Trade Deadline...Over

Wow...talk about last minute deals....as I stated from my previous post I wouldnt be surprised to see some last minute tricks...there were some and overall I think the teams in the playoff hunt got who they wanted and others that were sellers freed up some room on their cap for next year

I was right on my thoughts though, I think I got 3 right which isnt bad...Ill count Pronger because he wanted to stay and I just thought he would go but he didnt....Guerin is gone...even though I picked the wrong team it was still in the Eastern Conference....a 2nd rounder for him is not that bad...and Bouwmeester stayed which i thought he would

Overall it was an ok last trade day.....here my top winners and losers

Winners

1. Columbus- Like there move to let Steve Mason be their #1 and go get Vermette...he will help their offense as the hang on to their playoff spot...Mason next "Franchise"??


2. Calgary- Getting Jordan Leopold from Colorado and Olli Jokinen from Phoenix definitely will help their chances in securing a playoff spot
   ....others are Anaheim, Tampa, and some could say Phoenix

Losers

1. Boston- I hate to say it since their #1 in the east but they let some key prospects go...Matt Lashoff will be a top D-man and Martins Karsmus will be a power forward...getting an over the hill Mark Recchi isnt the answer either...thought giving up backup Manny Fernandez wasa definite option but could see why they didnt just in case Tim Thomas gets hurt...
   


2. Rangers- With their carousel of winning and losing and then the firing of coach Tom Renney...then the return of Sean Avery....the Rangers only hurt themselves...not sure if giving up that much to Phoenix was right but time will only tell...Nik Antropov will help but Dawes and Prucha got a bad rap and should of stayed in their system..
   
   Theres my take on the deadline..grade of C....nothing to over the top...heres the link to see all the trades that happened...http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=30230
   
   Ill be back with my take on the recent 09 WJC (I know 2 months late but hey)
   
   The Nuch

Isn't There a Trade Deadline?

Hmmm...very interesting....usually when the words "trade deadline" are posted on websites and in newspapers we should get excited to see the blockbuster deals that are going to go down...

However, the 09 deadline has sort of been lack luster with only 17 hours remaining....theres only been a handful of trades with sub par players like Mike Comrie (Islanders to Senators) and Dean McAmmond (Senators to Islanders) getting swapped and a notable prospect in Eric Tangradi being moved (Anaheim shipped him to the Penguins in the Kunitz/Whitney deal)...

We will have to wait and see in the last hours or so whose going to change addresses...I still think theres a GM out there with a trick up his sleeve waiting for the last minute to move someone...

TOP 5 THOUGHTS

1)Dont be surprised to see Chris Pronger shipped if Niedermeyer comes back...he does love the Ducks and playing in Cali but with Anaheim being sellers I think an east coast team will get him (to Boston for Phil Kessel??)

2)Jay Bouwmeester will stay in Florida....I dont think anyone will want to give up a package for him...hell be good anywhere tho

3)Bill Guerin is off the Island by tomorrow...he just waived his no trade clause so you may see him in either a Washington jersey or possibly Buffalo

4)Colorado needs a goalie so will see if the Avalanche make a move to trade Ryan Smyth for a prospect

5)NJ Devils unsung hero Scott Clemmensen may be gone by tomorrow too....he definitely proved himself and teams like a Philadelphia or any playoff team may want to get him..

See you guys tomorrow and dont forget to post...

The Nuch