TRANSACTION RECAP FROM THE WEEK

G Craig Anderson and D Tomas Kaberle were the big names moving this week

The NHL trade-deadline may not be until February 28th, but there was a flurry of action this week. Lets start off by going back to Tuesday...

-Atlanta signs Dustin Byfuglien to a five year contract extension worth $26 million: Atlanta is clearly trying to build a cheap, effective team (based on moves we'll see later in the week) and have decided to make Byfuglien a center piece. He's certainly earned it so far (17 goals, 27 assists), and if they ever acquire too many defenseman, Byfuglien can always move back to the wing.

-Toronto acquires F Aaron Voros from Anaheim for a conditional 7th round pick: Voros is a Brian Burke type of player and it cost the Leafs almost nothing. Anaheim gets another pick for a guy they hardly use, everyone wins

-Boston acquires Chris Kelly from Ottawa for a 2nd round pick: Boston needed a center, and they got a quality one in Chris Kelly (12 goals, 11 assists). He may be a -12, but he's played on an awful Senators team. The Bruins were hoping for a top-flight center, but Kelly gives them the depth up the middle that they wanted. Ottawa gets a high pick, as they are clearly in rebuilding mode.

WEDNESDAY - NOTHING OF NOTE

THURSDAY:

-Anaheim acquires F Jarkko Ruutu from Ottawa for a 6th round draft pick: The Ducks replaced the tough guy they lost in Voros with Ruutu. Ruutu can play every night (unlike Voros) and he plays a little bit of offense. Ruutu is a pest, and in a very tight Western Conference, he should be able to draw some penalties to give the Ducks more power play opportunities. Ottawa continues to add to their collection of draft picks.

-The Islanders signed a one year contract extension with F PA Parenteau: He's played well for the Isles this year (14 goals, 21 assists) and has earned another year with the squad.

FRIDAY (a busy day):

-Colorado acquires G Brian Elliott from Ottawa for G Craig Anderson: this trade makes ZERO sense for the Avalanche. Craig Anderson is a quality goaltender. While the Avs have been slumping lately, they are VERY alive in the playoff race. Giving up Anderson for a goalie who is a decent back-up and can be effective in small bursts is not the way to get to the playoffs (and it's not like Peter Budaj is a viable option either). As for Ottawa, goaltending has been an issue for them for a few seasons, and while they are rebuilding the rest of the team, they now have the goalie to build around.

-San Jose acquires D Ian White and future considerations from the Hurricanes for a 2nd round pick in 2012 and D Derek Joslin: San Jose needed some help and depth on the blueline, and Ian White gives you both. He can control the puck and is responsible in his own end. I'll never question Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford (one of the best in the league), but this move is a little head-scratching. Carolina is very alive in the playoff race and I can't imagine why he'd think White wouldn't be a help to the team down the stretch. That being said, Joslin is a young prospect for a team who has a young and very promising blueline. White is playing for his 4th time in a year (Toronto, Calgary, Carolina, San Jose).

-Tampa Bay acquires D Eric Brewer from St. Louis for D Brock Beukeboom and a 3rd round pick: The Lightning are clearly going for it this year and addressed the one area of need they had yet to address. Their squad of rearguards was good, now it's very good. The Blues have clearly given up on this season (as you'll see in a bit), but get a very good D prospect and another pick.

-Atlanta acquires F Blake Wheeler and D Mark Stuart from Boston for C Rich Peverely and D Boris Valabik: The Bruins wanted a quality center, and Peverley provides them with what they need (wins face offs, can move the puck, passes well), get some cap relief with sending Wheeler out of Beantown, and get a useable D-man in Valabik. Atlanta gets a quality gunner in Wheeler and a very good young defenseman in Stuart. This is one of those rare times where both sides get what they need.

-Boston acquires D Tomas Kaberle from Toronto for F Joe Coloborne, a 1st round pick, and a conditional pick in 2012: With this deal, the Bruins are officially ballers in the Eastern Conference. They needed a puck-moving defenseman and they got one of the best in the league. After years of Kaberle "on the move" rumors, it finally happened. As for Toronto, they get a talented, but raw prospect in Colborne (41 points in 39 games in his last season at the University of Denver) and get the Bruins 1st round pick (Boston still holds Toronto's 1st round pick from the Phil Kessel trade). Leafs GM Brian Burke is stockpiling picks and prospects, Boston is going for the Cup this year. While seeing a trade where both sides win is rare, it's even rarer to see a deal like that happen between division rivals and Original 6 rivals.

SATURDAY:

-St. Louis acquires F Chris Stewart, D Kevin Shattenkirk, and a conditional 2nd round draft pick in 2011 or 2012 from Colorado for D Erik Johnson, F Jay McClement, and a conditional 2011 or 2012 1st round draft pick: This deal confuses the hell out of me for Colorado. While Erik Johnson is a top-notch defenseman and McClement gives you some quality depth on the wing, they sent out their top goalie earlier in the week. It's like they're shoring up for the playoffs while rebuilding at the same time (which never works). Avs GM Greg Sherman may have something else up his sleeve, but his moves this week contradict one another. As for the Blues, they're making quality moves to be a good playoff team next season. They were ravaged by injuries this season, so trying to make moves for this season would have been silly. They get a big, tough, productive winger in Stewart. Captain Kirk has had a fantastic rookie season and good be one of the game's best blueliners in the foreseeable future. They sent out quality D-Men in Johnson and Brewer, but they get back a young D man they can use now in Shattenkirk and someone they can use in a year or two in Beukeboom.

There will be a full break down of all of the trades since the Versteeg deal (the busy Bruins, the active Avs, the moving Maple Leafs...okay I'll stop) later on today. And if you're confused the the moves Colorado is making, you aren't alone.
-Adam

Random Musings - Tuesday 2/15

 Peter Forsberg at his retirement press conference. His comeback lasted two games.  

I'll never fault an athlete for wanting to give it another shot (unless you do it in the fashion that Brett Favre does it) as long as he's still physically able to. Forsberg practiced for a few weeks before he saw any game action, so he didn't rush in to it, either. With the foot problems he's had, his time away from the game, and his age all working against him, he didn't stand much of a chance. It didn't help that he tried to make his return in February when teams are beginning to make their playoff pushes and Forsberg was in October form at best. At least he had the dignity to walk away (-4 in two games) before things got real bad. He only took a roster spot for two games, and the Avs are slumping anyways, so it's not like he took them off their game. Forsberg is a hockey icon in Sweden and will always be held in high regards among the Avalanche faithful.

Avalanche Head Coach Joe Sacco is trying to get his team out of a 1-9 slump in their last 10 games

On a related note, to the people calling for Joe Sacco's job, give the guy some time. It was just a year ago that he was being talked about for the Jack Adams Award (and probably would have won it if not for the spectacular job Dave Tippett did in Phoenix) and how he was getting the most out of a young bunch. Nobody thought Colorado was a playoff team last year and they pushed San Jose to 6 games in the first round. The Avs were without G Craig Anderson for a long period of time and they couldn't sneak up on anyone this year. Unless Colorado really bottoms out, let Sacco finish out the season and if things don't look better next season, then give him the ax. I recognize it's a tight playoff race in the West and anyone but Edmonton could get in, but the Avs weren't making a deep run this season anyways. What's the rush.

Winger Kris Versteeg is playing for his 3rd team in the past year (no fault of his own though)

 

The Philadelphia Flyers are certainly trying their best to follow up last year's Stanley Cup Finals appearance with hoisting the Cup this year. The Flyers already have some of the best forwards in the league and the addition of Versteeg gives them three legitimate scoring lines. I'd love to see Versteeg play alongside Mike Richards (Versteeg makes his debut tonight in Tampa Bay). Philly's blueline is deep and as long as goalie Sergei Bobrovsky continues to play well, there really is no stopping the boys from Broad Street.

As for Toronto...wow. Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke has had to rebuild his rebuilding plan. Trading away guys on the last year of their contract or older veterans is one thing. Trading away a 24 year-old, productive winger that is three years removed from being a Calder finalist, won a Stanley Cup last season, AND has another whole season left on his contract, is another thing. There are a lot of directions that you can blame Toronto's woes on (Ron Wilson, Phil Kessel, the goaltending, etc), but Brian Burke has made a mess and needs to clean it up, quickly. He doesn't have the benefit of being in a lax hockey market like Anaheim. Maple Leafs fans have been waiting and are getting impatient (rightfully so). Getting a 1st and 3rd round pick back for Versteeg certainly helps, but more needs to be done. I've lost track of how many trade deadlines that D Tomas Kaberle was supposed to be traded, but this needs to be the one. Trade Jean-Sebastian Giguere away and see what James Reimer is made of (he may need to address his goaltending, too. Jonas Gustavsson hasn't exactly panned out).

NHL WEEKLY TV VIEWER GUIDE - WEEK OF 2/14

 

McMAHON STADIUM IN CALGARY IS PREPARING FOR THE 2011 HERITAGE CLASSIC. 41,000+ WILL BE ON HAND FOR THE NHL'S SPOTLIGHT GAME OF THE WEEK - CAPPING A GREAT WEEK OF NATIONALLY TELEVISED GAMES.

MONDAY: Capitals @ Coyotes - 9PM - VERSUS: This is a mirror match up, as both teams  like to score but have focused more on keeping other teams out of the net this season. Phoenix hasn't lost in regulation yet this season when holding a team to two goals or less. Washington has lost two in a row coming in to this match up. Phoenix can move in to first place in the division and 3rd in the conference with a win and has won four in a row.
 
TUESDAY: Sabres @ Canadiens - 7:30PM - VERSUS: Buffalo has played themselves back in to striking distance of a playoff spot, but still have some work to do. Montreal snapped a three game losing streak by shutting out the Leafs on Saturday night. The Sabres finally beat Montreal in their fourth try this season in overtime at home just a couple of weeks ago. This and the last game in the season series are at the Bell Centre. The Sabres four game winning streak was snapped against the Islanders on Sunday night. A Canadiens win puts them in 3rd place in the East.

WEDNESDAY: Wild @ Blackhawks - 8PM - VERSUS: Minnesota has won three in a row to vault themselves in to 8th place in the West at the time of this posting. The Wild have won 9 of their past 11 and host Vancouver tonight. The Hawks have depth issues and are currently in  11th place in the conference but are only 3 points behind Minnesota. Chicago has lost four of their past five with the past two coming in the shootout. This is their 3rd meeting and each has won in the other's building.

THURSDAY: Kings @ Rangers - 7PM - NHL NETWORK: The Kings are on quite the hot streak, winning 7 of their past 9 with both losses coming in the shootout. Los Angeles is in the midst of a season-long 10 game road trip and play in Columbus the night before this game. The Rangers snapped a six game losing streak on Sunday at home against the Penguins and won for the first time in the month of February. The Blueshirts are in 7th place in the East but only four points out of 9th. The Kings are tied for 8th place in the West but would be left on the outside looking in in the playoffs started as of this writing. This is their first and only meeting of the season.
 
FRIDAY: Flyers @ Hurricanes - 8PM - NHL NETWORK: This is a playoff match-up preview in all likelihood. They just played each other this past Thursday night, but it was the Flyers 3rd win in three tries against Carolina this season. This is their last meeting of the regular season. Carolina snapped a three game losing streak at Atlanta yesterday and have a tough road game against the red-hot Devils on Wednesday. This will be the 3rd game of a four game road trip for the Flyers, who won four or five before leaving Philly.

SATURDAY: Senators @ Maple Leafs - 7PM - NHL NETWORK: This is a match -up of two awful teams this year. It will be interesting if either team makes any deals this week, as both are clearly in sell mode. Both made trades last week: Ottawa dealing C Mike Fisher to Nashville, Toronto dealing D Francois Beacuhemin to Anaheim. They have split the first four meetings and this will be the last game in Toronto this season.

SUNDAY: Penguins @ Blackhawks-3:30PM-NBC/Canadiens @ Flames-6PM- VS: The NHL is dubbing Sunday "Hockey Day in America" (Canada's was this past Saturday). They gave two great match-ups to build it around. Even if the Penguins are banged up, they play tough. The Hawks have had some tough sledding as of late, so this will be a good time to try and build some confidence. Calgary is hosting Canada's version of the Outdoor Classic in the "Heritage Classic"  at McMahon Stadium. The first time Heritage Classic was in 2003 when Montreal traveled to Edmonton. Calgary was one of the hottest teams in the league coming in to February, but has cooled off as the month has gone on. Montreal won 5-4 in overtime at the Bell Centre in their only other match-up of the season. NBC Is really starting to use Versus properly as a hockey outlet.