Lack of Movement May Have Doomed Flyers posted by Jeff Ponder

Ray Emery was brought in to be the goaltending answer in Philadelphia.  How things change in just a few months.

Emery signed a deal on July 1 by the Flyers for one year, spelling the end for former Flyer goalies Martin Biron and Antero Niittymaki, whose contracts had let out on the same day.  The Flyers then signed Brian Boucher as a back-up, so it was apparent that the team was ready to commit to Emery as the starting goalie.

But things have not worked out as general manager Bobby Clarke has hoped.  It was announced just before the trade deadline that Emery has a degenerative bone disorder and may never play hockey again.  That leaves the Flyers with the tandem of Mike Leighton (claimed off re-entry waivers from Carolina in December) and Boucher.  While Leighton has played well enough the past few games to keep Philadelphia in the playoff picture, it keeps the Flyers goaltender depth very low compared to the rest of the league.

Rumors circled that there were certain goaltenders available on deadline day.  These included Cary Price of the Canadiens, Marty Turco of the Stars, Tomas Vokoun of the Panthers, and both Dwayne Roloson and Martin Biron of the Islanders.  A deal could have been worked out for one of these goaltenders.  Panthers' GM Randy Sexton put price tags on almost all of his players, and Vokoun could have been had for some picks and some offensive help.  The Islanders were also in the market for a goaltending change too.  Recently activating oft-injured Rick DiPietro off injury-reserve, the team probably wanted to move one of their goalies due to their over-abundance in the position. 
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Anaheim Trades Ryan Whitney and a Sixth-Round Pick to Edmonton for Lubomir Visnovsky posted by Jeff Ponder

After a long wait, Edmonton finally moved one of their top players.

Only making a minor deal earlier in the day (Cody Wild to Boston for Matt Marquardt), Edmonton was expected to make a fire-sale on the deadline.  The Oilers rank last in the entire league with a dismal 19-38-6 record, recording only 44 points.  Names like Dustin Penner, Sheldon Souray and Andrew Cogliano were all being discussed today, but only one player is on his way out.

Visnovsky, acquired in June 2008 from Los Angeles, has scored four goals and thirteen assists to lead the Oilers in power-play points.  The Slovakian Olympian is a -4 on the season, but still ranks second on the Oilers' roster among defensemen who have played more than five games.

Whitney, who was acquired just last deadline day from Pittsburgh as a part of the Chris Kunitz deal, is also known for his offensive abilities.  Before the deal, the US Olympian ranked seventh on the Ducks with 28 points.  His smooth skating strides and quick feet are just two of his attributes that fans in Anaheim are going to miss. 

This was the only deal of the day that I consider to be a complete wash.  While Edmonton does receive the extra sixth-round pick in the deal, Visnovsky is more experienced and that could be a big factor if the Ducks make the playoffs.  Being just three points out of the eighth seed with 19 games to go, Anaheim may see if this deal was a right move in April.Continue reading "Anaheim Trades Ryan Whitney and a ..."

Washington Acquires Milan Jurcina from Columbus and Joe Corvo from Carolina posted by Jeff Ponder

Rumors swirled that the Capitals were looking for another defenseman to make a serious playoff run; how about two of them?

Reports stated Tuesday night that the Capitals were in discussions with many teams about bringing in a defenseman.  The number one rumor (found on NHL.com) was that Capitals GM Mike McPhee was talking with Blues' GM Larry Pleau about bruiser Barret Jackman.  A deal seemed imminent until it was announced that Jurcina was brought in from Columbus for a sixth-round pick approximately ten minutes before the deadline.  It was announced a half hour later that the club also brought in Joe Corvo from the Hurricanes in exchange for defenseman Brian Pothier and an undisclosed draft pick.

Jurcina adds size (6'4” 236 lbs.) and grit to the Capitals blue line.  The 2010 Slovakian Olympian has just one goal and two assists in 17 games this season for Columbus, but his ability to stay in the play and take the body is probably the most impressive skill that Jurcina adds to the team.

Corvo is more of the offensive defenseman acquired today, scoring 212 points in 468 career games played.  His offensive numbers are not impressive this season (4-8—12) but has proven in the past that his passing ability and puck control can more than benefit five-on-five or on the power-play.

The Capitals came out ahead in both deals.  Acquiring two quality defensemen for just two draft picks and a number four defensemen is not too shabby.  This doesn't mean that Columbus and Carolina didn't get a goodContinue reading "Washington Acquires Milan Jurcina ..."

Calgary Trades Curtis McElhinney to Anaheim for Vesa Toskala posted by Jeff Ponder

Anaheim just can't seem to stop shuffling their goaltenders.

After shipping away J.S. Giguere and Justin Pogge in the past month, they have also sent recently-acquired Vesa Toskala packing.  After being acquired in the Giguere deal on January 31, Toskala did not play in a single game for the Ducks.  His 3.66 GAA and .870 save percentage with Toronto is an unimpressive stat on this season. 

McElhinney has been backup in Calgary for parts of two seasons, and has posted a NHL-career .889 save percentage.  The 26-year old goaltender is expected to battle for the backup role next season with prospect Timo Pielmeier.

The nod in this deal goes to Calgary.  While Anaheim made a smart move in acquiring someone that they can bring back next season at a cheap rate, Calgary solidified a strong backup going into the playoffs.  Toskala is a former starter in Toronto and adds plenty of experience to the backup role.  His contract will be over at the end of the season, but Calgary just needs him in case starter Miika Kiprusoff falters in the playoffs.Continue reading "Calgary Trades Curtis McElhinney ..."

Phoenix Trades Peter Mueller and Kevin Porter to Colorado for Wojtek Wolski posted by Jeff Ponder

Talks of Peter Mueller being the next best thing in Phoenix have come to an end.

“He's a great young man who loves to play the game,” former head coach Wayne Gretzky once said about the now-21 year old.  “He's good with the puck. We're happy with his progress and production.”

Mueller has seen quite the decline in offensive numbers this season, despite his team having a collective great year.  His 17 points in 54 games are less than impressive, especially when compared to his numbers the past two seasons (54 points in 2007-08 and 36 points in 2008-09). 

Wolski, on the other hand, is having a decent season in Colorado.  His 47 points ranked him second on the Avalanche before being traded.  His speed and puck-handling ability will add to an already strong Phoenix offense.

Most critics feel that this trade sways in the way of Phoenix, but I'm going to have to be in the minority.  I think that Mueller is still a top young player in the league.  He may have skipped over his sophomore slump and is just seeing it in his third year, which could mean Mueller will pick his game up fairly soon.  Wolski is a strong second-line player that adds skill, but can be lackadaisical when coming back to his own zone.  Mueller is a responsible player who is having an off-season but has plenty of time left in his young career to fix his mistakes.Continue reading "Phoenix Trades Peter Mueller and ..."

Washington Trades Seventh-Round Draft Pick in 2010 for Scott Walker posted by Jeff Ponder

If you would have told Scott Walker four years ago that he would be traded for a seventh-round pick, he may ask you how many you have had to drink.

Walker, the gritty 37-year old winger, will be joining his fourth NHL team.  Just three seasons ago, Walker accumulated 51 points in 81 games.  But how the veteran has fallen.  He has added just three goals and two assists in 33 games this season.  While he is not adding the scoring that he used to, he still adds a physical presence that makes the opposing defenses shake in their skates. 

The Capitals have added yet another piece to their 2010 playoff drive, and get the nod in this trade.  While Walker may not add the points to the score-sheet, he does address a team toughness and depth issue.  Plus, only giving up a seventh-round pick can't hurt too badly.Continue reading "Washington Trades Seventh-Round Draft ..."

Anaheim Ducks Justin Pogge and a Conditional Fourth-Round Pick to Carolina for Aaron Ward posted by Jeff Ponder

Pogge could have counted how many days he lived in Anaheim before being traded again.

After being acquired over the summer from Toronto, Pogge did not even see action with the Ducks before being dealt at the deadline.  It was pretty clear that the Ducks would want Pogge for next season to battle for the backup job with prospect Timo Pielmeier after trading J.S. Giguere to Toronto just a few weeks ago.  Vesa Toskala was acquired in the trade, but his contract will be up at the end of the season and was unlikely to re-sign with Anaheim.  Pogge's .920 save percentage with the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL this season shows how impressive he truly can be.

The veteran Ward has spent five of the past nine seasons with the Hurricanes, but has been shown the door.  The Carolina team sits in second to last place in the Eastern Conference and is looking to unload some of the veterans.  Ward's -17 this season ranked him just ahead of teammate Rod Brind'Amour for the team's last place spot.  But he has proven in the past (especially in Carolina's 2006 Stanley Cup run when playing against the top lines), that he can play hard against any opponent.

It is hard to pick a clear-cut winner of this trade, but the slight edge will have to go to Carolina.  While Ward will help the Ducks' push to the playoffs this season, Pogge will be a restricted free-agent at the end of the season and may be able to be signed for a relatively cheap contract.  With backup Manny Legace on the way out of Carolina, Pogge may be the backup tContinue reading "Anaheim Ducks Justin Pogge and a ..."

Boston Trades Craig Weller, Byron Bitz and a second-round pick in 2010 to Florida for Dennis Seidenberg and Matthew Bartkowski posted by Jeff Ponder

Shortly after moving defensive defenseman Derek Morris, Boston added another veteran to their blue line.

Dennis Seidenberg, who signed a one-year deal with Florida this past summer, leaves Florida as the top ice-time getter, averaging 22:54 played a game.  The German Olympian adds just two goals to the Bruins' lineup, but has 21 assists on a low-scoring team.  He is very good at getting the puck out of the zone and moving the puck up ice, but will not contribute much to the Bruins and their 16th ranked power-play. 

Byron Bitz was once considered a good prospect for the Bruins, but has fallen down on the team's depth chart.  He has seen mostly checking line time in Boston, but will add grit and flexibility to a low-scoring Panthers wing-core.

While Weller and Bitz will add depth to the Panthers' lineup, they also don't give much more in the scoring department, which is what the Panthers truly needed.  Bitz's contract goes through 2010-11 though, so he has time to develop in a new system.

Boston did give up some depth for Seidenberg, but may have upgraded over Morris.  Seidenberg was as good as he could be for Germany in these past Olympics, which may be the reason this trade was made by Bruins' GM Peter Chiarelli.  Boston may have edged Florida in this deal, although the verdict will be out until Seidenberg can prove that he can compete in the NHL playoffs.Continue reading "Boston Trades Craig Weller, Byron ..."

Boston Trades Derek Morris to Phoenix for a Fourth-Round Pick in 2011 posted by Jeff Ponder

In 2009 Morris gets traded away from Phoenix, and in 2010 he returns to Phoenix.

Morris, who has seen time with the Flames, Avalanche, Coyotes, Rangers and Bruins, will head back to Phoenix after being dealt at the trade deadline last season to the New York Rangers for Dmitri Kalinin, Petr Prucha and Nigel Dawes.  The Coyotes get him back for just a fourth-round pick in 2011.

Morris is known for his defensive prowess, which is why he was such a hot commodity last deadline.  Morris, who has just a -2 this season, was still matched against some top-line players in Boston.  He ranked third on the Bruins in average ice time per game with 22:00.

The trade looks fairly even when considering what Morris has accomplished since leaving Phoenix, but I think Phoenix comes away with the win in this one.  When considering what they got in return for Morris last season and what they give up this time around, the organization managed these two deals very well.  Even though Prucha is all that remains from the trade with the Rangers, GM Don Maloney and co. did their best in getting back Morris.Continue reading "Boston Trades Derek Morris to Phoenix ..."

Montreal Trades Matt D'Agostini to St. Louis for Aaron Palushaj posted by Jeff Ponder

Montreal landed a top prospect for their gritty winger.

Matt D'Agostini, the Canadiens' sixth round choice in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, has just 14 goals and 11 assists in 94 NHL games played.  The winger is more associated with his feisty style of play, striking fear into opponents when they enter the corners of their defensive zone.  The winger does have an offensive upside though; with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL, D'Agostini scored 128 points in 162 games played. 

Aaron Palushaj, formally considered a top prospect in the Blues' organization, has tapered off since joining the Peoria Rivermen of the AHL.  Palushaj was considered to be a large part of the Blues' future coming into this season.

“He’s a rink rat and I like that,” Blues President John Davidson said in September.  “He’s skilled. He’s got a real upside.”

Palushaj, who scored 50 points for the University of Michigan in 2008-09, has just 22 points in 44 games this season in Peoria.  It is no doubt that his lack of production is the reason for this move.

Montreal gets Palushaj at the tender age of 20, which is the reason that they get the nod in this deal.  The 6'0” forward has played in just one half season in professional hockey.  College players take a little longer to adapt to professional play than players that come through the ranks of junior programs.  The Blues may have jumped the gun on moving the young forward.  He still has a long time to develop before it can be determined if he is truly NHL talent or not.
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Selanne scores 599th as Ducks top Sharks (AP)

The Anaheim Ducks haven't had much to pat themselves on the back about. A great deal of their misery has been caused by the San Jose Sharks. But Anaheim's 4-2 victory over the Western Conference leaders Sunday night salvaged a shred of dignity for the Ducks, who avoided getting swept by their Pacific Division rivals in a six-game season series for the third time. [read full article]

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Capitals' Ovechkin suspended for 2 games (AP)

Two-time MVP Alex Ovechkin was suspended Monday for the Washington Capitals' next two games because of a reckless hit. The forward drove Chicago's Brian Campbell into the boards from behind in the first period Sunday and received a major penalty and a game misconduct. With the league's leading scorer kicked out of the game, the Capitals later came back from a 3-0 third-period deficit to... [read full article]

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Park and Biron power Islanders by Leafs (AP)

The New York Islanders defied their recent history to knock off a Stanley Cup contender and a bottom-feeder in less than 24 hours. Despite having the NHL's second-worst penalty kill and third-worst power play, the Islanders killed off seven penalties and scored power-play and short-handed goals in a 4-1 victory over the lowly Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday. [read full article]

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Harding's 36 saves help Wild top Blues (AP)

Strong goaltending has been a hallmark of the Minnesota Wild's nine-season existence. During this transition to a new coach and a new playing style in front of those nets, the goalie play has dropped off a bit. But at least for the last two games, Josh Harding has been a steady presence. Harding made 36 saves, and Mikko Koivu had a power-play goal and two assists to help Minnesota beat the St. [read full article]

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Anderson, Stastny lead Avs by Stars 5-3 (AP)

The Colorado Avalanche needed a standout performance from goaltender Craig Anderson to deal another blow to the Dallas Stars' fading playoff chances. Anderson matched a season high with 48 saves, Paul Stastny scored twice, and the Avalanche rallied to beat Dallas 5-3 on Sunday. "Our goaltending was outstanding this afternoon, just like it's been all season," Colorado coach Joe... [read full article]

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