Hello my all likely all of one reader, and welcome to The Hockey Spot's first blog posting. The Hockey Spot will be a place for hockey discussion and ramblings for all those hockey fans that can't get enough of the NHL and all other forms of hockey alike.
Starting off this fine first post is the reality for all thirty NHL GM's that the trade deadline is fast approaching. Some of the largest names being spread like wildfire through the internet, radio, and television are the likes of Todd Bertuzzi, Peter Forsberg, and, until this morning Shane Doan.
Any rumors about Doan over the past weeks, even years, were dispelled today when he re-signed with the Phoenix Coyotes for the next five years. Doan has been a lifetime Coyote/Winipeg Jet, so the only way he was going to be dealt this year was if it was obvious a deal would not be reached by this year's trade deadline. Looks like the Senators and Red Wings will have to wait another few years before they make another serious pitch to obtain the winger.
In Bertuzzi's case, it's quite interesting to consider that so much interest has been garnered for a player that has yet to display his true talents in nearly three years. Several of the teams that are likely interested in acquiring Bertuzzi must be basing their interest on the hopes that the player they obtain is some form of the Todd Bertuzzi before the Steve Moore incident. Anyone that has watched Bertuzzi before and since the incident in which Bertuzzi broke the code of honor in hockey has observed, plain as day, that Bertuzzi has played with a sense of hesitance that was not a part of his game before the incident.
Despite the possibility of renting a player for the playoffs that may be "damaged goods", teams such as the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings, and Carolina Hurricanes have been rumored to be calling Florida Panthers GM Jacques Martin to inquire the asking price for Bertuzzi. According to internet hockey rumor site, TheFourthPeriod.com, the teams mentioned above along with Montreal Canandiens, the New York Rangers, and the Dallas Stars are also interested in the Panthers winger, who has yet to play since having back surgery earlier this season. One would think that of the teams interested, the Canadiens, Red Wings, and Ducks have the best chances:
-The Canadiens have come upon an influx of forward prospects in the past three years or so, which could be packaged with Forward Sergei Samsonov. Problem with this deal: would Florida really want to take a chance on an expensive winger, Samsonov, making 3.5 million next year, and would Montreal want to give up valuable prospects for a player likely to be a rental.
-The Red Wings always have an influx of prospects and may be willing to part with the likes of Niklas Kronwall and a goaltender such as Jimmy Howard. Problem with this deal: Kronwall could likely be the successor to Niklas Lidstrom on the Detroit blueline when hockey's best Swede retires.
-The Ducks are currently missing once large piece to their puzzle of obtaining Lord Stanley's Cup, namely a grinding, physical forward that can drive to the net and score, sound familiar? Problem with this deal: Who is Anaheim willing to give up to obtain Bertuzzi other than the #2 in the draft behind Sidney Crosby, Bobby Ryan? They could offer up a mix of Todd Marchant, Sami Pahlsson, Shane O'Brien, Joe DiPenta, or Dustin Penner, but in doing so will be giving up their current pieces to the playoff puzzle. In my own personal opinion, the Ducks would be wise to offer up Penner as bait for either Bertuzzi or another forward of Bertuzzi's breed, such as Darcy Tucker. Though Penner would be a large loss for a rental player, unless Penner show more consistency in the physical aspects of the game, he will be hard pressed to show his value in the Ducks bid for the Cup.
As for the most talked about player rumored to be a rental for this year's playoffs, Peter Forsberg's situation is one that I don't believe warrants much discussion. On Sunday, Forsberg was reported to have met with Flyers' owner Ed Snider regarding the Swedish center's future with the team and in hockey. Until Forsberg makes a decision on where he stands with the Flyers, there isn't much reason in discussing what will happen with him by the end of the month.
In closing, I want to throw out an honorable mention to the Los Angeles Kings' center Derek Armstrong, who signed a two year extension with the team this morning. Armstrong is a player that has had to fight for every inch in his professional hockey career, playing through the minor league ranks and Europe, and is now established as a bona fide NHL player. He deservedly received a major pay raise in his new contract, and will hopefully retire as a Los Angeles King.
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