Trade Deadline Needs and Assets: Atlantic Division
Michael Farkas | Transactions & Rumors
Feb 15, 06:52 PM | Hype this story!
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| The Story | The Devils are, as always, in the thick of the playoff race and looking to add a spark before the playoffs. The Devils rarely make a push for the big name rental, but Lou always seems to make just the right tweaks as April looms. | ||
| Tradable Assets | Brian Gionta, RW, 1 year left, $4 mil Richard Matvichuk, D, UFA, $1.368 mil Travis Zajac, C, 1 year left, $984,200 Nicklas Bergfors, RW, 2 years left, $818,333 |
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| Areas of Need | Puck moving defenseman, top two center | ||
| Potential Targets | John-Michael Liles, Avalanche, D, UFA, $1.325 mil Brad Stuart, Kings, D, UFA, $3.5 mil Brian Campbell, Sabres, D, UFA, $1.5 mil Martin Havlat, Blackhawks, RW, 1 year left, $6 mil Robert Lang, Blackhawks, C, 1 year left, $4 mil Ladislav Nagy, Kings, LW, UFA, $3.75 mil |
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| Prediction | GM Lou Lamoriello is always careful at the deadline and typically makes moves that are questioned immediately but result in Stanley Cup rings. The Devils might not have the team to win a Cup this year, but Lamoriello has a chance to make significant improvements. The Devils have been carrying a lot of players for most of the season, so many so that Cam Janssen hasn’t found in his way back into the lineup for some time now; so, they may want to trim some fat. For once, the Devils have some cap space to work with. | ||
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| The Story | The Islanders have been overachieving with a makeshift, rag-tag bunch of misfits. Finally, reality is starting to set in and they are sliding towards the bottom of the Eastern Conference. It would make sense for the Islanders to sell and try again with a brand new next year. That said, when they were in 9th last year, they mortgaged a good piece of their future for nothing. | ||
| Tradable Assets | Miroslav Satan, RW, UFA, $4.255 mil Mike Comrie, C, UFA, $3.375 mil Ruslan Fedotenko, LW, UFA, $2.9 mil Trent Hunter, RW, UFA, $1.55 mil Josef Vasicek, C, UFA, $750,000 |
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| Areas of Need | Sure fire prospects, less boom or busts, but at the deadline that’s not always possible. A steadier, consistent defense. Goal scorers. | ||
| Potential Targets | Corey Emmerton, Red Wings, LW, 3 years left, $850,000 Johan Ryno, Red Wings, LW, 3 years left, $615,000 Ryan O’Bryne, Canadiens, D, RFA, $612,500 Mikhail Grabovski, Canadiens, C, RFA, $725,000 Stefan Ruzicka, Flyers, RW, RFA, $543,333 Luc Bourdon, Canucks, D, 2 years left, ~$1.322 mil |
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| Prediction | GM Garth Snow realizes that he gave some choice assets in recent years that have yielded poor results. They have plenty of draft picks still, but the prospect pool have dwindled a bit. The Isles could use young roster players or players that are right on the cusp of hitting the big show. The worst thing for the Islanders right now would be to go on an eight game winning streak. | ||
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| The Story | As of this moment, the Rangers are on the outside looking in. Their team is stacked offensively and the goaltending is certainly there. However, underachieving upfront and just a lack of skill on the backend as led to a series of errors this year at the Garden. GM Glen Sather is at a crossroads, half the team needs a new contract but the playoffs are from certain. Let’s assume they are in "change it up" mode, as opposed to "complete rebuild" or "playoff push." | ||
| Tradable Assets | Brendan Shanahan, LW, UFA, $5.3 mil Jaromir Jagr, RW, UFA*, $4.94 mil (not likely to trigger "option" year) Martin Straka, C, UFA, $3.3 mil Paul Mara, D, UFA, $3 mil Marek Malik, D, UFA, $2.5 mil Michal Rozsival, D, UFA, $2.1 mil Sean Avery, LW, UFA, $1.9 mil Al Montoya, G, RFA, ~$1.834 mil Petr Prucha, C, 1 year left, $1.6 mil Marcel Hossa, LW, RFA, $780,000 Thomas Pock, D, 1 year left, $667,500 Ivan Baranka, D, RFA, $521,667 |
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| Areas of Need | Scoring, capable defensive defensemen, a two-way defenseman that excels at puck-moving | ||
| Potential Targets | Rob Blake, Kings, D, UFA, $6 mil David Vyborny, Blue Jackets, RW, UFA, $2.2 mil Tomas Kaberle, Maple Leafs, D, 3 years left, $4.25 mil Phil Kessel, Bruins, C, 1 year left, $2 mil Robert Lang, Blackhawks, C, 1 year left, $4 mil John-Michael Liles, Avalanche, D, UFA, $1.325 mil Joni Pitkanen, Oilers, D, RFA, $2.4 mil Steve Eminger, Capitals, D, RFA, $1 mil |
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| Prediction | I’m curious to know what direction the Rangers go with this myself. They are tied for the eighth and final playoff spot and they have a ton of UFA’s and some needs to fill. This is a virtual coin toss here, their record between now and February 26th will have a lot to do with what side that coin lands on. | ||
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| The Story | Though their cap space is limited, the Flyers have assets to trade to improve their club, which they will look to do in order to solidify their status as a Stanley Cup contender. | ||
| Tradable Assets | Mike Knuble, RW, 1 year left, $2.8 mil Scottie Upshall, RW, 1 year left, $1.225 mil R.J. Umberger, C, RFA, $1.15 mil Jeff Carter, C, RFA, $942,400 Ryan Potulny, C, RFA, $643,500 Stefan Ruzicka, RW, RFA, $543,333 Alexandre Picard, D, RFA, $533,333 |
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| Areas of Need | Puck moving defenseman, top six scoring | ||
| Potential Targets | Dan Boyle, Lightning, D, UFA, ~$3.333 mil Rob Blake, Kings, D, UFA, $6 mil Brad Stuart, Kings, D, UFA, $3.5 mil Barrett Jackman, Blues, D, UFA, $2.2 mil Christian Backman, Blues, D, 1 year left, $2.3 mil Ryan Suter, Predators, D, RFA, $785,333 Bryce Salvador, Blues, D, UFA, $1.4 mil Peter Forsberg, UFA, C, UFA, N/A |
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| Prediction | The Flyers are almost certainly going to upgrade the defense. Lupul is back but Gagne is out again and Forsberg’s return to Philadelphia is seeming less likely than it did a week ago. The Flyers may want to use Knuble to upgrade the top six scoring, but it’s not the first priority. Adding a defensive defenseman would take Jim Vandermeer out of the lineup, failing that, an ordinary folding chair would suffice. | ||
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| The Story | The Penguins are first in the Atlantic and have the available cap space to add significant players. GM Ray Shero is very reserved and cautious on the trading front though. He’s not likely to go after any big time rentals nor would he like to sacrifice the future for a chance at a Stanley Cup this season, a goal that is not very realistic. | ||
| Tradable Assets | Colby Armstrong, RW, 1 year left, $1.2 mil Jarkko Ruutu, LW, UFA, $1.15 mil Brooks Orpik, D, UFA, ~$1.038 mil Erik Christensen, C, 1 year left, $750,000 Angelo Esposito, C, unsigned prospect |
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| Areas of Need | Scoring winger, defensive defenseman | ||
| Potential Targets | Nick Schultz, Wild, D, UFA, $1.85 mil Kristian Huselius, Flames, LW, UFA, $1.4 mil Maxim Afinogenov, Sabres, RW, 1 year left, ~$3.333 mil Barrett Jackman, Blues, D, UFA, $2.2 mil Antoine Vermette, Senators, LW, RFA, $1 mil Kyle McLaren, Sharks, D, 1 year left, $2.5 mil Jonathan Cheechoo, Sharks, RW, 3 years left, $3 mil Adam Foote, Blue Jackets, D, UFA, $4.6 mil |
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| Prediction | GM Ray Shero has said he won’t disrupt team chemistry by trading important players and won’t overpay to get impending free agents. Look for a trade or two that helps fill some needs, but a Penguins team-changing blockbuster does not appear to be on the horizon. | ||
The above information is based strictly on observation
and is not meant to be taken as documented possibilities. This is an opinion
piece. For a list of draft picks that each team has for the 2008 draft,
click here.
Comments
Dave W
Feb 15, 08:32 PM
Schultz and Cheechoo could be just what the doctor ordered, but San Jose likely would want more than what we would offer considering his age and extremely affordable option….but maybe he could be had since his production has been down this year….should be an interesting 10 days for the Pens….not only will they be getting Fleury back, but Sid and GR will be returning to the lineup…that might be just what was needed for a long playoff run!
Andrew R
Feb 15, 10:08 PM
I’d prefer Kuselius. He’s a creative playmaker and a good goal scorer with 40 goal potential. He could definitely be the offensive answer on Sid’s wing.
Michael Farkas
Feb 16, 02:21 AM
Dave and Andrew, thanks for the comments, much appreciated. Secondly, I agree with both of you…I’m a little wary of Cheechoo, he’s not the best skater and his Rocket Richard trophy was certainly a fluke in the same way that Colby Armstrong’s 40 points in 48 games was a fluke…well, perhaps fluke is the wrong word, maybe “misleading” is more accurate…
That said, I wouldn’t turn down a goal-scoring winger for the right price.
I’ve been a fan of Huselius for a long time now, I urged the Pens (via message boards) to get Huselius off waivers when Florida waived him and subsequently traded him for Steve Montador a few years ago…
timber09
Feb 16, 05:57 PM
Watching the Devils game last night they talked a great deal about acquiring Ryder – they are looking to add some scoring and sound like they would take a flyer on him as they are a pretty sound defensive team and could be able to cover for his (many) defensive blunders.
There was some talk that the Habs are interersted in Clarkson – not sure if that would work out in a one for one deal but it certainly was discussed ad nausium.
Michael Farkas
Feb 17, 01:24 AM
Timber, thanks for the comment first of all. Secondly, that was Stan Fischler that brought that up, he has absolutely no idea what’s going on around him. He says that Valiquette should be starting for the Rangers and Lundqvist should be for the future, he made 2 “all-time greatest” teams and Gretzky wasn’t on either of them, he thinks the Devils should blow up their team and start over with a new philosophy, any time Brodeur gives up a bad goal he calls for Weekes to come in and so on…It was a Devils/Thrashers game, the Habs scouts (in all likelihood) were there scouting Marian Hossa, not David Clarkson. The Devils would be foolish to deal an energy player with decent offensive awareness for a cherry-picking rental…
The Devils need is centers, Elias and Parise have not been strong at center and Zajac is underachieving…
If you aren’t familiar with Stan Fischler’s tiresome schtick, consider yourself lucky.
DaBich
Feb 18, 06:49 AM
Great article, Michael. Thanks for all the info! I love stopping here every day, you guys are the best!
Being an avid Pens fan, I count on finding my information here.
Timber09
Feb 21, 01:41 AM
Hey Michael – Thanks for the return post – yeah I kind of gathered that over the last week or so about Fischler – I haven’t watched many Devils games but have been lately for some reason. Speaking of his “all-time greatest team” – that was one of the other games that I watched earlier this year – tough not to have Gretz or Orr on the team.
Anyway – thanks for all of the info – love reading your insightful posts. Just do me a favor and never dis my ex UND grads (Parise and Zajac) again…ha!
Oh and I know this isn’t the right division but CBC radio was talking today about Hainsey to Vancouver…any thoughts?
Thanks!
Michael Farkas
Feb 22, 07:10 PM
Timber- I’m a big Parise fan, always have been…Zajac is a decent second liner, but he’s had a tough year…nothing personal ;)
Hainsey to Vancouver seems odd, considering Vancouver has had Bourdon and Edler step up big time this year…the only thing that makes it reasonably possible is that Krajicek out for the year, he was one of their better puck movers…but even then, the Blue Jackets would love to keep Hollywood, and I think they will…
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