Start here...
I had a talk with Eric Engels yesterday and many others who agreed.
There are three teams in the East that are floundering, almost collapsing.
Two of them, the Canadiens and the Penguins, have done something about it in the last 36 hours now. One has not.
The NY Rangers are in trouble and everyone knows it. We can throw out theories on who is to blame and if Sather or Renney should, could, or are about to be fired, but at the end of the day the Rangers are not a good hockey team right now.
Last night, on Versus for all of America to see, we saw the Cliff Notes.
The Rangers have one player that always shows up and were it not for him who knows where they would be right now. I don't even think his name needs to be mentioned at this point.
Talking to sources yesterday it gets really interesting.
There is little doubt the Canadiens are gearing up to make a run at Vinny. The pickup of Schneider opened that door wide open. A deal was close before the All-Star game. Really close. The one thing holding it back was thought to be the inclusion of a top two d-man assumed to be Markov.
Now there really is nothing standing in the Habs way, except for the maybe the NY Rangers.
The Rangers are a desperate hockey team right now and they have had talks with the Lightning about Lecavalier. There is NO doubt about that. I have it from 4 solid sources that Vinny to NY has been discussed.
The major player in that deal would have to be Staal, but of course the Rangers would have to move money around as well...I am told that Prucha to Pittsburgh or Edmonton, and Rozsival to Dallas are possibilities. Those deals could happen, but the determining factor would be Marc Staal to start...But Dubinsky, Girardi, and some top picks will be included I am told.
With each passing loss I am told the possibility grows larger.
It is going to get really interesting in the race for Vinny. The fact here is that the pressure is not on the Lightning to move him right now, but the price may never be higher. That much is certain.
The Canadiens and Rangers. Two teams with huge expectations and still plenty of talent. Yet both have stumbled and both are starting to question if the recipe they have put together makes sense. Both may have to do something bold.
The Lightning. A team looking ready to hand over the reigns to Stamkos. A team playing well, but still looking far more to the future with good young players...
It is a serious race now and I am told by great sources to expect anything...
I will be updating more around 2 pm, but I leave you with this quote from a source in Canada who has been close to this....
"Don't believe a word from anyone who says Vinny is not available. The Lightning aren't pushing the agenda to move him, but they have let it be known 100% clearly that the door is very open and pretty much exactly what the cost of entry is. I have been around enough trade deadlines to know how crazy people get. I would put it at 80-90% that Vinny is gone bny March 4th. The deals will be too big to look away from. The Lightning could be completely set up for years to come. And whenever the Rangers and Canadiens are involved you can be assured that the Leafs, Canucks, Flames, Oilers, and Flyers will have discussions as well. This is a chance of a lifetime for those teams and a golden opportunity for a new look Lightning team to emerge."
I will have more..
From last night:
Also from source...."I was told that Penguins are working feverishly on a deal that would in affect 'change the team dynamics drastically.' I was also told if this deal happens it happens in 24 hours.."
I added the following in reply to a comment wanting more info on this...
"I am sorry, really wish I could give out names. I am waiting on one person who I believe can allow me to go on the record with what I have. Its always a tough decision for me to make. Someone tells me something "off the record" but I get them to allow me to post what I posted. Do I not post that?
The way I work here, I do post that.
I have to.
But I also need you all to understand that were I to reveal the names to you now I would never again be able to regain that first source's trust.
that's the game we play.
I feel for fans who are invested in this because it is frustrating. I am a fan too. I get it.
At the end of the day, and this is why I choose to post somethign like last night that is very vague, I "the fan" would want to know all information. no matter how small.
hope that makes some sense."
see you all soon
Win an XBOX 360 and NHL 09...(and whoop my ass once you get it set up)
Just predict where the players will be traded to (or if they aren't going to be dealt at all)>
GO HERE TO PLAY
Thanks to many of you who are becoming a SEASON TICKET holder of hockeybuzz. If you are still on the fence, not only does your twenty bucks support the site, but you get no more video auto-play ads, full access to
The NHL Trade Rumor Chart, Eklund Exclusive Chats, Special edition podcasts, free entry and better prizes in the fantasy games, insider emails and more. Thanks, Ek.
Join the Discussion:
»