Reaching the hockey trade deadline
Friday, March 10, 2006
I wasn't as involved in watching the trades as I was when the season was gearing up; partially because the action happened in the last half-hour, and partially because I've got more work to do.
The big news for my beloved Florida Panthers is that we've signed our star skater, Olympic silver medallist and captain Olli Jokinen, to a new four year $US21mill deal. A very high price to pay, but one of the luxuries of only having two good players over the age of 24 means that you can fit these guys under the salary cap. This should really help us sign Roberto Luongo, our other good player, in the Northern Summer.
The only other deal for the Cats was trading away prospect center Petr Taticek for Pittsburgh d-man Ric Jackman. Florida's got enough young centers that getting a young defender who's played all year is a good pickup.
The craziest deal was Colorado taking Jose Theodore and giving David Aebischer to Montreal. Theodore's in career worst form, costs $3mill more in salary cap and has recently tested positive for drugs (related to a hair loss prevention drug he uses). Aebischer may be less of a big name, but he's younger, cheaper and is on a hot streak right now after an ordinary run of games earlier in the season. If I was Colorado GM, I'd have requested a second round pick to boost it, but obviously they believe Theodore's the guy who can ride a hot streak into the playoffs like he did briefly in 2002 and 2004.
Other deals of note: Edmonton picked up Dwayne Roloson from Minnesota for a 1st (and "conditional" 3rd) round pick. Roloson's a solid goalie (something Edmonton should have got months ago) and Minnesota are comfortable with their two other goalies, Manny Fernandez and 21-year-old prospect Josh Harding.
Carolina picked up Pittsburgh's Mark Recchi for Krys Kolanos, Niklas Nordgren and a 2nd round pick. I didn't expect the 'Canes to go after Recchi, considering they already traded their 1st round pick for Doug Weight a month ago. It still looks like a good move come playoff time for Carolina if Recchi can stay on next year.
Dallas picked up Willie Mitchell and a 2nd round pick from Minnesota in exchange for Martin Skoula and Shawn Bell. Mitchell developed quite a buzz about him in the past few months, but it seemed Vancouver would be the one to cement the trade for him. I really like Dallas' management this year. Few big names, but good results and a strong future. I expect them to stun a bigger team this playoffs.
Of course, I made a Fantasy Hockey trade of my own and I'm documenting it here so I'll see if it's a good 'un later. I traded off Pavel Datsyuk and Dan Boyle to Brad's Old Dixonians for Olli Jokinen and Niklas Lidstrom. I really wanted a goalscoring defenseman who'd be on PP and PK lines and was willing to give up a good center for it, as I've already got two or three I'm confident in. A day after the trade was done, but the waiting period was in action, Lidstrom went and scored a goal and three assists in one game. The points counted for Brad, but I still felt like a winner.
3 comments to this post
Edmonton were winners this time around. Roloson and Samsonov will consolidate the Oilers as a second-round hopeful for the playoffs.
Anaheim's moves were interesting - shedding Carney and Ozolinsh while picking up Friesen (maybe he'll do okay :S) and Sean O'Donnell. The win for the Ducks is cap room.
Ric Jackman is a decent pick for 3rd/depth defenceman - it free room for 'burgh and adds a potential dresser for the cats.
Recchi is a rental - pens traded him to Car so he might taste the cup again, but he'll be back in a pens uniform next year - unless Brind'amour can convince him otherwise.
Washington did very well... Dealing Witt to NAS for a 1st round pick was a great deal for both sides, securing Kris Beech for WAS was brilliant on their GM's behalf. Dealing Friesen for a pick was smart - now expect the Capitals to make a HUGE SPLASH in the free-agency market during the off season. Alexander Ovechkin and Alexander Semin just need a centre (COUGH: BRAD RICHARDS) and they'll be score 20-30 goals a game, give or take :)
Recchi is in Carolina for the duration of the playoffs and not a second longer - I think the theory is that he'll be Cole's replacement for this year before moving back into the captain's jersey at Pittsburgh, unless the Hurricanes win it all, which would throw a small spanner in the works.
I'm surprised the Avalanche picked up Theodore, but I guess they're banking on his experience and praying that he'll regain his touch once he gets back into the swing of things. I would go with Aebischer over Theodore any day of the week - did the Avs not watch the Olympics?
And re-signing Jokinen was a great move for the Panthers - I like him as a player so I want him to do well, but part of me wants to see him get injured for the rest of the season so I can make up some ground in the Fantasy league. I'm not a massive Datsyuk fan, and I really didn't want to give up Lidstrom, but you gotta take some risks to get some rewards.
The Washington-Nashville trade was a pretty good one, considering Nashville's pick is probably only going to be 25th or so.
With free agency moves in the summer, hell, they can be next year's equivalent of the Penguins!
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