We are the fantasy hockey specialists!

Holy cow…you miss a week and boom…the biggest catch out there gets dealt to the Colorado Avalanche. If ever there was a doubt that Pierre Lacroix was our pick for hockey exec of the decade – well…proof is in the pudding…sorry Slats.

Montreal: With Eric Weinrich shipped to Boston, how soon is it before Montreal tries to dump Trevor Linden. Potential teams interested are the Flyers, Stars and the Canucks. Fantasy Impact: If any team wants Linden and his $4 million per season contract – they can have him…cheap. The problem is that Linden’s stock has fallen about as fast as Nortel Networks. Once thought of as a better player than Mike Modano (drafted the pick earlier than Linden) there is no doubt whom the better player is. That said, come playoffs and a change in zip code, Linden could prove valuable. If he is dealt – try and trade for him…just don't pay too much. Linden will produce for the first three weeks and then fizzle – but that may be all that you need.

Phoenix: If we had a nickel for every time that Keith Tkachuk’s name keeps coming up in trade rumors, well…we’d be pretty wealthy. Tkachuk looks very disinterested when playing now. Kinda waiting for the other shoe to drop. We have the sneaking suspicion that the ole shoe could drop anytime. Fantasy Impact: Remember that Tkachuk has about $2.75 left in this years salary of $8.3 million, and frankly he brings with him such baggage, and the ‘Yotes are still in the playoff hunt - we just don’t think that he’ll be moved until the end of the season…maybe. Tkachuk’s play for the last three weeks has been lethargic to say the least. He wants out and new Phoenix GM Cliff Fletcher is likely to oblige. Philly was the hottest destination for the current captain of the Coyotes as part of the Lindros to Toronto deal. Don’t be surprised if the Stars come calling for Keith, now worried what lies in wait in the form of a beefed up ‘Lanche squad after the acquisition of Rob Blake.

Vancouver: This most recent road swing has pointed out to GM Brian Burke that the Canucks are not quite as deep as he would like – particularly on offence. That said, in a recent game against Washington, Adam Oates owned the face-off dot – a factoid that did not go un-noticed by management. The answer: Michael Peca or Trevor Linden. Fantasy Impact: Mike Peca coming to Vancouver is a nice fit – but Burke is under too rigid a budgetary restraint to afford the asking price. Not only would he have to pay Peca more than what he is worth in today’s market, he would also have to give up a package of young and proven players to get him – which may be too high. Another scenario is trying to bring fan favorite Linden home – but again his $4 million price tag would be too much. Either way, if the trade did happen, look for an immediate impact as both guys were very popular in their times playing on the "wet coast".

Toronto: Anyone else tired of hearing about the fiasco that is the Lindros on again off again trade deal? We assure you many people are. It sure looks like Bobby Clarke screwed over the Maple Leafs and Pat Quinn. The ole gonna keep them interested just long enough so that they won’t talk trade with a rival team trick. You can't tell us Clarke wasn't smiling when Rob Blake was parceled off to Colorado instead of Hogtown. Funny thing is that package Quinn was offering for Lindros (Antropov, Markov and a first round pick deal) would have probably landed him the former Kings captain. We think the Lindros deal will get done, it’s just a matter of time. Clarke wants Kaberle instead of Markov and more draft picks in the deal. Fantasy Impact: If Lindros finally becomes a "Bud", look for the fans to go nuts…and be disappointed. Sure, he has been skating and lifting, and has shown non ill-effects of the "noggin knockers" for a good 5 months now – but how long will it be for him to play himself into game shape – and then the playoffs? He’s a big guy, and they generally take awhile to get going…for whatever reason. Don’t expect a return to form right away from the Big E. Our advice is dump him as soon as the deal is done. You won’t get anymore for him unless he wins a scoring title. Watch for the Leafs to turn their attention to trying to acquire Sean O’Donnell from the Wild instead.

Anaheim: Still waiting on Ducks’ GM Pierre Gauthier to pull the trigger ion a Teemu Selanne swap. Suitors include, the Caps, Blues and Red Wings. Fantasy Impact: Selanne has gone on record that he is tired of losing…which means he became tired of playing for the Ducks in 1997. Best fit here is likely the Caps – with lots of under-achieving young players (Zednick, Simon, Bulis, Klee come to mind) to offer the Ducks for Selanne’s services. If that happens, expect a nice jump in Teemu’s output and then a drop as the Eastern Conference gets gear down and very physical; for the playoff stretch.

Week of Februaury 12, 2001

As the March 13th trading deadline approaches the NHL rumour mill is in full gear. Watch out as young expansion teams or teams not bound for the playoffs off-load potential off-season free agents or veterans that by being moved can help a young team save some money and get younger players valuable playing time.

Montreal: Latest tidbit from the Hab factory is that Eric Weinrich has turned down a contract extension with the Habs – and will test the free agent waters in the summer. Also potential change of area codes are Trevor Linden and Jeff Hackett. Fantasy Impact: Oh how the mighty have fallen. Weinrich’s decision is a telling blow in Montreal that they are going to be in tough, like most other Canadian teams – when it comes to attracting free agent talent for the foreseeable future. Look for management to move their best blue-liner for a prospect or two, likely landing spots are Dallas, Detroit and Toronto. As far as Linden goes – we think he just makes too much money for any team to pluck him off the roster. He is now just a solid defensive center or winger making a ridiculous $4 million per year. If new majority owner Gillett wants to pay some of his contract, then our thoughts might change. If that were the case – watch for Linden to wind up back where it all began – in Vancouver. Finally Hackett. With two young goalies in Theodore and Giron vying for playing time moving Hackett makes sense – but Jeff’s numbers this year won’t attract too much attention. He’s really been hampered by a number of injuries and frankly – if we were a GM, we’d be scared off too. Hackett probably gets moved, but it won’t be until this summer.

Phoenix: As we have been reporting for weeks – now that Gretzky, Ellman and Co. are taking the keys to the 'Yotes den this week, expect the phone to start ringing like crazy. As part of the sale, rumour has it that management will have to cut the payroll and that means likely moving Khabibulin or Burke, Tkachuk and Travis Green. Fantasy Impact: All this talk about what the ‘Yotes will do when the new ownership takes over and we actually think very little will happen – until the off season. Tkachuk has about $2.75 left in this year's salary of $8.3 million, and frankly he brings with him such baggage, and the ‘Yotes are still in the playoff hunt - we just don’t think that he’ll be moved until the end of the season. Khabibulin is on the verge of not seeing NHL rubber for almost two years. We don’t know exactly what that does for a goalies development of skill – but our bet is that its can’t be good. How long is it going to take him to get that sharpness back – if ever? Rumour had the Rangers interested in ol’ Nik – but why would they want him right now when they are not going to make the playoffs? Also the Red Wings are not convinced …again…that Osgood is the answer in net. The Detroit rumour is the better possibility, but it would likely be Burke being moved there (he’s a free agent in the off-season) rather than Khabibulin. Again, Khabibulin will get signed and if is moved, it will likely be in the summer. Finally, Travis Green will be on the first coach out of Scottsdale if there will be any teams willing to take the free agent bust from two years ago. Phoenix has younger more talented players in Briere and Letwoski needing ice time and Green will be the odd man out.

Los Angeles: Is there a place that Kings defense-stud Rob Blake has not been traded. Rumour has the Kings still talking turkey with a number of teams. Our advice would be to pay the man and concentrate on getting your hockey team into the playoffs. Fantasy Impact: The circus that is the Rob Blake watch has got to be hurting the performance of the Kings and their players. Witness the Kings struggles this early part of the second half and leading up to the All-Star break. Toronto, New Jersey, St. Louis, and Philly are all said to be interested. The Flyers are speculated to be dangling sophomore goaltender Brian Boucher and freshman Justin Williams as key components in their package. We still think that the Kings bite the bullet and sign the guy. If not – expect the Blues to win the sweepstakes with a rumoured Hecht, Corso, Salvador and three other blue chip prospects going the other way.

Minnesota: Possibly the most under-rated blue liner in the league, Sean O’Donnell is coveted by many teams. At 6-feet-3 and 230 pounds, O'Donnell is the kind of stay at home, make you pay the price type of defenseman every team in the league could use. O'Donnell is an unrestricted free agent July 1 and will likely be moved at the deadline. Fantasy Impact: A late bloomer, if O’Donnell is shopped, watch for him to wind up in St. Louis. The Blues likely would rather have the less expensive, younger and less injury prone O’Donnell than Blake for team chemistry reasons as well. The team’s early departure last year is something they mean to correct this year and O’Donnell would take the load off Pronger and MacInnis somewhat. Other possible destinations are Toronto and Philadelphia – where both teams could use some defence halp going into the playoffs.

Anaheim: The buzz on the Pond has Ducks’ GM Pierre Gauthier has told his scout to scouting the Washington organization, including the minors, after talks the Caps have held about the possible acquisition of Teemu Selanne. Fantasy Impact: This is a nice fit…on paper. The Caps – with lots of under-achieving young players (Zednick, Simon, Bulis, Klee come to mind) trying to make a run and getting Selanne to play with Oates …well that just makes us giddy. But, we think it simply won’t happen. The Caps are playing a little smidgeon more offence minded this year – just enough to keep Bondra happy – but the playoff out in the eastern conference are gonna be low scoring affairs. If Selanne does go, he is going to face the same problem that Bondra had last year – fettering of his skills. Short tem fix, if this deal happens which we think it won’t.