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Rumblings and Grumblings from Around the NHL |
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People have been sending me e-mails lately, and many of them say the same thing:
Where ya been on Hockey Buzz?
Well, I've been around, and yes, I've been quiet, but that doesn't mean I haven't had my ear to the ground.
But, before I get to what’s been circulating through my ever-busy e-mail, I just want to let people know of a deal with the Devil that Tim Panaccio made.
Arguing over something inconsequential Tuesday, Flyers assistant coach Craig Berube snapped at Timmy, who had not shaved that morning, “Haven’t you ever been introduced to a razor?”
Panotch responded, “Yeah, and I’m not shaving until your team wins a home game.”
Suffice it to say, Timmy was pretty miserable following the shootout loss to Pittsburgh Thursday. Especially since he looks like a hobo with a scraggily gray beard to go with his jet black hair and ’stache.
I must admit, with apologies to the Flyers who I know want to end this 13-game losing streak at home tomorrow against the Blues, there is a part of me that is curious to see how bad this can get, just to see how ornery my colleague becomes.
But anyway, while I've been away, here's some of the stuff I picked up from around the NHL:
TAMPA -- Got this on good authority that the Lightning are very interested in adding a puck-moving defenseman or two and tops on their list are Bryan Berard in Columbus and Brent Sopel in Los Angeles.
The Lightning only have about $2 million to play with under the cap, so those players would make sense.
Also, there is NO INTEREST WHATSOVER by the Lightning in reacquiring Nikolai Khabibulin. The Lightning are going to ride the red-hot Johan Holmqvist who is 9-1-0 in his past 10 starts with a 2.04 GAA and a .926 save percentage.
EDMONTON - The Oilers aren't sure if they're buyers or sellers yet at the deadline.
If they are, about 10 points out of a playoff spot on Feb. 25, then G.M. Kevin Lowe may listen to offers for free-agent Ryan Smyth if he hasn't signed him to a new four or five-year deal by then.
If he could get a top-notch prospect and possibly even a draft pick for Smyth and then try to sign him before July 1, (which appears to be the new, chic thing to do in the new NHL with unrestricted free agents who don't really want to move) he might take the gamble.
The sticking point on Smyth's contract right now is probably the fifth year on a deal. Smyth turns 31 next week. He wants $5 million a year (using similar deals between Calgary and Alex Tanguay and Philadelphia and Simon Gagne as models) but the Oilers, so far, may only be offering in $4.25-$4.5 million range.
Now, if Edmonton is close a playoff spot, Lowe will continue to try to add help on defense. They have their eye on Brad Stuart but the problem is the Bruins are asking for good roster player (read: Raffi Torres) and either a decent prospect or, possibly a first-round draft pick, of which the Oilers have two.
That's definitely too rich for Lowe, who's not even sure he could sign Stuart before July 1, when he'd become an unrestricted free agent.
Also, word is the Oilers have no interest in bringing back Sergei Samsonov, even if he comes cheap on recall waivers.
DETROIT - It's tough to get much from the Red Wings, who are usually tight-lipped, but very active.
Ken Holland has admitted to talking to several teams to get a lay of the land, but never gets into specifics.
However, here is what we know - interest in Todd Bertuzzi, as has been reported elsewhere, is minimal. Interest in Peter Forsberg and Bill Guerin is high.
The problem is, neither guy may actually be available. We'll wait and see, but expect the Wings to be a player before the deadline.
BOSTON -- Back to Stuart. There were scouts from the following teams Thursday at the Garden: Los Angeles, Minnesota, Calgary, Washington, Dallas, Edmonton, Anaheim, San Jose and the New York Rangers.
And yet, the frontrunner to get Stuart is probably the New Jersey Devils.
One rumor has circulated that the Devils offered David Hale,and minor leaguers Rod Pelley and Barry Tallackson for Stuart, but Boston G.M. Pete Chiarelli obviuosly has not given in yet.
Knowing Devils G.M. Lou Lamoriello, I doubt that is the final offer he'll make for Stuart.
TORONTO -- The Darcy Tucker contract talks are reaching a boiling point as the Leafs try to decide whether or not to be buyers or sellers come Feb. 27th.
My bet is buyers, even if they slip a few spots down in the standings over the next eight games. Remember. It'll be almost March, the Leafs will be on the outside looking in, and they'll still look to improve - just like every other year. Give them credit, they never bail out on a season, even if trying to remain competitive is to their own detriment.
G.M. John Ferguson twice Thursday used the term “positive” to describe his talks with Tucker’s agent, Carlos Sosa.
Asked if a multi-year deal for the potential free agent now looks more likely than it has at any other juncture this season, Ferguson said “I wouldn’t want to characterize (talks) that way, but they have been positive overall.”
Even before his broken foot in December, Tucker was a bargain this year at $1. 6 million, but Sosa thinks his client should be in the $3 million range.
Ferguson said Tucker will be re-evaluated today or tomorrow by club doctors at which time it might be decided to remove the cast.
“Our play of late gives us reason to believe we can achieve and improve,” Ferguson said. “Our objectives and goals haven’t changed since the pre-season, to have this team at its best at the right time. How that relates to the deadline remains to be seen.
“The deadline is a step, the same way the draft deal (for Raycroft) was, the same way our July 1st signings were. If there’s something that can assist us, we’ll look at it.
“But we don’t know today whether (selling) teams have made definitive decisions. You’ve seen things happen some places already, such as Phoenix and Los Angeles. All we can do now is keep our focus on the task at hand.”
The wild card for the Leafs is that the addition of Tucker sometime this month, plus Kyle Wellwood (hernia) in late March and perhaps Michael Peca (broken leg) at some point would be as good as a major deal, so the Leafs may only look to make small moves before the deadline and nothing real earth shattering.
“(Tucker, Wellwood and Peca) would be a good fifth line,” joked Ferguson. “But without sounding flip, the potential addition of those players is part of our (deadline) consideration."
BUFFALO - Believe it or not, there are still some people in my favorite NHL city that will talk to me, and what I'm told is that with Tim Connolly coming back in March sometime, odds are the Sabres are shopping either Derek Roy or Ales Kotalik in hopes of getting a big, physical, stay-at-home defenseman.
How funny would it be if they were one of the three teams to have contacted the Flyers about Derian Hatcher?
By the way, anyone want to go out for a beer after the game Feb. 20th?
PHOENIX -- Not much news here other than teams have contacted Coyotes' G.M. Mike Barnett about four players for certain - Ladislav Nagy, Owen Nolan, Jeremy Roenick and Curtis Joseph.
The Coyotes appear to be poised to wait until closer to the deadline before really escalating talks with other teams for these players.
That's all for now.
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