The climate is now right for what could go down as a trade that defines two franchises for the next ten years...Talking to sources tonight, the combination of the David Tanabe signing and Malkin's signing next week could put the wheels in motion that would moth two of the games top prospects to teams that have both needs and surplus. When the Pens drafted Staal, many wondered why the team that already had the best two young centers inthe NHL would want another center of Staal's talent.

While reporting from Carolina for XM and Hockeybuzz during the finals the buzz among the press was that Johnson wasn't long for the Canes and that the Canes desperately wanted to draft another Staal...Almost everyone considered this a strong possibility going into the draft, except for the question marks....Malkin, and would the Canes keep Wesley around and keep Ward.

I am not going to say that David Tanabe is the answer, but the Canes defense is now the deepest in the NHL when it comes to quality, NHL defensemen...

If this trade goes down it would truly benefit both teams for years to come.

In Carolina you would get another speedy talented Staal. And that is great marketing not to mention great on the ice. The Canes were very upset that Johnson didn't join the team for the cup run. As one source said to me in Carolina based on a conversation he had with Rutherford, "They can understand why he wouldn't play, but they are baffled that with school over he wouldn't want to at least hang around the team for this run."

In Pittsburgh, you would get your Coffey. The Pens have their Gretzky (crosby), their Messier (Malkin), and their Fuhr (Fleury)...give them Johnson (their Coffey) and can you say dynasty? A power play with Crosby, Malkin and Johnson would be just...well ridiculous.

Keep your eye on this and I will continue to dig...My first trusted source, who tipped me off that this has begun to stir, said, "I think there is zero reason that either team would not do this in a second right now. I heard it may just be a matter of waiting out the holiday....I wouldn't bet against it."

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