I have forgotten how to sleep apparently...and my little girl is all congested, so I am having been trying to keep her upright while she sleeps so she can breathe better...all parents can relate I am sure...we have the vicks vaporizer going and I am sleeping holding her in a chair so that she can breathe better. Anyway...just what you do! My kids are so amazing. I am so blessed.
On to the fun stuff...
First off, I apologize for not mentioning who I have been updating on the chart as of late due to the crazy, rapid-fire nature of the rumors that have been coming in.. I did update quite a few guys including all those mentioned here...I will try and put together a full list in the morning blog...
First off Gomez..
I mentioned this yesterday in the Buzzcast, but it seems as though the Florida Panthers and Rangers maybe talking regarding Gomez, and that a Gomez for Bouwmeester swap (with conditional picks if Jay Bo were to re-sign in NY, was definitely a possibility. It is interesting to note that the Panthers have long thought about trying to get Scott Gomez for various reasons... The Rangers performance last night, against the Panthers, will not play well in the land of Torts..I have been told that Gomez doesn't have a straight up NMC...he has to give the Rangers 5 teams that he will not accept a trade to...If that is incorrect, I am sure someone will let me know...
For My Next Jokinen...
Calgary and Buffalo are in on this for certain, and beyond that I am hearing that the Rangers could be considering swapping Jokinen for Gomez as well...
Cole in Their Stocking?
As I wrote earlier tonight...I was checking in on some rumors that Erik Cole could be headed to the NJ Devils....It does have some legs and I will be calling it an e2 for now...but don't count out Boston for Cole AT ALL...
My Frustration Vinny...
It is frustrating to know what I know in this particular situation and hear it countered by some writers that I truly respect. Listen...obviously I have put myself out here by writing that Vinny has been in play. Any person who writes that he hasn't been in play is missing some key clues and being obviously shut out by some big sources in both Canada, NY, and Florida...
All along I have been consistent here. Vinny may get not get traded at the deadline but that does not mean that a deal doesn't exist AT THIS VERY MOMENT that could very well get Vinny traded at the deadline. and the teams involved are absolutely aware of what it would take...to me, that means THIS IS ALIVE.
It does. It does. It does exist.
And if the deal exists, which some people beyond myself clearly know it does, than how can you write or say that Vinny WILL NOT BE DEALT or that this has never been discussed? If we have learned anything we have learned how possible these things can be...
The last time I was holding to my sources like this was Forsberg to Nashville....
I so wish I could tell you all what EXACTLY my sources are saying, but were I to do that I would be breaking that trust that keeps my business alive. Therefore, I can't say the simple facts here and now that would allow you all to know exactly why I am sticking so adamantly to my conviction here and my belief of what is occurring here......which is that the Lecavalier situation is a highly complex, intriguing, political, high stakes game of Chicken...Essentially between Montreal and Tampa, but also possibly to spread into NY and possibly even Vancouver.
Understand me...Tampa doesn't want to trade Vinny...The guy is an icon. He has been amazing to that team through and through. to many in Tampa he "is" the Lightning...however, so is Martin St Louis and so will be Stamkos. But Vinny is also a HUGE asset...and that isn't personal.
The fact is this Lightning team is being aggressive and looking into all ways to improve. They may have made some mistakes but better to go down swinging in my opinion...Moving Vinny for the right pieces is definitely an option...of course they won't nor can they say that they are moving Vinny...Due to the fact that he is a huge part of their family...but when teams have called they have had to listen...And I have been told that they did more that listen and that those doors are still very open right now and will be until July 1.
I am also told that there was a point when things got really close...REALLY close.
Btw, the Lightning today released some amazing season ticket packages for next year. This organization is doing some great things, and I will tell you this...I hear the Lightning getting torn apart left and right by the old school media who only allows their own to be experimental, but I talked to a player's agent last week who has a player that is in his first year with Tampa this season...This agent admitted to me that he was afraid, due to all he had heard about how "terrible" this organization was, when his player became a Bolt. He told me that his player has not been able to say enough great things about how Tampa treats their players...
More when the sun comes up...
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:
»