Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Waiver Wire on Deadline Day

The Phoenix Coyotes picked up Niko Kapanen (Box 19) off the waiver wire from the Atlanta Thrashers. Kapanen, who still is on one pool team as of today, will move to the struggling Coyotes and probably won't see much more production for the rest of the season.

Bryan Berard (Box 4) was not claimed on waivers today, but he may have to clear re-entry waivers... which doesn't seem possible, since a team like New Jersey would probably take a chance on only half Berard's salary.

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Pair of Deals


The disappointing season for Brad Boyes (Box 15) continues as he gets dealt to St. Louis for
defenseman Dennis Wideman, late in the deadline day. Boyes, who didn't quite pan out to have the season that was expected of him got dealt to fill a gap left behind by either Tkachuk or Guerin.

Boyes, not chosen in the pool, wasn't in the playoff race... and it actually got worse. Oh well,
no impact in our pool in this deal.


The Kings and Stars made the biggest (volume) trade late in the day, which sent only one player from the pool from one team to another. The player is Jaroslav Modry (Box 10), taken four times, was sent to the Kings in a deal which sent Mattias Norstrom the other way to Dallas. Modry, is actually a part of Jeff's squad and the Kings have a pretty good power-play from the point and it could improve his 10 points thus far.

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Face of the Islanders?


Ryan Smyth (Box 1) is out of Edmonton. I'll pause for a second for you to catch your breath.

(pause)

Smyth was dealt to Long Island for a first-rounder, Robert Nilsson (1st rounder in 2006) and Ryan O'Marra (1st rounder in 2005)... which has an upside for the Oilers, with the small possibility that Smyth could sign back on with the Oilers in the off-season. With Smyth in the line-up, the Islanders have a better shot of the playoffs and Smyth will mix in with the physical play of the Eastern Conference.

Smyth, taken three times in the pool, may have a bit more of a breakout stretch run.

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Bertuzzi on the Move Again


Todd Bertuzzi (Box 15) has been moved to Detroit for a conditional draft pick and a junior prospect. The Red Wings have increased their scoring potential when Bertuzzi joins the line-up, which may be sooner rather than later. Bertuzzi, amazingly is still on one pool team... and being on Detroit, might move Fred out of the basement. Oh, who am I kidding?

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Zubrus a Sabre!


Dainius Zubrus (Box 13) and a prospect goes to Buffalo for a 1st-rounder and Jiri Novotny. Zubrus, a small passing forward may fit in with a guy like Thomas Vanek (Box 19), but is not taken by anyone in the pool. Only a minor pool deal, but it's another guy, if you don't choose Buffalo to go all the way, Zubrus could be a guy in a lower box you may want to look at for the playoffs.

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Senators Receive Saprykin


The Ottawa Senators added winger Oleg Saprykin (Box 7) and a late round pick from the Coyotes for a second round pick. Saprykin, not a chosen player in the pool, may add a little more scoring depth to the Senators down the stretch.


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Non-Playoff Move


Aaron Ward (Box 23) left the Rangers today for the Bruins in exchange for a player to be named later. There was some indication that the player involved is on the Bruins roster today.

Ward has been taken six times, including by Top 3 team, Don. Ward has 13 points this season and a couple Cup rings, so he will bring some solid ice time to the Bruins, but is considered more of a defensive defenseman. He's in the middle of the pack (or box, for that matter), 16 points behind the box leader. It's unlikely that he'll make that push for 'top of the box' in the last six weeks.

**Update**

Defenseman Paul Mara (Box 17) was the player shipped to the Rangers in exchange for Ward. Mara has 18 points this season and is more of a puck-moving defenseman, as opposed to Ward's style of play. Could be a better fit all around. Mara has been taken three times in the pool and not by any of the Top 3.

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Guerin Gone to San Jose


Who wants Bill Guerin (Box 3) now? If Guerin and Joe Thornton (Box 2) gains some sort of chemistry, it could be a red light festival. Guerin goes to San Jose from St. Louis for a 1st round pick (New Jersey's from the Malakhov deal in the summer) and a non-roster prospect.

No one has Guerin at the moment, but he could make a guy like Thornton or Patrick Marleau (Box 8) that much better with the number of assists they'll rack up. If the scoring goes up, you'll have to think that the wins will fly through the tank and Vesa Toskala (Box 6) and Evgeni Nabokov (Box 12) will rack up some win points.

This move and the Craig Rivet (Box 22) deal will make the Sharks a big contender for the playoffs... something to consider in a month's time when the playoff pool selection sheet gets released.

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Laraque to Pittsburgh


In a very weak pool move, Georges Laraque has moved to Pittsburgh to protect Sidney Crosby (Box 14). He goes to the Steel City for a prospect and a pick.

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Sabres Get a New Back-Up


It was reported that the Sabres picked up Ty Conklin (Box 12), just moments after dealing Biron to Philly. Conklin will not see much time and he wasn't picked up in the pool... nor is anyone going to drop Giguere and pick up Conklin.

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Martin Biron Trade


The early wait this morning is to see where Martin Biron (Box 24) was going. Biron didn't skate with the Sabres early this morning and was alerted that he was traded... and as I write this first paragraph, we still haven't heard where and for who.

Biron, taken seven times in the pool, is a considerable move. Especially, if he gets moved to be a number one guy.

Well, I've got good news... and I've got bad news. Biron will be a starter, which is the good news, but the bad news is... he's a Flyer. In return, Biron was dealt for a draft pick, which wasn't noted how high, but I'd imagine, it's quite high. Biron is a Flyer... ha ha ha!!

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A Vet for the Kid


Gary Roberts (Box 19) has agreed to waive his no-trade clause this morning to join the Pittsburgh Penguins make a run for the Cup. The 40-year old Roberts was swapped for young defenseman, Noah Welch. Roberts, taken once in the pool, will play a big leadership role for guys like Crosby and Malkin and should guide them along the path to playoff success.


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Monday, February 26, 2007

Monday Night Deals


Man, you go out and run a couple errands after getting home and trades start coming down the wire. The Canucks were busy making moves while I was out and they aren't too bad. The Canucks acquired Bryan Smolinski (Box 1) from the Blackhawks for a conditional second rounder. Smolinski, however, was not picked by any team in the pool, so this trade has very little effect to the pool.


The Canucks second move of the evening was re-acquiring defenseman Brent Sopel (Box 10) from the Los Angeles Kings. For Sopel, they gave up a 2nd and 4th round pick. Sopel, a big shooting defenseman will give the Canucks some depth behind Ohlund and Salo. Sopel still exists on three team in the pool and should give those teams a few more points down the stretch.


Between these three teams, we saw two trades which only involved two pool players. In the first deal, the Blackhawks sent defenseman Lasse Kukkonen and a 3rd rounder to Philadelphia in exchange for Kyle Calder (Box 19). Then the Blackhawks turned around and dealt Calder to the Red Wings for winger Jason Williams (Box 9). In essence, for pool purposes, we'll just call this deal Calder for Williams. Calder, dropped to the point of zero in the pool, and Williams is still on three teams this season. Calder will add some size to the Wings' line-up, while Williams will join an already fast team and make it that much faster. Sadly, he isn't a defenseman... where they need some more speed.


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Zednik Voted on the Island


A minor move in the early afternoon of Monday saw Richard Zednik (Box 14) to the Islanders from the Capitals for a second-round pick. Zednik, not picked in the pool, has 18 points so far this year and didn't see much to any time with Alexander Ovechkin (Box 15). I don't think this move will make much difference in the league standings and I don't think anyone will pick up Zednik because of trade in the pool.

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Week Twenty-One Newsletter

Only six more newsletters until the end of the regular season and the big buzz before Week Twenty-Two is the all about the Trade Deadline which is tomorrow at 1pm MT. The deals have already started, a few more of which have been highlighted below. Be sure to stay tuned to the Domain to keep up with all the pool-related news in regards to the trade deadline.

The Top 6 only underwent one change from last week to this week. Larry took over the 5th place position in the pool from Paul and opened up a 10-point lead over top of him. Paul actually lost ground to the rest of the Top 10, which has left himself a little more wide-open for being caught.

Up at the top, Jeff extracted another point from Dieter to extend his lead to two points, while extending his lead on Don by three points to 17. Jeff, the pool leader, had the most points in the week, but see below to check if he made this week's Mover & Shaker.

Caterina continues her hot streak closing in on the money. Being down in 20th some ten weeks ago, she has now moved 5 points away from 6th place and being one of the hottest teams in the pool may ensure some success in the coming weeks.

Hot Teams Over the Last Four Weeks:
Jeff...... 269
Dieter.... 260
Caterina.. 256
Randy..... 245
Dale C.... 245

Cold Teams Over the Last Four Weeks
Fred...... 144
Greg...... 179
Mike W.... 180
Gerald.... 189
Dan W..... 194

Let's see what happened in Week Twenty-One...

Player of the Week



I didn't want to do a repeat Player of the Week, I was really hoping on Sunday, my wish would come true. And it came true! All of a sudden Brad Richards (Box 14) nabs four points on Sunday and tied for the pool-high in points with nine. Just in case you wanted to know... Marc Savard was the other player with nine points.

The Lightning went 3-1-0 this week and their big 3 players are clicking with Richards leading the way. Richards had an assist on Tuesday, a goal and 2 assists on Thursday, an assist on Saturday and a goal and 3 assists on Sunday to cap it all off. He hasn't quite had the season that Lecavalier and St. Louis have had, but he's quietly still put up some pretty good numbers. That's a good ring to two teams ears.

"Welcome to the world of Movers & Shakers, Tom." Sorry, that Cadillac commercial is kind of addicting. Yup, we have ourselves a new name gracing the pages of the newsletter this week. Tom has taken the big award by moving up three places in the pool this week. He didn't have the biggest week, points wise, but he did find himself in the middle of a tight pack of teams and the most points in that group would move you up in a hurry.

Tom found some good points from players like Marc Savard (9 points), Evgeni Nabokov (6), Markus Naslund (4) and Martin Brodeur (4). This is Tom's highest position since Week Five, when he was 20th. His peak position was 17th in Week Two. He's only 43 points away from that peak position with only six weeks to go.

Benson to the 27th floor, please... Benson to the 27th floor. He'll have to go into the elevator and go down three places in the Standings. He's gone back down to where he was only a couple weeks ago. With Patrice Brisebois out for the rest of the season, Jason Williams not scoring, a cold Martin Straka, David Aebsicher lost his job to Jaroslav Halak and Chris Drury got popped by Chris Neil... yeah, it had Basement Dweller written all over it. Doesn't it? Yeah, I thought so.

Martin Brodeur – 98 points
Marty kept Crosby off the top of the pile this week. Crosby had a pretty good week with six points, but Brodeur had his four points to keep his title for now. Brodeur even had the day off on Sunday when his back-up, Scott Clemmensen (Box 24), took the start against the Capitals. But don't think just because he got the win that Clemmensen will be starting any more games... after waiting 30+ games to get that start, he'll probably have to wait until next season (barring injury) before his next tour in the crease.

Pool Trades
Keith Tkachuk (Box 1), taken once in the pool, was the first big Blue to move before Tuesday's deadline. He was dealt to Atlanta for Glen Metropolit, 2007 1st Rounder, 2007 3rd Rounder, 2008 2nd Rounder and a 2008 1st Rounder if Tkachuk re-signs with the Thrashers. Tkachuk has been coveted by quite a few teams and by the look of what the Thrashers gave up, it sesems like there was a large bidding war for his services.

It's a Flyer-sale! Everything must go! Useless veterans going for cheap! Well, not entirely useless, I guess. In a zero-pick-in-the-pool concern, Alexei Zhitnik (Box 17) was also dealt to the Thrashers from Philadelphia for Braydon Coburn (Box 22). No one has 'em... but this could make a difference to guys like the big three in Atlanta.

The strong just get stronger in the West. Now the Sharks have themselves a powerplay defenseman, who's a bit stronger with his shot from the point. Craig Rivet (Box 22) was shipped to the West Coast from Montreal to swim with the Sharks. Going the opposite way is Josh Gorges (Box 13) and a first round pick. Both Rivet and Gorges were both taken once in the pool. This trade went down during the early evening of Sunday. Man, I love the deadline!

Trades Remaining in the Top 10:
Dieter... 0 Paul..... 1
Don...... 0 Marcus... 0
Jeff..... 0 Trevor... 4
Dale C... 1 Caterina. 0
Larry.... 0 Suzanne.. 2

Injuries
Already missing Maxim Afinogenov (Box 15), Chris Drury (Box 20) got popped by Chris Neil of the Senators and will be out for a period of time that is undetermined. Drury, taken eight times, will be re-evaluated this coming week for broken bones in his face, but doesn't seem to be suffering too many concussion symptoms.

Erik Cole (Box 13) will be out of the Canes' line-up for up to four weeks with a hip injury. The pick-up of Anson Carter (Box 3) will ease the Hurricanes scoring concerns, but Cole will be missed by two pool teams down the stretch.

Pavel Kubina (Box 22) broke his finger in the game against the Flyers on Saturday night and will be missed from the Leafs' line-up for a couple weeks at the least. He'll be missed by three pool teams.

It looks like Ed Jovanovski's (Box 4) season is over. Jovanovski, taken once, will more than likely go under the knife for season-ending abdomen surgery. The Coyotes, who have pretty much played themselves out of the playoffs, will play the rest of the year without their number one defenseman.

Hockey Night In Canada this week...




The unhealthy Sabres will make their return to Hockey Night In Canada, as they take on the Maple Leafs on Saturday. The Sabres, who have been decimated by injuries, will take on the other Ontario team and we can only hope that there is just as many fireworks as there were against Ottawa this past weekend. In the second half of the doubleheader, we'll see the Battle of Alberta again. The Flames and Oilers will play for better standing in the Northwest Division and should provide some good scoring for pool players.


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