AROUND THE NHL : TRADE RUMORS

Everyone knows how the trading season goes in the NHL. You’ll have a few random trades throughout the year. Minor, maybe a large one but its rare.

Now when the trade deadline comes around, trades start a week or so before that and build up going towards the actual deadline. The larger deals normally happening either the day before or on the deadline itself. But things are working a little differently this year.

With the Olympic break coming up in the next few weeks, the Olympic trade freeze will kick into affect soon as well. Giving teams almost three weeks in which trades cannot be made. You’ll see deals made in principle and fully agreed on after the Olympic trade freeze is lifted, but this year, things will be a little different, and we’ve already seen signs that the bigger deals look to come early this year.

Phaneuf scrapped with Colin White in his first game as a Leaf.

Toronto started this by acquiring star defensemen Dion Phanuef from the Calgary Flames and goalie Jean-Sebastian Giguere from the Anahiem Ducks. Then we saw the Rangers acquire Olli Jokinen from the Calgary Flames as well. But now there are even MORE rumors going around and some with a little more credibility than others.

I’ll start off with the big one, Ilya Kovalchuk. It’s no secret that the Atlanta Thrashers have been trying to resign Kovalchuk for a long time. Many, including myself, thought that a deal would be reached between the two parties. But after Kovalchuk turned down the latest, 100 million dollar contract, the Thrashers general manager, Don Waddell, told Kovalchuk that he will be traded. Rumors of who he’ll be traded to are few and far between, but some teams have come up.

The Boston Bruins, the New York Rangers, the Chicago Blackhawks, and the Los Angeles Kings have been the most talked about teams that Kovalchuk COULD go to, but none of those teams could give Kovalchuk what he wants in a contract. Word is he’ll be asking for 11.3 million, the league maximum, and though Atlanta will say they offered him league max, they haven’t. They offered him 10 million, but over three, five, and seven year segments. They offered him a 12 year deal but worth no more than 8.5 million per year.

But then again, no one will likely give him the max either. Everyone knows that putting that much money into one player could effectively destroy your team. You cannot put that much money into a single player. Not with the salary cap in full effect in the National Hockey League.

Kovalchuk looks to be on his way out of Atlanta.

Kovalchuk also has the KHL (Kontinential Hockey League) in Russia fighting for his services and if its money he wants, he could very well end up there. They have habits of throwing big money just to get NHL players to their league. Jiri Hudler and Alex Radulov are two examples. If Kovalchuk winds up in Russia, you can guess that its all about the money for Ilya. Not winning a cup, not playing the team game or even being the go to guy on a team. Its the money, and if that is the case, so long Ilya. But honestly, I dont think that will be the case.

Next are the rumors that surround the Toronto Maple Leafs. After starting the trading off with two very large deals, they are rumored to be in even more talks. The names Garnet Exelby, Jeff Finger, and the biggest name, Tomas Kaberle have all been in rumors of talk. Exelby and Finger have been rumors to be dealt for a forward or even a pick. Kaberle have been rumored to be going to the Boston Bruins for a long time. Since the trade deadline last season, but a deal has never been agreed upon. Kaberle does have a no-trade-clause and if he doesn’t submit a list of teams he’ll accept a trade too, his NTC will be lifted in the off-season and the Leafs can deal him anywhere they wish.

Lastly I move onto what could be a rental and have been rumored to be headed to the Pittsburgh Penguins is St. Louis Blues forward, Paul Kariya. Kariya does hold a no-movement-call and can veto a deal if he wishes. Kariya has never really lived up to standards in St. Louis and has been rumored to be going out of town for a while. Its also been rumored that the Penguins have been interested in both Paul Kairya and Brad Boyes, but you have to expect that the Blues will be asking a lot more for Boyes than they are for Kariya. Kariya also has a lot more experience in the playoffs and has posted decent numbers in post season play.

I would expect a lot of trades in the next few weeks BEFORE the Olympic trade freeze starts, with a few big name players being dealt. Now thought we dont know who is going where, we do know that players will be moved, and hockey fans will be on the edge of their seat for every rumor the comes up and every time they hear a trade has been agreed upon.