*-> The internet has been buzzing this morning as several prospects were removed off the Los Angeles Kings website usually signally a trade is on the way. Highly touted prospects Oscar Mollar and Brayden Schenn was removed but re-added to the roster later on this morning. Several hockey message boards were lightning up with the news but there appears to be zero truth to the rumors and some are saying it was due to maintenance. There was a rampant rumor that the Kings are dangling ether Moller or Schenn to bring in that elite forward they've been looking for. I've seen Schenn to the Leafs, Schenn and Simmonds to the Ottawa Senators for Jason Spezza (And no CA I'm not buying it so don't worry), but that main rumor seems to be Thomas Hickey and Wayne Simmonds to the Edmonton Oilers for Dustin Penner and to me the only reasonable sounding rumor so far that concerns the Kings. Penner has been linked for quite some time and the Kings have been shopping Simmonds and have excellent defensive depth.
*-> The Chicago Blackhawks are scouting the Buffalo Sabres it's said, some are saying they've already inquired about Steve Montador before his injury while some are saying captain Craig Rivet is who their looking at. Chicago's GM Bowman has already told the Chicago fans he's looking at defensive defensemen.
*-> The Dallas Stars have signed former Detroit Red Wing Jason Williams to a 1 year 2 way contract worth 500K$.
*-> I'm still hearing the Bruins are looking to flip Toronto's 1st round draft pick and have big interest in Ottawa's Chris Phillips and Toronto's Tomas Kaberle. It's believed Phillips would agree to goto Boston to reunite with GM Peter Chierelli. The Sens are reportedly offering their recently acquired 1st round draft pick from Nashville and Chris Phillips for Boston's 1st round they picked up from Toronto. Zach Hamill is also rumored to be part of the return for Ottawa. It appears Blake Wheeler off the market.
*-> The Ottawa Senators are in talks this weekend with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Jackets are extremely high on Sergei Gonchar. I'm hearing something could be close.
*-> The Carolina Hurricanes are now shopping Joni Pitkinen to see if their is any interest. The word on the street is the Canes won't be able to resign him next season and it's doubtful he'll return to Carolina. The San Jose Sharks and the Columbus blue Jackets have been linked as always but the Montreal Canadiens may be a surprise interest.
4 comments:
Scoopz,
1. Please don't put up any more posts until CA's had a chance to post his rant about your insistence on perpetuating Spezza rumours. They're always an entertaining read and I don't want to miss it.
2. That would be an unbelievable trade for Edmonton, so much so, I find it hard to believe. Edmonton needs D prospects to complement the talented forward prospect group. And Simmonds is a work horse, exactly the type of player they need to raise the intensity out there.
3. Philly and the Nashville's first for Hamill and the Leafs' first? Done! Where does Murray sign?
4. While I'd love to take a chance on Filatov, getting Gonch's contract off the books is enough to move him. BM should even pay transportation to and from the airport. Hell, I'll drop him off.
- Jalen
Hmmm I've never thought of Nikita Filatov being part of the package. That could be an interesting deal, a high risk but high reward trade. I think Filatov has what it takes but I think he needs to wrap his head around having to work for it. If the Sens decided to give him consistent second line minutes and just let him "go" he could become a force. I'm sure most Ottawa fans would assist you in the shuttling of Gonchar to the airport.
The Edmonton trade would help the Oilers greatly in the near future. I can't see the Kings giving up that kind of return for Penner unless they've run out of all other options for bringing in offensive help for Anze Kopitar. Penner is signed for another season so that might be enticing but I don't believe Penner is the guy to wingman for Kopitar.
Jalen, I was actually waiting on an angry tirade from CA about even mentioning Jason Spezza's name on my blog. He must be sick or on vacation as usually within 2 minutes I hear an angry reply. I'm not buying it though as I said, Murray said Saturday that Spezza is one of the 3 untouchables and unless Murray is a complete liar it wont happen. Although he did say it's going to be a quick turn around...
If the Sens pull that Phillips rumor off it may be a quick turn around with 2 potential lottery picks this year in a "good top 5 or 6" draft as their saying. Jalen who do you think Murray is gunna draft if he gets 1st overall?
STOP SAYING HIS NAME HE'S NOT GETTING TRADED. THIS SITE IS A DISGRACE TO HOCKEY AND NOT EVEN WORTHY OF POSTING THOSE SIX LETTERS!!!
Now that that's out of the way, I've calmed down about the Spezza rumours since Murray said on CBC that he wasn't going anywhere. Of course, saying that last summer would have prevented me from pulling out all my hair, but whatever. It seems evident now that any "rumours" out there are pure speculation.
That aside, I think you brought up one of my concerns. Say Murray does end up with the first overall, and doesn't get the Leafs pick. If Larsson is the best player available, does he choose him?? Ottawa has lots of D but zero offensive forwards. Does he trade Cowen or Rundblad for a forward or pick? Does he trade down? Does he pick a forward even though he's a clear cut #2? These questions drive me nuts and make me wish we got 2nd instead, but that is just stupid. Obviously we want the best asset we can get here. What would you do??
CA
If the Sens land the first overall, what they do with it obviously depends on a lot of things, most of all their scouting assessment of Larsson and the top rated forwards (Landeskog, Couturier and RNH).
If Larsson is truly a generational player, like a Lidstrom or Doughty, then they'll take him and figure out a way to bring in forward depth. This is the real value of the Fisher trade, having a second first and, more importantly, cap space to use in trade scenarios (since it's doubtful they can attract free agents).
I haven't seen Larsson enough to have an opinion if he's a future Norris candidate, but from what I have seen, I believe he'll clearly be rated ahead of the three forwards.
Assuming the Sens don't view Larsson as a once-in-a-decade defense prospect (if they do, the question is moot), the ideal situation would be to land the first overall with Edmonton falling second.
Although they still could use a long term first line centre prospect, there's no question in my mind they'd prefer Larsson. Murray could then try to trade down with them picking up another pick or prospect and taking the forward they rate highest. If any two or all three forwards are rated about the same, this could work in any scenario that Edmonton has a top 4 pick.
If the draft were today, I'd rate those forwards in order: Landeskog, Couturier, RNH.
I'm looking forward to the CHL playoffs to see if I stick with that ranking.
- Jalen
Post a Comment