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 December
Trade Rumours
November
Trade Rumours
October
Trade Rumours
January 20, 2002
Dallas: Its becoming difficult for GM Bob
Gainey to watch his under-achieving team going through the motions all
too often this year. The Stars are not playing well, and the rumor has
Gainey on the horn to his counter part in Anaheim Pierre
Gauthier inquiring about the availability of the Ducks Paul Kariya or Jeff
Friesen. Headed to the Pond, depending on if its Kariya or Friesen,
would be a combo of Jamie
Langenbrunner and prospects Steve
Ott and Artem
Chernov. Fantasy Impact: As mentioned above, Kariya is
languishing in Anaheim, while Friesen has been far less than the player the
Ducks hoped they were getting. Gainey is desperate to gain some speed and
some offense on his team and Friesen may be the fix he needs. The Stars have
lots of gritty, banging type guys and Langenbrunner could be expendable.
Both players could really prosper from a change of scenery. Watch this
rumors closely.
Edmonton: Tom Poti has returned from IR, and he has picked up right
where he left off – playing poorly. As a result, and as we have reported
earlier, rumors have the Oilers again trying to deal Poti (along with
underachieving Marty
Reasoner) for some offensive help up front. Interested trade partners
have included the Boston Bruins (Nick Boynton and Andy Hilbert) , the
Washington Capitals (Dainius Zubrus and Jeff Halpern) and the Ottawa
Senators (Petr Schlatslivy and Chris
Phillips). But the hottest rumor has the Canucks involved with the Sens
in a three way swap with Poti and Reasoner. Headed the Sens would be Andrew
Cassels and Marty
Reasoner, to the Oilers would be Chris
Phillips and Harold
Druken and the Canucks would land Poti and Schlatslivy. Fantasy
Impact: Schlatslivy is buried behind the talented Sens forwards, but
this deal would see them get their vaunted veteran center. The Oilers would
get tougher in Phillips and stronger down the middle with the under-rated
Druken. And finally, the Canucks would get another talented forward in
Schlatslivy and the ability to rent Poti for a push for the playoffs. Watch
for the Caps rumor though – they are depleted on the back end and could
use Poti … a lot.
Atlanta: As enticing as the prospect of being able to draft another
bona fide blue chip prospect this coming off-season, the latest out of
Atlanta is that the Thrashers may be tempted to move their No. 1 drat pick
for some bona fide NHL talent right now. Projected No. 1 overall pick, Jay
Boumeister, has attracted some interest. Most notably from the Carolina
Hurricanes, the Colorado Avalanche and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. Fantasy
Impact: Looking at the impact of this deal means having to focus on the
players that the Thrashers might get back for the No. 1 pick: Nederost and
Nimminen are said to be available from the 'Lanche, Shane
Willis and defense prospect from the 'Canes, and Paul
Kariya from the Ducks. the Thrashers would love to get their hands on
soon to be unrestricted free agent Paul
Kariya, but the question is could they afford the almost 10 million per
season contract? Kariya is desperate to leave the sinking ship that is the
Ducks and the Ducks might as well blow-up their team and re-load, and
Boumeister reminds many of a better offensive minded Chris
Pronger.
Boston: The latest from Beantown has GM O’Connell on the phone with
Bruins legend Ray
Bourque, trying to convince him to come out of retirement for one last
push in black and gold. Fantasy Impact: Perhaps feeling they lack
that intangible that Bourque could bring them, the Bruins were serious about
the invite, but at 41, and a half season removed from the game, does Bourque
really have the desire? Hard to picture the future hall of famer donning the
Bruins unie for one last ride, but…stranger things have happened. We think
even if he did, he presence would be more in the room then on the ice.
January 13, 2002
New Jersey: The hottest rumor this past week was the moving of Jason
Arnott to the San Jose Sharks for Patrick
Marleau and a defensmen. Arnott's play has been under his potential to
say the least and the Devils are a team that is rife with internal
bickering. In San Jose, Marleau has languished on the third and fourth
lines' all season and management appears ready to move their once bright
star.
Fantasy Impact: While Arnott should never be confused with a Joe
Thornton in terms of numbers, his play has been go glaringly brutal this
year, that he has been in coach Robinson's doghouse more often than out.
Arnott would benefit from a change of scenery and should get better if he
does. Marleau has been a consummate professional in his trials in San Jose
and if he is given the opportunity to get top 6 forward ice-time, the 22
year old could take off. The impact of a change of scenery for him might not
take hold this year, but if he does move, brace yourself for a coming out
year in 2002-03.
Detroit: Seeing Sergei Federov playing on the blue-line in
"Hockey town" has got to be a concern for the Red Wings.
Consequently, the latest reported rumor has the Red Wings offering Jiri
Fisher and Chris Draper or Kirk
Maltby for the Penguins' Darius Kasperitis.
Fantasy Impact: If Federov gets the OK in your pool to qualify as a
defensemen, his offensive stats could make him more valuable. He won't get a
brutal +/- simply because of the team he plays on. That said, Bowman will be
loathe to trade Draper or Maltby b/c of their playoff impacts, but if the
Pens would take Darren
McCarty instead, this deal just might get done. The deciding factor will
be the Pens belief that they have a shot at the playoffs. If they do, then
they won't move Kasperitis. If they fall out of contention, they will ship
Darius to the highest bidder.
Buffalo: The relationship between Chris
Gratton and coach Lindy
Ruff may be a stalemate, but if Buffalo could move Gratton for a player
that can contribute, they would do so in a heart beat. Latest rumor had them
looking at a potential swap with Florida for 4th line center Kevyn
Adams and Trevor
Kidd, with Gratton and back-up Bob
Essensa headed to Miami.
Fantasy Impact: Be it Florida or any other hockey team that is
willing to take up the task of trying to remind Chris
Gratton he once had offensive ability, its going to be tough for the
Sabres to deal him. Gratton has been brutal for three seasons now, and
appears to lost his offense. Any change could only help his stats and your
lot in your pool. Adams is a decent checking center, but Kidd's move to the
Sabres seems unlikely as Buffalo has Mika Norrenen waiting to push Martin
Biron for the #1 job in Buffalo.
Vancouver: The interest on the part of the Canucks in TB's Vincent
Lecavalier just won't go away. Rumors still have the Canucks offering Brendan
Morrison, Bryan
Allen and draft picks to Tampa for the disgruntled Lecavalier.
Fantasy Impact: Probably not the most reliable rumor given the
Lightning's admonishment that they were not going to move their young
superstar. That, and Brendan
Morrison probably reminds them way too much of another talented, but
smallish forward in Brian
Holzinger. This deal, or any like it for Lecavalier, won't happen until
the off-season.
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