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October 28, 2001
New York Rangers: (#1) With the Rangers
less than stellar start, it did not take long for the rumormill to get in
gear. Latest out of the Big Apple has the Rangers parting with Petr
Nedved for Teemu
Selanne. The move would allow the Sharks to get something for the
seriously under-achieving Finnish Flash before he hits the F/A market this
summer - while saving themselves some $$. Selanne is no fan of Sharks coach
Duane Sutter, and the Rangers need some help on the wings. (#2)
Reports still have the Rangers interested in the Blackhawks Tony
Amonte. Offering Jamie
Lundmark and Radek
Dvorak as the enticement. Fantasy Impact: (#1) We are firmly off
the Selanne bandwagon. He may be suffering from the lingering effects of a
back injury at training camp or may just have lost it but, for whatever
reason, Selanne looks like a mere shadow of himself. Don't expect better
numbers from Teemu just because he's leaving town. He needs to commit
himself to getting better - and that's not likely to happen just because of
a change in scenery. Nedved on the other hand would love the opportunity to
get away from the Mark
Messier Rangers. If this deal does happen, expect Nedved's value to rise
quickly as he'll play with better players than he does - that's for sure. (#2)
Amonte would love to return to the Big Apple, and if he does, he'd
blossom once again. The packaged offered doesn't sound like enough right now
- but mid way through the season, if the Hawks are unable to sign Amonte,
that deal will look better.
Vancouver: Latest from the "Wet
Coast" has Brian Burke tired of his team's less than stellar play in
their own end. The Canucks defense has been less than NHL calibre and
Burke's reputation seems to be hanging in the balance as a result. His goal
is to try and rescue Darius Kasperiatis away from the Pittsburgh Penguins -
another team in the midst of turmoil. Reports have the Canucks offering Brent
Sopel and Drake
Berehowsky to the Pens for the 2002 F/A to be Kasperiatis. Fantasy
Impact: This deal would fit the "plausible" file - as the Pens
would gain some depth on defense, for less than the salary of Kasperiatis.
Sopel would be given a lot more ice-time and an opportunity to really
develop. The Canucks would gain a guy who wants to perform well because of
his contract situation and that would give Vancouver another physical force
on the blue-line. Likely that Vancouver would not sign "Kasper"
again - as they have some depth on the blue-line, but the move would be seen
as positive by an team that has fallen flat on its collective nose out of
the gate.
Toronto: (#1) Well…the contract negotiations between Kaberle and
the Leafs are not going well. The latest on the Tomas
Kaberle situation had the player's agent contacting the NY Islanders and
inquiring if there would be any appetite in the Czech rearguard. If the
Leafs throw in Nikolai
Antropov, the Isles then would part with Brad
Isbister and Garth
Snow. If it's just Kaberle, the rumor is Adrian
Aucoin and Snow for him. (#2) Another possible landing spot for
Kaberle has been a straight up deal for the under-achieving Boris
Mironov of the Blackhawks. Fantasy Impact: (#1) The Isles have
come out the gate like gangbusters, and the addition of a solid, young
defenseman in Kaberle would be another step in the right direction. Aucoin
has not impressed and as we reported earlier, Isbister is now playing on the
third line. Kaberle would be the big winner here, but Aucoin would certainly
benefit from a re-union with his first NHL coach in Pat Quinn. Watch this
one carefully, if the trade happens and you have Aucoin, you are in great
shape. (#2) Boy - the departure of Mironov seems imminent, given that
he has just one goal in 10 games for the Hawks. His play away from the puck
has also been, shall we say, less than stellar. The Leafs need a QB for
their PP and Mironov wants out of Chi-town. This deal could be happening
sooner, rather than later. If it does, Mironov will play better, because
that's the kinda player he is…(note the sarcasm).
October 21, 2001
Chicago: Far and away the biggest rumour
this week was the report from the Chicago Tribune that the Avs and Rangers
were interested in acquiring long time Blackhawk Tony
Amonte. Contract negotiations between Amonte's agent, and Chicago brass
(Bill Wirtz and Mike Smith) have been rocky to say the least. Reports had
the Av's GM Pierre Lacroix less than thrilled with his teams' start - and he
looks to prove to his big three F/A signings that they want the cup back in
Denver. Fantasy Impact: If Amonte is able to get out of the quagmire
that permeates the Chicago Blackhawks he may still have a shot at 35 goals.
Playing on a line with Joe
Sakic would certainly strike some serious fear in to opposing netminders.
Latest reports out of Chicago had Smith strongly denying any trade rumours…but
the relationship between Amonte and the Hawks is fragile…at best.
Vancouver: The panic button seems ever so much closer to being
pressed in the west coast city. Recent losses to the Leafs, 'Yotes and
Ducks, where the team has played sub-par team defense in front Dan
Cloutier and Martin
Brochu, have cranked up the heat. Todd
Bertuzzi's 10 games suspension will definitely hurt the team up front -
as they struggle to find another group of forwards to score goals. Reports
have the Canucks inquiring about Adam
Oates availability from the Caps, Travis
Green from the Leafs and Brad
Isbister from the Isles. Fantasy Impact: If Oates is headed
anywhere, we are certain it won't be to a Western Conference team. Oates is
simply too slow to keep up with the speed first style of play there. That
said, the Senators slow start out of the gate has fans calling for the
management to find somebody to fill the void left by Alexi Yashin, and Oates
may be that guy. If he does, expect Oates production to remain about the
same as it is now - as there is no better winger to center than Jaromir
Jagr.
New York Islanders: As earlier reported, the ascension of Oleg
Kvasha to the #1 line in Long Island, has resulted in Brad
Isbister being moved to the 3rd line - a waste of talent in anyone's
mind. Rumours have GM Mike Milbury less than pleased with Isbister's
conditioning throughout training camp and thus the change in line-up to
start the season - and its hard to argue with the success. Reports have the
Canucks interested in the feisty, oft-injured winger. Other landing spots
are the Buffalo Sabres, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Montreal Canadiens. Fantasy
Impact: Tough rumour to figure in terms of the team's success, but if
Isbister does get moved, he'll play on the first two lines guarantee. Which
means a marked increase in points from his current tally of 2. Milbury just
finished signing this guy last year, so a deal would be attractive to a team
in terms of F/A status, but also means that Milbury will be looking for a
lot in return - likely blue-line help.
October 14, 2001
Dallas: The sight of
Pierre Turgeon playing out of position (on the #1 line mind you) may be
too much for
Bob Gainey. The Stars have had a heck of a time scoring goals - although
they are getting a ton of shots. Dallas coach Ken Hitchcock has already
benched
Donald Audette, who has subsequently beaked off in the media about, "if
they don't like the way I play...why did they sign me"...! Sounds similar to
the Hull-Hitchcock bouts of years past. Latest rumour had
Joe Nieuwendyk headed to Ottawa for Sens captain
Daniel Alfredsson.
Fantasy Impact: This would be a win-win for poolies who own both
these players. Currently, Nieuwendyk is shuttled between second and third
line duties and his PP time if affected as a result. Alfredsson has played
well, but is
Todd White really the pivot that is going to allow Alfredsson and
Shawn McEachern to shine? Both guys are injury risks - so that aspect of
the deal would be a saw off. This is a deal that would be good for both
teams, and as a result, if either team continues to play mediocre, neither
GM will be shy about pulling the trigger early.
Edmonton: Latest buzz from the Oilers is
Tom Poti and GM
Kevin Lowe are a mere $80,000 per season apart on a deal. However, this
has not been a very professional negotiation - and the developing
Eric Brewer and surprising
Sean Brown have taken Poti's time. Don't be surprised if Poti is moved
as a result - likely destinations include Colorado, Toronto, Boston and
Anaheim.
Fantasy Impact: Poti missing training camp is big - in terms of
his marketability and his development. Last year was not a stellar one for
the big rearguard - and this one has the makings of being a disaster. That
said, Poti is still very young and has a lot of trade value for
defence-starved teams like Colorado, Toronto and Anaheim. Names rumoured the
other way in those cities have been
Vaclav Nedorost in Colorado,
Nikolai Antropov and
Tomas Kaberle in Toronto and any of the young ducks from Anaheim..
Boston has been mentioned with Boynton and/or Girard headed to Edmonton.
Watch if Lacroix doesn't get Poti -he is rumoured to have set his sights on
Mathieu Dandenault of the Red Wings.
Vancouver:
Peter Schaefer looks to be headed to play in Europe this year as his
agent and Canucks' GM Brian Burke are miles apart on length and $$ in his
contract negotiations. Funny thing is, the Canucks have said they will not
trade the group II F/A - which means Schaeffer could be right back in the
same pickle again next year.
Fantasy Impact: This situation has gotten bad - and shows no sign
of getting better. Schaefer's camp must hope for some injuries amongst the
Canucks top 6 players in order to put pressure on them to sign him. If not,
yowch for both sides. However an interesting name keeps popping up in
relation to Schaefer - and that's
Claude Lemieux of the Coyotes. This could be a deal that is done, along
with another young guy (likely a defencemen) from Vancouver, with playoff
implications. Lemieux is exactly what Burke will look for to guide his young
team if they make the playoffs and he certainly doesn't fit in to the
"re-building" that is happening in Phoenix. |
