2008 Woodie Awards
Church's Influence on Sports
NHL Trade Deadline Approaches
David Church
Issue date: 2/5/08 Section: Opinion
With the Feb. 26 NHL trade deadline approaching, it is time for teams to decide to sell or buy. But buyers beware: the Anaheim Ducks failed to make a blockbuster trade at the deadline and still marched to their first Stanley Cup championships.
Despite have Conn Smyth (playoff MVP) Scott Niedermayer returning and last seasons leading scorer returning to their lineups instead of retiring. The Ducks are just one of many teams looking to lock up a big trade before the deadline.
But with Atlanta Thrashers Marian Hossa, Toronto Maple Leafs Mats Sundin and Colorado Avalanches John-Michael Liles on the trade block. But even the Thrashers and Avalanche are still in the playoff hunt.
With 12 teams within eight points of the playoffs, there will be more teams thinking they are buyers than sellers. The sellers have the upper hand. This year's sellers should consist of the Tampa Bay Lightning, The Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Then the question becomes who goes and what can we get. The Lightning continue to have one major need they would like to fill and that is goaltending. Problem with this need is that quality goaltending available isn't available.
They could try and go after unproven Ottawa Senators goaltender Ray Emery, but Emery's $3.3 million salary is a turndown. Whereas, if they are willing to send a draft pick and a prospect to the Oilers for Mathieu Garon, they would have a number one goaltender for next year.
The Maple Leafs have no option. The only trade bait they have is Sundin, who is the best player available in the trade market. You can expect the Maple Leafs to be asking for top prospects as they are still years away from building a Stanley Cup caliber team.
The Kings are once again in the dog house and going no where. They tried to rebuild their team with veteran free agents, but that failed miserably. Now it is time for them to trade their recently signed free agents and veterans and allow their young talent to show their skills.
Despite have Conn Smyth (playoff MVP) Scott Niedermayer returning and last seasons leading scorer returning to their lineups instead of retiring. The Ducks are just one of many teams looking to lock up a big trade before the deadline.
But with Atlanta Thrashers Marian Hossa, Toronto Maple Leafs Mats Sundin and Colorado Avalanches John-Michael Liles on the trade block. But even the Thrashers and Avalanche are still in the playoff hunt.
With 12 teams within eight points of the playoffs, there will be more teams thinking they are buyers than sellers. The sellers have the upper hand. This year's sellers should consist of the Tampa Bay Lightning, The Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Then the question becomes who goes and what can we get. The Lightning continue to have one major need they would like to fill and that is goaltending. Problem with this need is that quality goaltending available isn't available.
They could try and go after unproven Ottawa Senators goaltender Ray Emery, but Emery's $3.3 million salary is a turndown. Whereas, if they are willing to send a draft pick and a prospect to the Oilers for Mathieu Garon, they would have a number one goaltender for next year.
The Maple Leafs have no option. The only trade bait they have is Sundin, who is the best player available in the trade market. You can expect the Maple Leafs to be asking for top prospects as they are still years away from building a Stanley Cup caliber team.
The Kings are once again in the dog house and going no where. They tried to rebuild their team with veteran free agents, but that failed miserably. Now it is time for them to trade their recently signed free agents and veterans and allow their young talent to show their skills.
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