Damn afternoon games...I'll be back later though.
AND...I'm back with about an hour to spare before midnight, so lets get started:
Trades! Trades! Trades!
The last few days provided the type of excitement that only the deadline should (side note: there goes TSN's deadline show). Here's a recap of the traded that happened in the last ten days:
Nashville: Mike Fisher
Ottawa: 1st-round pick 2011, conditional pick 2012
Trade Analysis: Well we finally know the redneck translation for "Yoko Ono". Now this isn't necessarily her fault, but I do remember an interview in which Mike suggested that he moved there after retirement, so...
Philadelphia: Kris Versteeg
Toronto: 1st-round pick 2011, 3rd-round pick 2011
Trade Analysis: Simple explanation of the term "If you can't beat them, trade for one of their guys and see how it works." As for the Leafs, I really like to know how a 27th overall pick (we're assuming here) is better than a lottery one.
Anaheim Ducks: 7th-round pick
Toronto: Aaron Voros
Trade Analysis: Ah yes, more truculence for the Leafs, exactly what they need. The only question I have about this trade is that why couldn't this be part of the Beachemin-Lupul trade that happened the week before
Ottawa: 2nd-round pick 2011
Boston: Chris Kelly
Trade Analysis: Just the Sens trying to clean house.
Anaheim: 5th-round pick 2012
Montreal: Paul Mara
Trade Analysis: The Habs NEED Defensemen. Won't be surprise if Souray ends up going to Edmonton then taking a 3-hour drive south for a certain game held in a certain football stadium.
Ottawa: 6th-round pick 2011
Anaheim: Jarkko Ruutu
Trade Analysis: Another house-cleaner for the Sens, nothing to see here.
Ottawa: Craig Anderson
Colorado: Brain Elliott
Trade Analysis: Quite a few people don't get the sense of this trade, but I think it's being used as a "change of scenery" one. It's obviously working since (*SPOILER ALERT*) Anderson just recorded a shut-out against the Leafs. Then again, if Price can do it, anyone can.
Boston: Rish Peverley, Boris Valabik
Atlanta: Blake Wheeler, Mark Stuart
Trade Analysis: Obviously Boston is in need of a franchise player and they are counting on Boris Valabik to be that guy. Just kidding, just a cap-space movement for...
Boston: Tomas Kaberle
Toronto: Joe Colborne, 1st-round pick 2011, Conditional 2nd-round pick
Trade Analysis: HOLY S***, Kaberle finally moved. Actually this was expected, and the Leafs somewhat make up for the Kessel move. The somewhat being that one of the first-rounder's is already selected, the other one is about 20 places lower than it should be, and the 2nd-rounder is conditional.
Carolina: Derek Joslin
San Jose: Future Considerations
Trade Analysis: Yes, finally the Sharks get a proven playoff performer in this Future Considerations guy...wait...ok...well...uh...no big deal then.
Carolina: 2nd-round pick 2012
San Jose: Ian White
Trade Analysis: Oh come on. You guys JUST traded an hour ago, couldn't this be done sooner?
St. Louis: Brock Beukeboom, 3rd-round pick 2011
Tampa Bay: Eric Brewer
Trade Analysis: Well the Blues are starting a re-build mode of sorts. Nice way to start it off with the spawn of Jeff Beukeboom. As for Brewer, it's about time he played on a winning team.
St. Louis: Chris Stewart, Kevin Shattenkirk, Conditional 2nd-round pick
Colorado: Erik Johnson, Jay McClement, Conditional 1st-round pick
Trade Analysis: Kind of hard to make out this deal. Assuming St. Louis is in re-build mode, the win here favours the Avs.
Alumni Game
It was nice to see CBC airing the first period of the Alumni Game. It was extra nice to see the Habs...er..."Alumni" win 5-3. It does pain me to call them that after taking a look at the rosters. Side note: funny how the Flames team was 1/4 Leafs (ok, only the Mustachioed one played for the Leafs BEFORE the Flames, but still, some things never change). The Habs must have been desperate for guys for this game. Originally I called Blasphemy on the fact that Eric Fichaud was their goalie. After seeing the name Martin Gelinas on the roster, I had to immediately apologize to Fichaud (since he actually played for the Habs). Couldn't Calgary be nice and send over Nattress or Conroy? In the end though I'm glad the Habs won this one, now let's see if the current Habs can keep the streak going.
Canada Games
I was at the Nova Scotia-Ontario hockey game a few days ago. Here are 4 thoughts on the game:
1. Not just this game, but the Games themselves I have an issue with. I was hoping for the best amateur athletes in Canada, not an all U-20 event. That is all for that.
2. Surprisingly, Nova Scotia kept it respectable with a 5-3 loss (hey, better than the 5-0 lost against the same Ontario team in the round robin). I will say though that, overall, goaltending killed them, but there were a few defensive mistakes that were costly too.
3. P.K. Subban's brother Jordan was playing for the Ontario team and end up getting a goal. Not much of a celebration afterwards but (reportedly) it didn't stop Mike Richard's younger brother for getting after him for the lack of respect he showed.
4. Tie Domi's kid was also on the Ontario team. From what I remember he only got a goal. But what I do remember is that the kid didn't even get into a fight. How is he suppose to live up to his name with that type of play?!?!
Line-up Notables
Atlanta Thrashers vs. Edmonton Oilers
Atlanta: On the IR: Jim Slater, Alexander Burmistrov, and Freddy Meyer. Chris Mason will start this afternoon.
Edmonton: Only Ryan Whitney is out. Devan Dubynk gets the start.
Ottawa Senators vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
Ottawa: Pascal Leclaire, Daniel Alfredsson, and Jesse Winchester are out, Chris Campoli and Sergei Gonchar are questionable for tonight. Craig Anderson might make his first start for Ottawa tonight.
Toronto: Jonas Gustavsson, Mike Brown, Colton Orr, and J-S Giguere are out. James Reimer is expected to start.
Dallas Stars vs. Vancouver Canucks
Dallas: Jamie Benn, Brad Richards, Krys Barch, and Adam Burish are out, Nicklas Grossman is questionable. Andrew Raycroft is expected to start tonight.
Vancouver: The only team to make the Habs defense injury problem look tame has Alexander Elder, Lee Sweatt, Kevin Bieksa, Andrew Alberts, Dan Hamhuis, Keith Ballard, and Rick Rypien out. Roberto Luongo will start tonight.
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