Open Mike Night - 2/16/09
Michael Farkas | National Hockey League
Feb 17, 01:17 AM | Hype this story!
Well, the weekend concluded with a bang. Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Michel Therrien has been relieved of his duties. Dan Bylsma, formerly the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) coach, has been appointed interim skipper (sound familiar?). A rather inauspicious start in his matinee debut, a shootout loss to a woeful Islanders club. But with a game occurring less than 20 hours after his appointment to head bench honcho, perhaps the team should be given a little more time to adjust.
Meanwhile, what might be looked back upon as the first domino to fall in this year’s NHL trade deadline (March 4th), the Montreal Canadiens acquired the puck mover that they wanted.
Here’s the deal:
Montreal acquires:
Mathieu Schneider ($5.625 million, UFA at season’s end)
Conditional 3rd or 4th or 5th round pick *
Atlanta acquires:
2nd round pick in 2009
3rd round pick in 2010
- The conditions of the pick involve the depth of Montreal’s trip into the playoffs.
If Montreal fails to qualify for the playoffs or loses in the first round, Montreal gets a 3rd round pick from Atlanta. If Montreal wins one round, Montreal gets a 4th round pick from Atlanta. And if Montreal wins two or more rounds, Montreal gets a 5th round pick from Atlanta.
Schneider, 39, was originally a Canadien third rounder in 1987 and played for the Bleu, Blanc et Rogue from 1989 to 1995. He was acquired just prior to the start of the season from Anaheim in exchange for spare parts Ken Klee, Brad Larsen and Chad Painchaud.
Schneider appeared in 44 games this year for Atlanta, registering four goals and 11 helpers to go along with a minus-10 rating.
Seems like as good a time as any to start commenting on other potential trades.
Maple Leafs blueliners Tomas Kaberle and Pavel Kubina are expected to submit a list of teams that they would sign off on being traded to. Like most Maple Leafs from the John Ferguson, Jr. reign of error, they have no-trade clauses and therefore, call the shots.
There’s usually a stone cold lock of a deal at every deadline; a player(s) that is almost a certainty to be moved. In 2006, it was Brendan Witt and Mark Recchi. In 2007, Dainius Zubrus and you could make the claim for Todd Bertuzzi. In 2008, Marian Hossa and Brian Campbell were both virtual certainties to find new homes.
This year, so far, I think it’s the former 10th overall selection in 1998, Leafs center Nikolai Antropov. With a new GM at the helm, the oft-rumored Kazakh is an unrestricted free agent at season’s end and is my early pick as “most likely to be dealt.”
Just a little preview of Faceoff Factor’s trade deadline coverage.
In Anaheim, their fall from grace is evident. The gradual erosion of talent and speed of Chris Pronger might entice them to deal him before it’s too late. Scott Niedermayer might go too, the Ducks could blow the whole thing up.
Colorado has quietly slipped to last in the West and they’re in the market for a young goaltender. They have a handful of moderately (or higher) priced defensemen that could be dealt. Between Clark, Salei and Leopold, the Avs might be able to wrangle up a goalie like Jaroslav Halak or Jonas Hiller.
Again, the St. Louis Blues find themselves looking up at the rest of the West and once again they have Keith Tkachuk at the end of a contract. There’s a fair possibility that he’ll need a U-Haul before the Ides of March, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time.
Edmonton has Erik Cole on the last leg of a $4 million a year deal and he has been far from a bargain this season. The Oilers could find a new residence for him fairly easily, and you never know when someone finally decides they want to take a chance on YouTube All-Star Robbie Schremp.
The Islanders are playing the role of Atlas, supporting the sphere that is the Eastern Conference. Bill Guerin, Doug Weight, Mike Comrie and Mike Sillinger are all UFAs and aren’t likely to be fixtures in the Island’s future. All of them could probably be had for a song at this point.
Tampa Bay is running out of players to make seemingly weekly roster moves with, but if Mark Recchi hangs around long enough, he could warrant a mid-round pick at the deadline. Maybe Gary Roberts will go with him.
The Senators are looking to dump Chris Neil on anyone with a reasonable draft pick. However, you have to wonder if something much bigger happens either here or at the draft. Could one of the big three (namely Spezza) find himself on the way out? Antoine Vermette is garnering a lot of interest, maybe the Sens will figure out a way to score Jay Bouwmeester if Florida is willing to part with him – part with him in place of making the playoffs.
The trade deadline, as always, will be filled with excitement and we hope that join us at Faceoff Factor for all your trade deadline coverage.
Comments
Jay S
Feb 17, 01:50 AM
It is going to be interesting…
penlover
Feb 17, 08:44 AM
First thing the Pens NEED to do is get Goligoski back up,pair him with Gonchar the rest of the season..let him finish his developing with Sarge..the two of them on D together will be awesome! Trade Whitney and either Eaton or Gill for some wing help for Sid..the time is NOW..this team CAN make the playoffs and DO WELL if we act NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Matt Bodenschatz
Feb 17, 09:38 AM
Jay, for sure.
Penlover, Goligoski needs to be paired with a defensive defenseman. A Gonchar/Goligoski pairing is bad for the same reason a Gill/Scuderi pairing is bad: the two players bring the same positives and negatives to the table.
I don’t disagree that it would be nice to have Goligoski back in the NHL, but until there is room for him — in other words, until someone is traded — he’ll stay where he is.
Greg
Feb 17, 10:27 AM
GoGO needs to play, but I dont see how he is maturing in the AHL either…. You dont get better by playing inferior competition.
I also dont get the trade Whitney talk. he is going to develop into a top flight defensman in the NHL in a year or 2. He has the offensive vision and is a great passer, which are things you cant teach. Sure he could be more physical in front, but wasn’t he that in the cup run last year while injured?
I dont see the Pens being able to make a move for a top flight forward until the off season when you can shed the contracts of Satan, Fedotenko, Gill, Boucher, Eaton. That will free up alot of money to make a serious run at a good, young, forward. And they need some grit. Maybe make a run at one of the Sedin brothers?
Matt Bodenschatz
Feb 17, 10:41 AM
Greg, I am not going to argue hat Goligoski is ready for the NHL. He obviously held his own in his time in Pittsburgh this season. But, with that being said, his defense could use improvement, and for that reason, staying in the AHL won’t hurt his development.
To touch on a few specific comments. Goligoski is like Whitney: they’re not physical. Sure, being physical would help to improve his defensive game, but he can do the same by simply focusing on defense. And that’s what he needs to do in the AHL. As for money being freed up by several players becoming free agents, remember that Staal and Malkin’s new contracts kick in next season, bumping the payroll a decent amount. Realistically, the only way the Penguins can afford a top-flight winger AND have depth would be to trade one of Whitney or Staal for said top-flight winger, thus transitioning $4 million from a position of depth (either center or defense) to a position of need (wing). Lastly, the Sedins come as a package. It’s both or neither, and the Penguins simply won’t be able to afford both.
RelentlessForecheck
Feb 17, 11:27 AM
I agree with your points, Matt: the only way Pittsburgh can pull in the type of talent they need is by subtracting salaries. And, while letting Satan walk is a foregone conclusion, the Pens still need to lock up Sykora and I wouldn’t mind seeing Fedotenko stick around another season. So, at some point you have to be willing to give up to get; dealing from depth (offensive-defensemen) is the best way to go.
I still like the idea of Marty St. Louis, although that rumor seems to be growing a bit stale. I wouldn’t mind seeing Dany Heatley from Ottawa, but the way that team has been playing lately they may decide to keep their big three.
Whatever the case, if Shero is honestly targeting the playoffs this season, he has to make a move very quickly…
Steve
Feb 17, 12:26 PM
I don’t want to see any short-term trades just to [attempt to] make the playoffs. You have to move quality to get quality, so if Shero is going to deal a good player (Goligoski? Remember he is an RFA) and/or prospects/picks, it needs to be for someone who can contribute for AT LEAST another season after this one.
The Hossa move was a unique situation and without getting into the good/bad trade debate, they nearly won the Cup and he contributed greatly — and let’s not forget Gill & Dupuis, both solid down the stretch last year. But let’s not kid ourselves, there is no single trade that will fix this team. While bringing in someone like Milan Hejduk (signed for another year, NTC, but implied he’d be open to waiving it) would be a good addition to the team, it’s unrealistic to think that it would have a major impact on their chances this year.
I’m rambling a bit, but I guess I’m trying to say that Shero needs to be very cautious on the trade front at the deadline. I don’t want to write off this season as there is still a lot of hockey left to play, but if you’re making moves for the short term, it’s high risk for what I can only see as a low reward. I just can’t see this team getting past the first round (even with a smart acquisition or two), which would obviously be a disappointment based on early expectations (realistic or not).
It hurts to say it, but this season seems destined to be a disappointing one. Sure at least making the playoffs would soften the blow a little bit, but in my eyes it’s not worth the huge risk of a big deadline deal…
Matt Bodenschatz
Feb 17, 12:31 PM
Steve, quality points, for sure — and I agree 100%.
Any trade(s) made should be one that can help now and in the future. It’s one thing to make a splash on a playoff rental when you know it will pay dividends. But when it has the potential to do nothing (as it would this year), it makes zero sense.
Jess
Feb 17, 02:01 PM
I totally agree with you both, Steve and Matt. The players just haven’t been going into the games with the heart/desire/fire, whatever you want to call it, this season. It is disapointing, but I think our expectations of the team might have been a little high after the excellent showing they had last year.
I don’t think we need to make a move to get a winger for Crosby, at least not this year. I think we should all remember about some of the talent we can pull from in the AHL...training camp for 09-10 season will definitely be something to watch.
Though I’m not counting us totally out for this year, getting one playoff round might be as good as it gets. However, I’m very excited to maybe see some consistency in the lines with a new coach…and what he can bring up from the WBS Pens to help out the rest of the year since he does know those players a little better.
Really I would just hate to see Shero start throwing money around when it looks as if we might fall a little short of expectations this year.
Commenting is closed for this article.