Friday February 27


Hannan will be moved
He's gaining interest, and we know the Sens want to move him.  He will be moved before the deadline... a few teams looking at him including MTL, TOR, LA. 

Phoenix Done Selling?
Three wins in a row, but still 10 points back... now what?

Brad Richards on the move
Sources are suggesting that Brad Richards may be on the move - he's up for a big contract extension, so this may make sense.... Not sure who'll take that salary thoug.  Perhaps Ottawa?


Thursday February 26


Zubov Traded - Confirmed
Zubov has been dealt in a deal for Klesla.  This is surprising given the price that was paid for Timonen...

Colorado Quietly Shopping Wheeler?
Colorado is struggling to make a big deal heading to the deadline, and in order to peak some interest they've begun to shop Wheeler.  Will they really move him though?  Thats hard to say...

A High Price for Timonen?
Two first-rounders for Timonen and a 2nd.  Wow.  Just wonder what Zubov will get...



Wednesday February 25


JAGR TO MONTREAL!!!!
This deal is confirmed to me.  The Pens have shipped Jags and his HUGE contract to panic-stricken Montreal.  While I expected the habs to go for a goalie, I am not surprised that they've done something drastic!

Tuesday February 24


Two Deals that Caught me off Guard....
Well, everyone knew Rick DiPietro was available, and it makse sense that he'd be dealt before the deadline, but I didn't see this one coming at all.

Toronto makes what I'd call an unusual move moving Tukka Rask, Giguere, and a 2nd for a 1st, Skille, and DiPietro.  I'm not convinced DiPietro will be better for the Leafs than Giguere - maybe this is a setup deal...

2nd deal saw Sturm, Comeau, 1st, cash going to Florida for Plekanec, Svatos, 2nd.  This is clearly a deal for the Chicago's playoff push as they add two solid players in Svatos and Plekanec.


Williams out of Washington
Washington have lowered their asking price on Williams.  Expect him to be dealt soon.  Most likely destingation: Carolina - who are looking for a winger.

Panic Time in Montreal!!!!
Newly aquired Ellis: out 3 weeks.  Backup sabourin: out 1 week.  The team has slipped to 8th in the East.

This is a recipe for panic, no doubt.

Monday February 23


Lang Requests Trade
Through his agent, Robert Lang has officially asked to be traded from the Islanders. Rumor has it that the Islanders front office isn't too happy being put in such a position, but will look for possible suitors.  Expect the Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, or Toronto Leafs to get involved.

Vrbata the first to go in Phoenix
With the playoffs looking more and more like an impossibility, the Coyotes are rumored to be listening to offers on scoring winger Radim Vrbata.  While there is no real direction with these discussions yet, they are heating up.

Friday February 20


Rumor: Kirk likes Hemsky.
According to a reliable source:
A female intern and Valtteri Filppula caught Alice Hemsky leaving GM Kirk Shuck's office with a sated look on his face. The intern has been fired and rumours are swirling that Filppula available for an immediate trade to keep quiet.

Turco will not last until the deadline.
This is as good as a fact.  While I don't understand why ATL would move Turco as they have a nice combo with Price/Turco, it seems GM Kirk has no interest in keeping Turco.

Kipper Deal - The first domino?
As reported yesterday Kipper has been dealt in a multi-player deal between Boston and NYR.  BOS is now shopping Kipper - this is an interesting development.

I think this deal will be the first domino to fall in a series of  huge deals.

Explosion in the Desert?
With their losses this week to EDM and STL (currently 7th and 8th in the West) the Coyotes effectively extinguished any hope they may of had of making the playoffs.  What remains to be seen is what GM Vardy will do with this team... Hold the course, Build for next year, or full Re-Build?


Thursday February 19

KIPPER A BRUIN!! - The Dominoes Begin to Fall...
Kipper + Halpern + ??
for
Mason + Finger + ??

This is confirmed.

Massive NYR Movements
I'm hearing from sources close to these deals that the NYR are on the verge of some sort of MASSIVE 3 or 4 way deal - this is directly related to them scratching players last night.  NYR GM is in lockdown putting the final touches on this and is not talking to anyone.

Brothers Dealing?
Directly from the Thrashers (the bad grammar confirms it): "Rumours down in Atlanta are that a female intern who G.M K.Shuck reallly enjoys her work, was in his office while he was on the phone with his brother Bruins G.M B.Shuck, and she reported that rumours between St.L and Boston are true and that a deal is 99% sealed that B.Shuck said "will shake the brhl2""

Discussions on Hold
The calm before the storm?

Both NYR and STL GM's are hiding away from trade discussion today - are deals already in place as mentioned yesterday?  Or has everything fallen apart?

Sources are telling me that at least one of the major deals I reported yesterday may have fallen apart as a result of a new team entering the equation... not sure which deal this is effecting, but I am sure we'll hear soon....

Islanders Talking
The isles are clearly a team with a lot of work to do, and GM Eric has been working the phones lately - reportedly looking around for a long term solution in net.  Potential options are Kari Lehtonen out of Phoenix and perhaps even Carey Price from ATL.  Rumor is the Isles are planning to package quality (1st and 2nd round) picks with a young player to get their goalie.

Wednesday February 18


Trotz out in STL?
Yet another STL rumor... It's entirely possible that STL will move Trotz for a more experienced coach.  Question is, who's available?  Maybe a trade is in order?

Big Moves in Cane Country?
This one is almost certain.  The Canes are about to move three core players as well as 4 other players and two picks out of town.  Could this be tied with the swirling rumors out of STL?  One can only guss that Carolina may be moving one of Spezza or Fisher, and perhaps Bryan Allen amongst others...

Chris Mason Interest Picking up
Boston is listening to offers on Mason and so far have heard legitimate inquires from three teams.  Two Western teams and one from the East.  Detroit is looking for a guy to play with Fleury next year and Mason may be a perfect fit.


TWO MAJOR DEALS IMINENT!(E5)
I have confirmation from numerous sources now of two iminent MAJOR deals.  Both deals look to invlove STL.

The Blues have been all over the rumors lately and it all seems to be coming to a head...

The main pieces are believed to be:
To BOS: Derek Roy, Rusty Klesla, +++
To STL: Pavel Datsyuk, Jeff Finger, +++

To CAR: Legwand, Brent Burns, Ryan Malone, +++
To STL: Fisher, Kunitz, Bryan Allen, +++

I've also heard that NYR are invloved somehow... I have heard may rumblings that Kipprusoff might be moving... and it looks like STL might be involved here too, the deal is rumored to be:

To NYR: Dan Boyle, +
To STL: Mikka Kiprusoff

Thats it for today, more rumors tomorrow...

Breaking News... NYR Scratch Kipper, Rolston,Kariya
I was on the way home from my office and this came through on my blackberry.  From two seperate sources (within minutes of one-another).

All three of Kipper, Rolston, and Kariya are healthy scratches for the Rangers tonight.  This all but seals the deal that these guys are gone from Manhattan.

This further fuels the fire that STL is after Kipper, but Rolston and Kariya as well - I'm floored.  It'll be interesting to see how this one shakes down.  I am not convinced that all three are going to the same team...

Ok, for real, next update tomorrow AM

Tuesday February 17

Datsyuk Headed West?

Rumors out of Boston that a deal to send Datsyuk to a Western team is as good as done.  Hard to say right now where the likely destination is but a few teams such as STL, EDM and even PHO are still pushing for the playoffs.  My money is on STL with Roy going the other way.

Boyle Leaving STL?

Another STL rumor, however it is said to be unrelated to the Datsyuk rumors.  It sounds like STL might be moving Boyle.  Is this throwing in the towel on the playoffs or is Boyle being moved to get help elsewhere?

Vardy on Thin Ice in PHO?

After throwing away all sorts of picks and prospects the Coyotes are still massively underperforming and are seeing the playoffs slipping out of sight?  Could Vardy's tenure in the desert be nearing an end?

Heatley out of ATL?

Lots of media speculation out of ATL that Heatley could be on the way out.  We all know no one is safe in Atlanta, perhaps Heatley is the next to go.  Hard to say with ATL constantly dealing, but it wouldn't surprise anyone.

Boudreau Traded?
This one surprised me today, just came in on my blackberry:
Canadiens to trade Bruce Boudreau and 4 MON to the Red Wings for Therien and Antropov
I have heard that the Wings hate Therien, so there might be something to this...

NYR Moving Players
Ryan Johnson and Brian Rolston are hearing their names more and more on the rumor wire these days - I have a few sources confirming that these two may indeed be moved soon.

STL Shopping Klesla
I have a feeling we'll be seeing STL on these rumors alot as they look to push for the playoffs.  The latest rumor has the team shopping Klesla as they look for a top line forward.  Possible return players: Brian Rolston, Teemu Selanne, Jonathan Cheechoo.