2009-10 NHL Thread

Wolski to Phoenix for Mueller.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=AmExG7Qgn3mPRt4BgtKbolk5nYcB?slug=ap-avalanche-coyotestrade&prov=ap&type=lgns




And I don't know about Washington, but Chicago is very tight against the salary cap, so that probably hinders a lot of moves for them.

 

Best laugh I've had all day. That is outstanding.

Best part: "Brings every ounce of the mental and physical toughness you'd expect from a guy who spent most of his career with the Ottawa Senators."

 

Change of scenery thing, I guess. ... He was pretty solid last year. I know he's not having a great year this year.

 

Caps complete the day by picking up Corvo and bringing Milan Jurcina back ... I know Corvo was a guy they really wanted.

 

Kinda. The issue of being on the wrong side initially can be just a bad guess, but this ref compounds the problem by not being far enough ahead of the play. He then makes a poor decision trying to get out of the way by going up the boards rather than going around behind the net. Ideally, when the cycle goes to one side, the low ref takes himself behind the net to the opposite corner. The ref didn't move his feet (nor go to the net like he's supposed to) on the initial shot and then gets caught flat footed and too high as Crosby comes around on the cycle.

A worst-case scenario for the positioning problems he exhibited would be a puck that is covered/saved right at the goal line. One of the low ref's primary responsibilities is to be at the net to make a goal/no goal determination, and he was far too far away to know about any sort of close play.

 

As bad as this trade deadline was, there was some history made, the first trade ever was consumated between the Oilers and Flames -- Steve Staios to Calgary for Aaron Johnson and a third.

I now have hope for world peace.

Salary dump for Edmonton, and Staios will bring some reliability and leadership to the Flames backend. A very limited player skills wise but you will never question his effort. Solidifies their PK and probably fits in as a four or five d-man.

Oilers also traded Lubomir Visnovsky to Anaheim for Ryan Whitney and a sixth round pick. I am going to miss Lubo, has arguably been the Oilers best player the last two years, I know that isn't saying much but he was a bright light in a dark, dark world. He will definitley help out on the PP and take a lot of pressure of Neidermayer. Terrific skater and makes a great first pass.

I wish I could say I have watched more of Whitney over the last year, but I honestly haven't seen much of him. I just remember him being pretty good in Pittsburgh before he was dealt. Anyone want to chime in on this deal?

 

Whitney has been crap.
I read a story at midseason last year that he had to completely change his game around to fit Carlyle's system and he was finally getting it. They expected big things in the second half. Never happened. If I remember right, his first goal with the team came in the playoffs and he was supposed to have a great shot.
This season starts off just as bad. And there was another story written at midseason that said exactly the same thing as a year ago. He had to change his game and he was finally getting it. A year later!!!
Well, he never got it.
Good guy, but when he expressed "disappointment" over not making the U.S. Olympic team, I laughed my ass off. Then some guys got hurt and he did make it.

 

Speaking of guys named Whitney, fans in Raleigh are going to need a program after the housecleaning, but the one guy who many thought would go - and didn't - was Ray Whitney.

Seems to indicate that Jim Rutherford will make re-signing him a priority following the regular season. Seven players dealt, including five today, but Whitney is still there. Losing Joe Corvo stinks, but the offer from the Caps looks worthwhile, and losing Scott Walker is a blow to the team. Walker was kind of emotional when he found out.

We'll see. All I know is that the only safe players were Eric Staal and Cam Ward.

 

Ditto for Philadelphia.

I was surprised not to see a marquee deal or two today, but as someone mentioned earlier, the cap was in play for many teams - Don Maloney (Phoenix GM) was on HNIC radio earlier tonight saying a lot of that had to do with the deals the Coyotes made today.

Watching the Caps-Sabres ... this game just isn't crisp on either side. Maybe I'm just too used to watching Olympic hockey at this point. ;D

 

Thomas has basically lost his job to Rask in Boston, and he's a very expensive backup and the Bruins have no cap room (and less offense). When he's on, he's almost unbeatable -- and he was on most of last season when he won the Vezina. He has a very unconventional style, which means he's also prone to give up a couple of softies at any moment.

I'll be interested to see Dennis Seidenberg with the Bruins. Thought he was very solid last year in the playoffs.

 

Seidenberg will help the B's on the back end. But he's not the offensive shot of life Boston needs.

 

Won't actually see the game until I get home and fire up the DVR, but it sounds like the Pens went all offensive onslaught on the Rangers tonight.

Shots: Pit 55, NYR 16
Shots (3rd period): Pit 19, NYR 1