the team may be coming to an end with Florida looking to shake-up it's core. Dvorak has been a key fixture in Florida and a main part of their special teams but a change is needed and the big names arn't very likely to go. Teams Interested: Los Angeles.
D - Denis Seidenberg - Another late signing for Florida is Denis Seidenberg whose attracted much interested from around the league during the Olympic Games. He is the odd man out with many of the other blueliners on heavy contracts while his isn't that bad and he's a UFa this summer. A good 5 -6 d-man with all round talent. Teams Interested: Ottawa, New York Rangers, Boston, Buffalo, Dallas and Philly.
D - Bryan McCabe - Speaking of those unmovable heavy contracts, McCabe's is pretty rough as his value over the years has gone down quite a bit and many teams looking for defensive help down want an expensive 4.1$ mil contract over the next 2 seasons for an injury prone player. Sheldon Souray is a more likeable option, still some teams may gamble. Teams Interested: Buffalo.
D - Jordan Leopold - Another end of season UFA defenseman. Jordan Leopold is Florida's cheapest option for teams looking for defensive help and probably their best option. At only 1.7$ mil a season he is easily affordable. As with Seidenberg several teams have already started looking at Leopold and are waiting to present their offers come 12am March 28th. Teams Interested : Ottawa, Dallas, New York Rangers, Boston and New Jersey.
C - Tomas Vokoun - Will he waive his no trade? Yes? No? Yes? Maybe? This has been an ongoing event recently in the Florida media with some saying he's stated he does not wish to leave Florida, while others are saying he hasn't been asked yet but he would. A trade with Vokoun isn't very likely because their young goaltending prospects are still a season away and on top Vokoun is still a pretty good goalie. This is a tough one to call but till we hear it out of Vokouns mouth no-one will know. Teams Interested: Chicago and Washington.
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Tampa Bay Lightning
Status: Undecided
Story:
The Tampa Bay Lightning are in stage 3 of rebuilding mode and still arn't ready to compete with the major players yet. They have the prospects now but it's waiting time for their development. Steve Stamkos has helped the movement a lot and will be their pivot for years to come. A change of ownership has the Bolts confused and stressing about the financial status of the club. Their at a financial stand still and with only a point out of 8th their still in the race but don't have much cash if any to spend on bringing in help. Talk of even cutting roster and staff budgets has also surfaced and Tampa's franchise star Vincent Lecavalier is once again in the media with his name at the top of the list. To make matters worse assistant coach Wes Walz who is a player favorite was fired after refusing an AHL coaching demotion and now the teams dressingroom is in chaos. Head coach Rick Tocchet is also extremely upset with the firing and the managments handling of the incident. The damage in the dressingroom is still unknown as the Olympic Break has shadowed most of the news but it could prove to be Lawton's biggest mistake. Don't expect the Bolts to make any major moves, just minor hit for hit and some light salary dumping with UFA's unless a sale or management resolves their troubles.
Needs:
Tampa Bay is really weak on the right side and desperatly need another scoring right wing to take pressure off Martin St.Louis and also offensive pressure off Vinny. They also could use another depth forward incase of injury. The Bolts goaltending situation is cloudy still as they have a major log jam in the system with both Riku Helenius and Karri Ramo taking off to play in the Swedish Elite and KHL. Antero Nittymaki is the number one goalie and has playing extremely well this season given he was a back-up signing and most likely earned himself a contract for next season. Mike Smith continues to struggle in Tampa so a cheap back-up or long term goaltending help might be a pressing concern.
Potential Playoff Candidates:
LW - Alex Tanguay - A potential UFA this summer that could be shopped come the trade deadline is Alex Tanguay. Injuries have slowed his game down quite considerably but still has that offensive touch shown in the past with Colorado and Calgary. Not an overly expensive cap hit but for a rental player he is a risk. Teams Interested: Calgary, Nashville and Vancouver.
C - Jeff Halpern - Halpern has been Tampa's quiet soldier over the past few seasons and has battled through injuries, coaches and roster spots without a complaint. Halpern's contract is up this season and it's most likely time for him to move on so the Bolt may want to try and get a pick or a roster player back so they dont end up empty handed. Halpern has attracted a big of interest and his determination and two way play is a main factor. Teams Interested: San Jose, Colorado, and Buffalo.
C - Vincent Lecavalier - Lecavalier has been the subject of rumors ever since Montreals Centennial season last year. The Canadians made it no secret the wanted Lecavalier and the media was all over it all season long. Some are saying montreal had a deal in place before last seasons deadline for Lecavalier but it fell through because of Tampa Bays demands. Many believe the rumors plagued Vinny last season and could explain his lower than usual numbers but this season continued with a whole new rumor about the superstar. This time the rumors are swirling around his teams financial status and the possibility of him being dealt in order to conserve money. With all these rumors what's true and what's false is hard to determine but what's easy to figure out is that the Tampa Bay Lightning will not part with Vincent Lecavalier without a major return of a combo prospects, picks and young cheap players that can help now. Teams Interested: Montreal and New York Rangers.
RW - Adam Hall - Another of the players on the Tampa Bay Lightning roster who frequents the shuttle between Norfolk and Tampa. Adam Hall is a dependable grinder who is just another plugger for the Lightning. Another cheap option for 4th line help at a low cost on a 1 year deal. Teams Interested: Vancouver.
RW - Mark Parrish - The fall from grace for Mark Parrish was a hard one. Once a 40 to 50 point NHLer who even once put up 60 points with the Islanders is now a fixture in the AHL riding buses. Parrish whose experience and grit could help a young team at a low low cost. Teams Interested: Ottawa.
D - David Hale - David Hale has made it clear this season he is extremely unhappy in Tampa and would like his chance to play. Hale who had been an AHL demotee and constant healthy scratch is still waiting for his chance with the Lightning. He's willing to play hard and work his way out without asking for a trade but he's let Tampa management know sooner the better. Hale is a solid defenseman that fits the 5-6 role perfectly. His cap hit is easily swallowed as well. Teams Interested: New Jersey, Dallas, Buffalo, Boston and Washington.
D - Kurtis Foster - Foster is on pace for a career year and is currently at 28 points which is his old best. The Lightning would love to resign him but with the financial woes looming overhead its doubtful. The Bolts may want to try and move him at the deadline for a good return instead of waiting out the woes this summer. Teams Interested: Anaheim, Philly, Ottawa and Boston.
G - Karri Ramo - Ramo bolted no pun intended to Avangard OMSK of the KHL this season after being bitter about his status with the club. He feels he should be out of the system and on the roster after being shuttled back and forth last season. Ramo still maintains he'd like to play in the NHL but only in the NHL not AHL. He still has number one goalie talent and scouts have said he has improved vastly playing for Avangard. A team looking for a young goaltender should look this way. Teams Interested: St. Louis.
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Washington Capitals
Status: Buyers (Minor)
Story:
The Capitals are currently are sitting on top of the Eastern Conference and also the entire NHL. They are a good lock at the cup finals after getting knocked out by the Penguins on route to the cup. The Caps have had consistent success and with a few minor tweaks could become an even deadlier powerhouse in the post season. Ovechkin and Co will most likely not make any moves out as they do not wish to disrupt their team chemisty but a few additions is not out of the question especially if it'll avenge last years dreams.
Needs:
The Caps will make a few additions but nothing really major. The Capitals would love an all round stable defenseman capable of logging heavy minutes and helping out Mike Green on special teams. They also would love another offensive forward preferably a center or on the right side to give them depth. Rumors have them looking for a veteran leader as well to coach their young something they lacked last time around during their run. Finally the Capitals need to address their goaltending situation with Varlamov's recent nagging injury and Theodore's struggles the Caps may need to add another goalie to the mix to stay stable incase Varlamov goes down.
Potential Trade Candidates:
C - Michael Nylander - Currently playing in the SM Liiga in Finland for Jokerit after being exiled by the Washington Capitals. He did not attract any major interest from around the league the first time the Capitals tried to deal him. The Caps are even willing to put him on re-entry waivers just to get most of him off the books for this season. He's still a threat but an aging one who most likely wont be back this season but hasn't ruled out next season as the NHL is where he'd like to finish his career. His salary should block any deals for this season but a team looking to pick Nylander up at only 1.5$ Mil next season may look into it. Teams Interested: Nothing at the moment.
D - Brian Pothier - Brian Pothier has serviced the Capitals well but his time could be coming to an end as he is unrestricted at the end of the season. With the Caps looking to add another defenseman he could be shipped out to make room and get something instead of nothing in the off season. If Washington can upgrade they most likely will go for it if not Pothier will remain their shut down guy. Teams Interested: Buffalo.
G - Jose Theodore - A rollarcoaster career Theodore has had. A Vezina Trophy winner in Montreal to a complete bust in Colorado back to an NHL starter in Washington. This season Theodore has been incosistent and has struggled at times after loosing his starting job to Varlamov. Washington's main concern is their goaltending and Theodore isn't in the plans for the future and is unrestricted this summer. Teams Interested: Chicago.
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