Flurry of trades expected leading to deadline
If recent history is any indication, the period leading up to Wednesday?s NHL trade deadline should once again produce a flurry of activity.
In each of the last three seasons, there were 25 trades on the deadline day, with nearly two-thirds of the deals involving players who changed conferences.
Since 25 of the NHL?s 30 teams are within eight points of a playoff spot, a buyer?s market figures to prevail leading up to Wednesday?s deadline of 3 p.m. EDT.
A year ago, the top prize available was Atlanta right wing Marian Hossa, who was traded to Pittsburgh and helped lead the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Finals.
This season, the most sought-after player likely is Florida defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, an unrestricted free agent who has stated that he has no intention of re-signing with the Panthers.
The difference, however, is that the Thrashers were out of playoff contention last season. Under first-year coach Peter DeBoer, the Panthers have meshed - climbing to sixth in the Eastern Conference - and could be headed to the playoffs for the first time in eight years.
Therefore, Florida general manager Jacques Martin is facing a dilemma. He could keep Bouwmeester to nail down a possible playoff berth or trade him to build for the future.
Other big names who have been mentioned in trade rumors include San Jose?s Jonathan Cheechoo, Buffalo?s Tim Connolly, Tampa Bay?s Vincent Lecavalier and Anaheim Scott Niedermayer, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner two years ago.
Lecavalier, a Montreal native, has been the subject of numerous trade rumors all season, including one that would send him back home to the Canadiens.
However, Tampa Bay general manager Brian Lawton has insisted that Lecavalier is not on the trade market. Still, the Canadiens could afford Lecavalier - who signed an 11-year, $85 million contract with the Lightning last summer - as they have a number of players coming off the books in the summer.
Even if Lecavalier stays in Tampa, the new Lightning owners could still make a splash at the deadline by dealing the team?s other marquee player, Martin St. Louis, who has only two years remaining on a six-year, $31.5 million contract he signed with Tampa Bay in 2005.
Among other players who could have a new address Wednesday are Minnesota?s Marian Gaborik and Toronto?s Tomas Kaberle.
Gaborik, who also is set to become a free agent at the conclusion of the season, has played in only six games this season. However, he is close to returning following hip surgery in late December and could help a contending team.
Gaborik also fell into disfavor with the Wild when he rejected the team?s contract offer after last season.
Kaberle is a coveted, puck-moving defenseman who has spent his entire 11-year career in Toronto. On Monday, Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke denied a report that the Boston Bruins made an offer for Kaberle.
If recent history is any indication, the period leading up to Wednesday?s NHL trade deadline should once again produce a flurry of activity.
In each of the last three seasons, there were 25 trades on the deadline day, with nearly two-thirds of the deals involving players who changed conferences.
Since 25 of the NHL?s 30 teams are within eight points of a playoff spot, a buyer?s market figures to prevail leading up to Wednesday?s deadline of 3 p.m. EDT.
A year ago, the top prize available was Atlanta right wing Marian Hossa, who was traded to Pittsburgh and helped lead the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Finals.
This season, the most sought-after player likely is Florida defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, an unrestricted free agent who has stated that he has no intention of re-signing with the Panthers.
The difference, however, is that the Thrashers were out of playoff contention last season. Under first-year coach Peter DeBoer, the Panthers have meshed - climbing to sixth in the Eastern Conference - and could be headed to the playoffs for the first time in eight years.
Therefore, Florida general manager Jacques Martin is facing a dilemma. He could keep Bouwmeester to nail down a possible playoff berth or trade him to build for the future.
Other big names who have been mentioned in trade rumors include San Jose?s Jonathan Cheechoo, Buffalo?s Tim Connolly, Tampa Bay?s Vincent Lecavalier and Anaheim Scott Niedermayer, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner two years ago.
Lecavalier, a Montreal native, has been the subject of numerous trade rumors all season, including one that would send him back home to the Canadiens.
However, Tampa Bay general manager Brian Lawton has insisted that Lecavalier is not on the trade market. Still, the Canadiens could afford Lecavalier - who signed an 11-year, $85 million contract with the Lightning last summer - as they have a number of players coming off the books in the summer.
Even if Lecavalier stays in Tampa, the new Lightning owners could still make a splash at the deadline by dealing the team?s other marquee player, Martin St. Louis, who has only two years remaining on a six-year, $31.5 million contract he signed with Tampa Bay in 2005.
Among other players who could have a new address Wednesday are Minnesota?s Marian Gaborik and Toronto?s Tomas Kaberle.
Gaborik, who also is set to become a free agent at the conclusion of the season, has played in only six games this season. However, he is close to returning following hip surgery in late December and could help a contending team.
Gaborik also fell into disfavor with the Wild when he rejected the team?s contract offer after last season.
Kaberle is a coveted, puck-moving defenseman who has spent his entire 11-year career in Toronto. On Monday, Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke denied a report that the Boston Bruins made an offer for Kaberle.
