NHL Trade Deadline Champs and Chumps

Hey Peeps and anyone else checking in. A special "Hey" goes out to Hazel Mae.

The NHL trade deadline ended with a flurry and a bang yesterday. While everyone expected big named veterans like Bill Guerin of St. Louis Blues and Gary Roberts on the Florida Panthers to be moved - few people expected them to land where they did; and even fewer expected that Edmonton Oilers GM Kevin Lowe would pull the trigger on a trade that would see the face of the franchise, LW Ryan Smyth, wind up on Long Island. So tonight we'll look at back at the winners and losers - of course, its all a matter of perspective.

THE WINNERS

The San Jose Sharks were far and away the big winners yesterday - GM Doug Wilson landed Bill Guerin for a 3rd line player in Villie Nieminen, "prospect" Jay Barriball (drafted in the 7th round last year) and a 1st round pick this year, in what scouts are calling a weak draft. Essentially, the Sharks get an experienced power forward who can score, and who is playing for a contract next year for what could very well turn out to be nothing of consequence. The talk is that the Sharks will have Guerin and Cheechoo playing on a line with Joe Thornton - I'm not sure any playoff team can ice a line that can be as dominant as these three. San Jose now has two powerhouse lines going into the playoffs. Whether Guerin signs with San Jose in the off-season is irrelevant - he is going to be an important part of a run to the Stanley Cup. Another deal that wasn't talked about much, but should be was the trade with Montreal that saw Craig Rivet head west for prospect Josh Georges (a guy projected to be a number 5 or 6 defenceman) - the Sharks picked up some veteran leadership and a solid defenceman for a guy that might have (or might not have) made the team.

New York Islanders GM Garth Snow has taken a lot of heat this year - from taking a job that many felt he had no business taking to signing goalie Rick DiPietro to a 15 year contract - but Snow pulled off the biggest shocker yesterday in fleecing Oilers GM Kevin Lowe. Snow traded prospect Robert Nilsson (a first round pick in 2003 who is dangerously close to be declared a wasted pick), prospect Ryan O'Marra (who scouts think is soft as a player) and a first round pick in 2007 (have we mentioned that it is projected to be a weak draft?) for the heart and soul of the Oilers, Ryan Smyth. The Islanders have been fighting hard to get into the top 8 in the Eastern Conference, the acquisition of Smyth pretty much makes them a lock for the playoffs. Snow also did well in picking up Richard Zednik from the Capitals for a draft pick. The Islanders have been a bit of a joke for the better part of the last 10 years or so - they aren't anymore. They may not get out of the first round - but they are going to the dance.

Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ray Shero managed to address one major weakness in his young team - character and toughness. Shero traded prospect Noah Welch to Florida for Gary Roberts. The deal will end up being a good one for Florida, as the young guy is projected to be a top 4 defenceman - but this is a great deal for the Penguins. Getting a veteran with character and playoff experience like Gary Roberts is going to pay for years to come - Roberts will bring energy and a great work ethic to a dressing room full of young impressionable players...the lessons they learn from Roberts, no matter their playoff fate, will benefit these guys for the rest of their careers. Whether Pittsburgh has a chance at the Stanley Cup is debatable - what isn't is the fact that the acquisition of Roberts just accelerated an eventual run to a Cup, be it this year or in the next two to three years.


THE LOSERS

Oilers GM Kevin Lowe was taken to the cleaners by Snow and the Islanders - on the surface the deal looks good, but history won't be very kind to Lowe on this one. Lowe made a huge mistake by drawing out contract negotiations with Smyth until 20 mins before the trade deadline - he likely had this deal with the Islanders worked out around the same time he traded defenceman Marc-Andre Bergeron there, but he did his team a huge disservice by not shopping Smyth around over the last week or so. I would be surprised if the Oilers wound up with anything from this deal - except a black eye from the fans for trading a guy that was born to be an Oiler.

Montreal Candiens GM Bob Gainey was silent yesterday - much to the dismay of Habs fans, and likely the players on the team - judging by their listless performance last night. The Canadiens have been floundering for weeks now, suffering from inconsistent goaltending and a lack of goals - Gainey chose to do nothing; even with word that established goalies like Ed Belfour and Curtis Joseph who are unrestricted free agents next year. We still think the Canadiens are going to wind up on the outside looking in come April - most of it can be attributed to Gainey's failures; in signing free agents that didn't work out and not making deals to improve his team.

Ottawa SenaTards GM John Muckler (the NHL's poster boy for Depends) again failed to make any deal to inject some much needed character and leadership in his team. Muckler held a press conference to tell everyone he wanted to make his team better without trading anyone from his roster or high draft picks for that matter. Muckler used the tired old line he has used for the last three years "I like this club and I think we have enough to get it done. I am not going to mortgage the future our our club." The SenaTards display last Thursday night (see Monday's entry) clearly proves your team doesn't have what it takes to win - there is a serious character flaw on your team. John Muckler has adopted the Harry Sinden principle - "better to ice a competitive team every year and not win a Stanley Cup, rather than mortgage the future to win a Cup now and suffer at the gate in a few years if our team is terrible." The SenaTards will do what they do every year - disappoint. As a Leafs fan I love Muckler's inaction, he is just dooming this team to another disappointing April. Hey, is it just me or does John Muckler remind anyone else of Sid Dithers (of SCTV fame)?


HUNG JURY

St. Louis Blues GM John Davidson moved a couple of veterans who weren't going to help his team this year for a boat load of draft picks - stockpiling picks is always good I guess...provided he puts them to good use. Davidson goes into 2007/08 with a bunch of draft picks and plenty of cap room.

Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland picked up Todd Bertuzzi from the Panthers yesterday - mortgaging some of Detroit's future for a guy who can make a difference right now (provided he gets his act together). Low risk for potential high return - that is why Holland is one of the best GMs in the league.

We won't even talk about John Ferguson Jr. of the Maple Leafs - I don't hate the thought of reaquiring Yanic Perreault, but I didn't like the fact that we had to give up Brendan Bell to get him. This is just another in the long list of stupid deadline deals made by John Ferguson Jr. Brian Leetch, Owen Nolan, Ron Francis, Glen Wesley - none of them helped bring a Cup to Toronto...Perreault won't either.

That's it for tonight gang - lemme know if you agree or not. Have a great one peeps!

Hazel, I hope things are groovy in your world.

Song of the night on Hazelspeeps - if you have read this page before, you know about my best friend "B" one of my favourite people in the whole world. Well, I had a chance to speak to her today and we are going for coffee tomorrow. New rule here on the page - where "B" is involved the song of the day or night will always be the same...the same one I nominated the last time I spoke about her (I wish this song came out a long time ago...oh well).

My Love - Justin Timberlake ft T.I.

If I wrote you a symphony
Just to say how much you mean to me

what would you do

If I told you you were beautiful
Would you page me on the regular

Tell me would you

Well baby I've been around the world
But I aint seen myself another girl

Like you

This ring here represents my heart
But there is just one thing I need from you

Saying I do

Because, I can see us holding hands
Walking on the beach our toes in the sand
I can see us in the country side
Sitting in the grass laying side by side
You can be my baby
Gonna make you my lady
Girl you amaze me
Ain't gotta do nothin crazy
See all I want you to do is be my love

My love
My love

And I know no woman that could take your spot

My love
My love
My love

And I know no woman that could take your spot

My love
My  love
Love
My love
My love

Now if  I wrote you a love note
And make you smile with every word I wrote

what would you do

Would that make you wanna change your scene
And wanna be the one in my scene

Tell me would you

See what's the point in waiting anymore
Cause girl I've never been more sure

That baby it's you

This ring here represents my heart
And everything that you been waiting for

Just saying I do

Because, I can see us holding hands
Walking on the beach our toes in the sand
I can see us in the country side
Sitting in the grass laying side by side
You can be my baby
Gonna make you my lady
Girl you amaze me       
[ these lyrics found on http://www.completealbumlyrics.com ]
Aint gotta do nothin crazy
See all I want you to do is be my love

My love
My love

And I know no woman that could take your spot my

My love
My love
My love

And I know no woman that could take your spot my 

My love
My love
Love
My love
My love

[T.I. Raps]
Shorty, cool as a fan
On the new once again but
Still has fans from Peru to Japan
Listen baby, I don't wanna ruin your plan
But if you got a man, try to lose him if you can
Cause your girls real wild throw your hands up high
Wanna come kick it wit a stand up guy
You don't really wanna let the chance go by
Because you ain't been seen wit a man so fly
Friend so fly I can go fly
Private, cause I handle mine
t.i. - Call me candle guy, simply because I am on fire
I hate to have to cancel my vacation so you can't deny
I'm patient, but I ain't gonna try
You don't come, I ain't gonna die
Hold up, what you mean, you can't go why
Me and you boyfriend we ain't no tie
You say you wanna kick it with an ace so high
Baby, you decide that I ain't your guy
Ain't gon lie ,Me in your space
But forget your face, I swear I will
Same mark, same bullet anywhere I chill
Just bring wit me a pair, I will

I can see us holding hands
Walking on the beach our toes in the sand
I can see us in the country side
Sitting in the grass laying side by side
You can be my baby
Gonna make you my lady
Girl you amaze me
Aint gotta do nothin crazy
See all I want you to do is be my love

Love
My love
Love
My love
Love

And I know no woman that could take your spot

My love
Love
My love
Love
My love
Love

And I know no woman that could take your spot

My looooooove
Loooooove
My looooooove
My Looooove

Peesth Out...Buh Bye!