Faceoff Factor

Recent NHL News and Notes and Rumors

Michael Farkas | National Hockey League

Dec 21, 08:35 PM | Hype this story!

The NHL roster freeze has officially kicked in. So the transaction tracker is going to catch its breath as we approach the halfway pole this season. We won’t be seeing any trades or waivings until December 27. That doesn’t mean the rumor mill is dry and there’s plenty going on around the league this holiday season.

We had a couple trades recently, let’s take a closer look at them first and foremost.

Anaheim gets: Doug Weight ($3.5 million, UFA at season’s end, cap hit is irreversible), prospect Michal Birner (~$502K, RFA after next season, 4th round pick in 2004), seventh round pick in 2008

St. Louis gets: Andy McDonald ($3.333 million, UFA after next season)

Everyone knew the Ducks needed to make a move that cleared space on next year’s cap to bring Scott Neidermayer back. They did that and I think they made a good move all things considered. Obviously Andy McDonald is better and younger than Doug Weight, but when you are forced to make a move in the cap era and other GM’s know you have to make a move, they can hold a deal “ransom.”

The deal not only yields the return of Neidermayer but it also didn’t cost them a player like Francois Beauchemin, who has one of the best contracts in the league. It costs them a second line center who was making too much to be a second line center on a team like Anaheim. Ryan Getzlaf is now the clear-cut number one center and has a contract (extension) to match. The move also opens up even more room next season to re-sign another key piece, Corey Perry, to an extension.

By not moving a big piece of the defense corps such as Beauchemin or Schneider, the Ducks can still be prepared if Neidermayer decides to retire six months from now. Making a move that brings Neidermayer back for six months but costs them Beauchemin, would ultimately cost them Neidermayer AND Beauchemin, or about 55 minutes a night on the blueline for the Ducks. That would have been a crucial blow.

The Ducks acquire two minor assets on top of Weight (you never know when your next seventh round pick is Henrik Zetterberg) to even things out a bit, not a bad job by Burke in a salary dump move.

The Blues add a speedy center, for speedy wingers Paul Kariya and Brad Boyes, which is match made in heaven for them. McDonald, Kariya and Boyes have combined for 3 goals and 7 assists in their first two games together. Now, throw in the notion that Weight was not going to be re-signed and you’ve got a real steal for St. Louis.

The second trade was not nearly as spectacular in terms of names, but let’s take a look at it anyway.

Philadelphia gets: Jim Vandermeer ($1.225 million, UFA at season’s end)

Chicago gets: Ben Eager ($600K, RFA after next season)

The Flyers bring back (literally, he was with the Flyers for a few years before being traded as part of a deal for Alexei Zhamnov) a hard-nosed defenseman that is gaining some offensive prowess. He also allows for a little more wiggle room next season as a UFA, something the Flyers could really use now a days. For this season, Vandermeer is a physical defenseman that can play in any situation (even strength, 2nd power play and 2nd penalty kill in Chicago) as well as fight a middleweight from time to time.

The Blackhawks get a little tougher, a little more annoying at the forward position. Eager is an energy guy that will drop the gloves. However, he is often cast as a dirty player around the hockey community. The Blackhawks might have been looking to open up a spot for promising prospect Cam Barker. It was mentioned previously by Blackhawks management that they only wanted to call up Barker when they could keep him up, now may be that time.

The hard news is out of the way, so now we’ll move on to what could be happening on the other side of this roster freeze.

A lot of talk has been surrounding Capitals superstar winger Alexander Ovechkin’s future. It has been speculated that Ovechkin is not happy in Washington and may be subject to a blockbuster trade or an offer sheet. The longer Ovechkin goes without re-signing, the more rumors we’ll see regarding this subject, so get used to it. Ovechkin is apparently looking for about $9 or $10 million per season. Among the teams interested: Every NHL and Russian Super League team.

Rangers defenseman Marek Malik has been a healthy scratch in five of the past six Rangers games, fueling rumors that the Rangers are looking to send him elsewhere.

Wild defenseman Nick Shultz and Avalanche defenseman John-Michael Liles may be finished with their respective teams after this season due to cap concerns and the fact they are unrestricted free agents this summer.

There was a rumor earlier in the week that suggested oft-rumored winger Michael Ryder was on his way out of Montreal in exchange for Panthers prospect Janis Sprukts and a conditional draft pick. Nothing has come of that as of yet.

The Blackhawks may be giving up on former top ten pick Tuomo Ruutu. Ruutu has struggled with injuries throughout his career and he may be shopped.

In other news recently,

Recent Flap Between Stars and Canucks

Dallas Stars netminders Marty Turco and Mike Smith have called into question Roberto Luongo’s goalie equipment. Luongo, the goalie who helped defeat Marty Turco’s Stars in the playoffs last season, has been one of the best (if not the best) goalies in the NHL this season.

Turco and Smith have issue with the flaps that extend from Luongo’s leg pads. To make their point, Turco and Smith came out during a recent morning skate with exaggerated cardboard flaps on their pads with “#1” written on each flap.

Turco, who was present for the NHL competition committee meetings last summer when Martin Brodeur resigned, said, “We were just conducting an experiment…you’re always looking to get better.”

“We need pads that are realistic and what’s safe for the game,” Turco suggests. “We all have [flaps]. We all need (knee) protection. [Luongo’s] knees are just a little bigger than others.”

Stars backup goalie Mike Smith had a big smile on his face as he wore them around them locker room. “I caught a little glimpse of those (on Luongo in practice) and thought it would help my game a little bit. It was pretty good today, actually. I made a couple saves with those. I might leave them on there.”

Loose Pucks

The Philadelphia Flyers have extended coach John Stevens’ contract by one-year.

Hurricanes winger Justin Williams has torn his ACL and will miss four to six months. The former first rounder had 30 points in 36 games this season for Carolina.