NHL Morning Papers: Playoff Teams (Monday Edition)

Here are the morning papers for the Western Conference playoff match ups:

Detroit versus Nashville:

• Tomas Holmstrom is looking a lot healthier as the games go on and his game is really coming together as a result. At practice, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg practiced both together and apart. The Wings sure don't lack experience in net with Dominik Hasek between the pipes.
• The Predators know that one key moment can change a series, writes John Glennon. On the injury front, David Legwand will be a game-time decision for tonight's contest.

San Jose versus Calgary:

• Mark Purdy of the San Jose Mercury News wonders if the Sharks can recover from their collapse last night at the Saddledome. You knew what was coming if you were a Sharks fan last night, writes Purdy. "It takes men to play this sport, not a bunch of boys," said Sharks netminder Evgeni Nabokov after last night's 4-3 loss.
• When the Flames started to bully, the Sharks did not fight back, writes George Johnson. Cory Sarich's big hit was what turned the whole game around, writes Jean Lefebvre. Curtis Joseph pitched a shutout in his relief appearance last night and that was enough to hold the Flames in the game until they got the lead late in the third period. Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun thinks Sarich's hit may have turned the Flames' whole season around. (Writer's note: Here is the hit if you have not seen it.)

Minnesota versus Colorado:

• The Wild know they are fortunate to be tied 1-1 without any production from sniper Marian Gaborik, writes Michael Russo. No coach creates more line combinations than the old master Jacques Lemaire.
• Peter Forsberg missed practice on Sunday, but Avalanche fans need not worry, as the veteran was just getting some rest for tonight's tilt. Across the ice, the Wild's playmakers have yet to prove they can play at the level of the Avs playmakers, writes Mike Chambers. With the Avalanche finally back home, the Pepsi Center should be rocking tonight.

Anaheim versus Dallas:

• It has been a tough start to the playoffs for Anaheim, so the Ducks just want to focus on winning the next period of their series with the Stars, writes Dan Wood. If the Ducks have any aspirations of winning this series, the team's defense needs to be play up to its capabilities.
• Brad Richards and Loui Eriksson have found chemistry at the perfect time, writes Mike Heika. There is a different feel around this version of the Stars says Mike Modano.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Richard Pollock.

Email any thoughts, ideas or suggestions to illegalcurve@gmail.com

1. Terry Frei with an excellent article about how much he likes watching games in Canada.
2. Canada opens the World Championships with a win.
3. The USHL has announced the finalists for their end of season awards.
4. A look at possible scenarios unfolding tonight.
5. Watch the PTI guys talk hockey.
6. Kind of a dated article, but an interesting take on accountability in blogging.
7. John Buccigross wants to see the Islanders outdoors.
8. Can mono explain the poor play of Brad Richards?
9. Last night's loss to Ottawa has secured a Top 10 draft pick for the Leafs. Said pick will be traded for another goalie in 3,2,1...
10. An update on the sort of hockey movie, the Love Guru.
11. Surely not the first time this has been said, but the Flames sneak in the back door. Zing!
12. Wait til next year might finally mean something in Edmonton.
13. Allan Muir profiles some unheralded NHL'ers who have made major contributions.
14. Jim Kelley names David Poile as his Executive of the Year.
15. Michael Farber with his Best and Worst of the Year.
16. A tongue in cheek rendition of the Senators' season.
17. Spector is reporting that the Flames have re-signed Daymond Langkow.
18. The Angry T blog with a projection of how many goals AO would have scored in the early '80's.
19. Interesting article on pre-draft evaluations and the effect of a player's willingness to compete.
20. A brief biography of Bugsy Watson.
21. Scott Morrison feels the Penguins are primed and ready for a playoff run.
22. Elliotte Friedman discusses the Senators woeful slump.
23. The dance card is filled out in the West, but the East is still open.
24. The Canadiens hope to end their franchise worst Stanley Cup drought this year.
25. A Sabres fan is suing the team claiming he was injured by falling plexiglass.

NHL Morning Papers--Eastern Conference (Monday Edition)

Here are the national morning papers:

• Gordie Howe just turned 80 year old and the Globe & Mail put together a picture compilation commemorating this fine day.
• The Habs are starting to get injured at the wrong time, writes David Shoalts of the Globe & Mail.
• Kevin Allen of USA Today has a terrific article about what made Gordie Howe so great.

Here are the Northeast Division morning papers:

• The Bruins were happy to salvage a point last night versus the Sabres, writes Fluto Shinwaza. There is only one week remaining in the regular season, yet there are still so many possibilities, writes Kevin Paul Dupont. In a nice story, Jeff Hogan was ecstatic to make his NHL debut last night at the age of 30.
• The Sabres avoided elimination last night by defeating the Bruins 2-1 in overtime. Much of the Sabres success can be attributed to the play of the team's rookie defense tandem.
• It appears that Pavel Kubina has played well enough that Cliff Fletcher no longer wants him traded. Kubina wants to remain a Leaf too.
• Bruce Garrioch tells readers that it is still possible for the Senators to miss the playoffs. Since the team's hot start to begin the season, the Senators are a .500 squad.
• Mike Komisarek guarantees that he will be in the Habs line up for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Unfortunately, the Canadiens may be without Saku Koivu for the beginning of the playoffs.

Here are the Atlantic Division morning papers:

• Kevin Weekes was the Devils' number one goaltender for one day, writes Colin Stephenson.
• The Islanders are letting their young players play and are still staying fairly competitive.
• The Rangers had way too many passengers yesterday afternoon, writes Larry Brooks. Meanwhile, John Dellapina of the NY Daily News questioned some of the officials' calls on Sunday.
• While the team won't come out and say it, the Flyers are attempting to move up to the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference so as to play a weaker first round opponent, writes Tim Panaccio.
• Petr Sykora compared yesterday's Penguins/Rangers tilt to a playoff game, which made the Penguins' 3-1 victory that much more sweet. Evgeni Malkin had a close call with a skate to the face last night.

Here are the Southeast Division morning papers:

• According to Craig Custance of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Thrashers rookie Boris Valabik won over his teammates on Saturday.
• Michel Ouellet has played a lot better since the trade of Brad Richards, but he does not know why, writes Erik Erlendsson.
• "We have to show our fans and ourselves how much it means to us to put the Panther jersey on, play with pride and finish the season strong," said Panthers captain Olli Jokinen. The Panthers may not be winning on the ice, but they are making winning contributions off of it.

**There were no Carolina Hurricanes or Washington Capitals articles this morning**

The Western Conference morning papers will be posted around 11:15 CST.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Richard Pollock.

Email any thoughts, ideas or suggestions to illegalcurve@gmail.com

Brad Richards Breakaway Goal

Here is a clip from Saturday. Vancouver Canucks @ Dallas Stars. Vancouver had gone up 3-0 early in the first. This goal was shorthanded on a breakaway to tie the game at 3-3 for Dallas. The Canucks fought it out to win 4-3. Every game for the Canucks at this time of year is must win as they make their push for the playoffs.

The tiny little head fake was just enough to throw off goaltender Roberto Luongo

NHL Morning Papers (Monday Edition)

Here are the national morning papers:

• This year's version of the Leafs just makes too many excuses, writes Dave Shoalts of the Globe & Mail.
• According to Allen Panzeri of the National Post, Martin Gerber appears to have a stranglehold on the number one goaltender spot for the Senators.
• Kevin Allen of USA Today has an interesting piece on how the Lightning may be able to quickly replace Brad Richards.
• A.J. Perez of USA Today recaps the exciting Ovechkin/Crosby duel from Sunday afternoon.

Here are the Eastern Conference morning papers:

• The Thrashers have been sitting Alexei Zhitnik and playing Joel Kwiatkowski, writes Craig Custance of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
• The Bruins were playing their third game in four nights on Sunday, so they weren't displeased to earn a point in their 1-0 shootout loss at MSG. Bruins rookie David Krejci had two assists for his squad on Saturday but his performance came at the expense of his front teeth, writes Kevin Paul Dupont.
• Thomas Vanek has only one goal in his last thirteen games and will need to get going if the Sabres are going to make the playoffs. Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News believes it is eighth place or bust for the Sabres.
• Nigel Dawes had the only shootout goal, and only goal of the game, in the Rangers' 1-0 shootout victory over the Bruins. Jaromir Jagr is at peace with his pending contract situation, writes Larry Brooks. Unhappy with a penalty call, Rangers forward Sean Avery took out his anger on a water bottle, which ended up spraying a couple of Rangers fans.
• The Flyers power play has been the team's strong point all year, so it's no surprise that the team relied on the man-advantage to get out of its slump.
• The Penguins got lucky yesterday, when Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom accidentally scored into his own net with less than a minute remaining in the game. The Penguins always seem to have the Capitals' number, writes Dave Molinari.
• "That was officially heartbreaking," said Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau after yesterday's 4-2 home loss to the Pens.
• Mike Smith wasn't at his best on Sunday, as the Lightning were defeated by the Blue Jackets in Columbus. Former Bolt, Fredrik Modin has had a very frustrating season, writes Erik Erlendesson.
• The Leafs aren't giving up until they are mathematically eliminated, writes Mark Zwolinkski. The Flyers need to sweep their upcoming two-game series versus the Flyers, or their season is over, writes Lance Hornby.
• The Senators are back on the east coast and are looking to put the struggles from their recent road trip behind them, writes Bruce Garrioch.
• Rick DiPietro wasn't able to help his team in his return to the lineup, writes Greg Logan.
• The Devils feel like the team to beat down the stretch run in the Eastern Conference, writes Rich Chere.
• The Habs' laziness was their downfall in Anaheim last night, writes Pat Hickey.
• Wade Belak held a fighting lesson at practice yesterday, writes Steve Gorten.

Here are the Western Conference morning papers:

• Ryan Getzlaf knows he has to pick up the slack for injured teammate Corey Perry, and he got off to a good start last night, leading the Ducks to a 3-1 home victory over the Canadiens. Perry's replacement Bobby Ryan quietly did a solid job last night, writes Mark Whicker.
• Flames defenseman Corey Sarich is just excited to be playing in the lineup, after being a healthy scratch twice last week, writes Scott Cruickshank.
• The Blue Jackets recorded their first win at home yesterday since January 15th, writes Aaron Portzline. The highlight of yesterday's game was career minor-leaguer Derek MacKenzie's first NHL goal.
• The Stars came out with a more physical game in their rematch with the Avalanche and it paid off, as they went on to win 3-0 on home-ice.
• Nicklas Lidstrom proved how valuable he is to the Wings last night, as his return helped his team defeat the Predators 4-3 at the Joe Louis Arena. With Tomas Holmstrom out of the Wings lineup, Johan Franzen is doing his best to fill-in.
• Dean Lombardi took time yesterday to answer the questions of many of the club's season ticket holders; Lisa Dillman of the L.A. Times has the story.
• The Wild lost 3-2 in a shootout yesterday, but were happy to at least earn a point after being down a goal with less than a minute remaining in regulation. The Wild's play is improving, at least according to coach Jacques Lemaire.
• Early penalties got the Predators in a whole that was just too deep to climb out of last night, as the team lost 4-3 at Detroit. Even after yesterday's loss, the Predators finished their road trip last night with a positive outlook on their chances for the playoffs, writes John Glennon.
• The Sharks made in nine victories in a row last night, with a 3-2 shootout victory at Minnesota.
• When the season ends, the Blues are going to take a very close look at why they can't score any goals, writes Jeremy Rutherford.
• Brendan Morrison is hoping he will be able to play on the Canucks' upcoming four-game road trip, writes Ben Kuzma.
• The future looks bright in Edmonton, especially after watching the kids dominate in Chicago yesterday, writes Jim Matheson.
• The Avalanche lost yesterday at Dallas, but the team has bigger concerns on the injury front, writes Adrian Dater.
• The Hawks recorded one point yesterday versus visiting Edmonton, but that just isn't enough at this juncture in the season, writes Chris Kuc.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Richard Pollock.

Email any thoughts, ideas or suggestions to illegalcurve@gmail.com

Fantasy Watch: After the Deadline

↑ F Brad Richards, Dallas Stars
Although Richards has scored a respectable 51 points in 62 games with Tampa, the forward was still considered to be underachieving. Never able to recreate the success he had two years ago, Richards found himself on the trade block and was shipped to Dallas on deadline day. With room for another scorer on the team, Richards should fit in quite well with Dallas and will become a dominant power-play man for the club. Richards has all the talent in the world but struggled to find offensive success in Tampa Bay. With less superstars on the team, Richards will be counted on to provide another scoring presence, which in turn should increase his point total.

↑ D Brian Campbell, San Jose Sharks
Having another solid year in Buffalo, Campbell now finds himself in San Jose on a team that desperately needs a defensive scorer. Not only can Campbell provide points from the point, he also gives San Jose veteran leadership and solid blue liner. Scoring 43 points in 63 games with Buffalo, Campbell will most likely be inserted on San Jose's top power-play unit as well as being San Jose's top defenseman. With plenty of goal scorers on the team, expect Campbell's production to increase as he attempts to lead San Jose to a Stanley Cup.

↑ G Mike Smith, Tampa Bay Lightning
Smith has received only a handful of starts over the past two years but has already shown that he can be a successful goaltender in this league. In his first career start in the NHL, Smith posted a shutout and went on to win five out of his next six starts. Finishing that year with a record of 12-5 with a 2.23 goals against average and three shutouts, Smith gave the Stars a chance to win without Turco in net. This year, Smith has posted 12 wins and nine losses to go along with a 2.46 goals against average. Although Dallas is a much better defensive team than Tampa Bay, Smith will be used as Tampa's starting netminder which raises his value instantly. Expect some hardships for the second year goaltender but nonetheless Smith will gain a valuable learning experience and could become an elite goaltender in a few years. For any fantasy team needing help in goal take a look at Smith who will be given his first chance as a #1 goalie.

↓ G Cristobal Huet, Washington Capitals
Willing to go into the playoffs with Carey Price as their starter, the Habs felt that Huet was expendable and shipped him to Washington on Tuesday. Going from a Stanley Cup contender to a team fighting for a playoff berth won't be an easy transition to make, but Huet seems to be up for the task. In Washington he will battle with Olaf Kolzig for starts, which will almost assuredly affect the star netminder's stats. Owners of Huet have to be upset with this deal due to the fact that Kolzig will command more starts than his previous backup, Carey Price. Expect Huet's goals against average and save percentage to dip a little, as well as his win totals. Washington is clearly not as talented as Montreal and Huet has his work cut out for him trying to lead the Caps into the playoffs.

↑ F Tuomo Ruutu, Carolina Hurricanes
Bursting onto the scene with 44 points in his rookie season, Ruutu was considered to be a savior for Chicago. With fellow young teammates such as Tyler Arnason and Kyle Calder, the three of them were to lead Chicago out of mediocrity. Unfortunately, that never played out as Arnason and Calder were shipped out, and Ruutu could never stay healthy for an entire season. Disappointing fantasy owners year in and year out, Ruutu has been given a second chance in Carolina. Scoring a point in his first game as a Hurricane, Ruutu has been blessed with incredible talent but has never achieved more than 44 points in a season. With several talented players on Carolina, Ruutu should be able to increase his scoring and may even become relevant in the fantasy world once again.

↔ F Vaclav Prospal, Philadelphia Flyers
Prospal was enjoying a bounce back year in Tampa, needing only 60 games to surpass the 55 points he put up last season. It being his contract year, Prospal is extremely motivated into duping some GM into giving him another multi-year deal in the off-season. Some might remember Prospal's first stint with Tampa Bay where he broke out to score 79 points in 80 games. Quickly signed in the off-season by Anaheim, Prospal never fit into their system and was labeled a bust after only posting 54 points in all 82 games played. Now in another contract year, Prospal has been playing great which is no surprise. He is clearly motivated by the thought of another lucrative deal and will continue his success in Philadelphia. Yes it's true that Prospal had a dream situation in Tampa Bay, but don't expect his production to tail off too drastically.

↑ F Marian Hossa, Pittsburgh Penguins
Making the biggest splash of the day, the Pittsburgh Penguins picked up Marian Hossa in exchange for Colby Armstrong, Angelo Esposito, Erik Christensen and a first round pick in next years draft (Pittsburgh also received forward Pascal Dupius). Clearly looking to win this year, the Penguins sacrificed a lot for Hossa as they believe he is the missing piece to their quest for the cup. Although the acquisition of Hossa has some calling Pittsburgh the favorites to win the cup, they are still less superior to those more balanced teams such as Anaheim, Detroit and New Jersey. Hossa will give Pittsburgh added scoring, and although its absurd to think he will set a higher scoring pace with the Penguins, expect Hossa to do just that. Playing with Malkin and Crosby boosts Hossa's value incredibly, as the forward should reach 85 points this year.


For Illegal Curve, I'm Jonny Remis

Illegal Curve's Inaugural Live Trade Deadline Blog

Note: I will be live blogging throughout the day. My most recent posts will appear at the top of the page.

2:40pm: Alright, we are 40 minutes past the deadline and I've been here for almost eight straight hours. Time to go home for a nap. Thanks to everyone who came by and checked out the blog; I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

2:34: The Thrashers have traded Alex Giroux to the Capitals for Joe Motzko.

Analysis: I'm not an AHL scout so I've got nothing for you on this one!

2:31pm: The Kings have dealt J.S. Aubin to the Ducks for a 7th round pick.

Analysis: If Aubin plays for the Ducks in any kind of meaningful game, they won't be playing meaningful games for long...

2:27pm: In my opinion, everyone is overrating the Pens. I just wanna know who is going to start in net for them come playoff time... Conklin? Fleury? Does that instill confidence in Penguins fans? I'd say no.

2:22pm: The Islanders have traded Marc-Andre Bergeron to the Ducks for a 3rd rounder.

Analysis: Don't see why the Ducks want him considering he can't play any defense. The Islanders did well getting a 3rd rounder here.

2:20pm: The Leafs have traded Chad Kilger to the Panthers for a 3rd rounder.

Analysis: Kilger is a third/fourth line grinder. The Panthers want some veterans on their depth lines due to some injuries and the Leafs can use picks, so it makes sense for both sides.

2:18pm: The Coyotes have dealt Fred Sjostrom, David LeNeveu and Josh Gratton to the Rangers for Al Montoya and Marcel Hossa.

Analysis: Don Maloney used to be Sather's right-hand man so he knows what he's getting with Montoya and Hossa. In my opinion, Montoya is the best player in this deal. Sjostom is good defensively but limited in his offensive ability. LeNeveu has been in the AHL for a long-time now and is not any one's long term goaltending answer and Gratton is a throw in. As for Hossa's inclusion, well, he's good on the boards but that's about it. Give the victory here to the Coyotes.

2:14pm: The Wings have acquired Brad Stuart from the Kings for a 2nd round pick and a 4th rounder.

Analysis: Well, Stuart should add depth to the Wings defense corps going into the playoffs. He skates well and makes a good first-pass but isn't going to put this team over the top. As for the Kings, it is always nice to stash picks, especially when they have some young defensive prospects to work into their line-up in the next little while.

2:10pm: The Islanders traded Chris Simon to the Wild for a 6th round pick.

Analysis: Not really sure why. That's all I have to say. As the panel points out, they have enough fighters. Simon used to be a pretty good hockey player back in the day, but he's not what he used to be and he brings with him distractions.

2:00pm: The deadline is here, but there still may be some trades. Regardless, I'm still in shock over this trade. Pierre is going nuts, and I don't blame him.

1:58pm: Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis to the Penguins for Angelo Esposito, Erik Christensen, Colby Armstrong and a 1st rounder.

Analysis: Unless the Pens re-sign Hossa then they overpaid by miles. Wow. Hossa will make them the favorite in the East, but that is a big time price to give up. As for Atlanta, Don Waddell may have just saved his job.

1:55pm: The Rangers have acquired Christian Backman from the Blues for a 4th round pick.

Analysis: Backman is earning $2.2 million per season this year and $3.4 million next year but his addition is a good one for the Rangers. The Rangers biggest weakness is their defense, and Backman is an improvement for them. As for the Blues, they didn't get much in return but got cap relief and that's all they wanted.

1:53pm: The Leafs have traded Hal Gil to the Penguins for a 2nd round and 5th round pick.

Analysis: The Leafs did well here. They don't need Hal Gill on their back-end and they need picks. As for the Pens, they need size and stability on the defense and want to make a run this year so it makes sense for them too.

1:47pm: 13 minutes until the deadline...But remember, lots of trades trickle through a bit after the 2pm CST cutoff.

1:45pm: Milbury throws down with some Armstrong/Modano feud information as to why Doug Armstrong was canned. Good stuff.

1:32pm: Nothing doing still. However, they did just play a clip of Cristobal Huet. He sounded genuinely shocked to be dealt and I don't blame him.

1:17pm: Lucky us! We get to listen to the Brian Campbell interview for a third time.

1:15pm: It only took just over six hours for the first Milbury/Luongo crack. Let's review the old Milbury trade for entertainment purposes. Islanders traded Roberto Luongo and Olli Jokinen for Mark Parrish and Oleg Kvasha....speechless? I thought so.

1:09pm: Lots of talking but no action lately. I'd guess this is the calm before the final storm.

12:58pm: Dave Hodge and the writers are talking about Columbus again and how they are throwing in the towel. Guys, IT IS THE RIGHT DECISION!

12:51pm: Again, I'm with Pierre. I don't trust Huet and I like the trade by the Habs.

12:48pm: Matt Pettinger interview time. I need a nap...

12:44pm: Bob McKenzie doesn't see Olli Jokinen or Rob Blake being moved today.

12:42pm: The second Wade Belak interview of the day! This is enjoyable.

12:36pm: Dreger is saying Vancouver has dealt Matt Cooke to Washington for Matt Pettinger.

Analysis: Matt Cooke isn't what he once was either. Pettinger is a depth winger, who isn't much better than Cooke but is younger and a BC boy. As for Washington, not really sure what they are doing here today. I don't mind the Huet pickup, but Fedorov and Cooke??? I just don't see that as an upgrade.

12:29pm: When Glenn Healy talks, does anyone listen?

12:25pm: The official move is Adam Foote from Columbus for a conditional first rounder. Also, if he re-signs after the season with the Avs, there is another pick involved.

Analysis: Foote has played a lot of minutes this year, so I worry a bit about his wearing down. If the Avs allow him to share the burden with Hannan and Co., I'd say the deal is a positive for both sides. Columbus has to be happy with grabbing a first rounder. Scott Howson knows what he's doing; any talk about them going for a playoff spot at the expense of the future is ludicrous.

12:21pm: Burkie is in a great mood. This puts me in a bad mood.

12:19pm: Here we go. Burke says he isn't a deadline guy. Who woulda though that? He is doing an interview with only 1 hour and 40 minutes until the trade deadline...

12:17pm: Brian Burke has arrived for an interview!!!! Damn, the sound isn't working. I can't wait for this. It should be epic. I'm pretty sure this interview is the only reason I watch trade deadline day.

12:15pm: Who else is for making the GM Corner the Canadian version of PTI???? Please, I know I have support from you readers. You can't tell me that wouldn't be amazing.

12:12pm: Dreger is reporting Sergei Fedorov to the Washington Capitals for prospect Theo Ruth.

Analysis: I'm sorry, but most people haven't seen Fedorov play this year. Lets just say he is not what he once was. In fact, he's not close to what he once was. Don't really know why Washington is making this move.

12:10pm: The GM Corner returns! And Milbury is saying the Leafs no-trade clauses are inhibiting Fletcher's ability to make a deal. And yes, JFJ is ACROSS THE TABLE! Wow, unintentional comedy at its finest.

12:06pm: Pierre is the first one on the set to drop arms-race. Where is Fall Out Boy???? Get the song ready...

12:03pm: The Avs have acquired Adam Foote from the Blue Jackets. What the Jackets get in return hasn't been reported. In other news, Warren Rychel, Rene Corbet and Craig Billington also waived their no-trades to return to Denver...

11:54am: McKenzie says the Avs are hot in pursuit of Foote and Foote says he'd only go to Colorado if he were to be traded. Who would be going the other way is not yet known.

11:51am: If I have to watch Michael Landsberg on that curling commercial one more time, I may break my computer in half and there is no way TSN wouldn't held responsible for that. Granted, I could always put my computer back together with Landsberg's hair gel.

11:48am: Somebody please tell James Duthie this isn't a funeral. Why is he talking in such a sad tone???? These guys are paid millions of dollars and this is a part of the business.

11:44am: Brian Campbell is doing his best Ryan Smyth impersonation.

11:38am: It is Martin Lapointe from Chicago to Ottawa for a 6th round pick.

Analysis: Well, they paid less for Lapointe than Florida did for Belak so that's a plus. Lapointe's best days are behind him, but he should help in the dressing room. His toughness should help their 4th line.

11:37am: Martin Lapointe has been traded to the Senators, but what the Blackhawks are getting in return is yet to be determined.

11:35am: Bob McKenzie is reporting that Adam Foote's contract talks with Columbus have fallen apart and that may lead to a deal.

11:33am: Why does Duthie sound sad for Mike Smith??? This guy is going from being a backup behind Marty Turco to being a starter in Tampa Bay. It's his lucky day.

11:27am: Brian Campbell seems far more shaken up now than he was when I met him in September and he asked me what brisket was. (True story)

11:20am: The Blackhawks have traded Tuomo Ruutu to Carolina for Andrew Ladd.

Analysis: Both teams are trading youngsters who haven't played up to expectations. In fact, their contracts are both $1.8 million for this season and both are RFA's at season's end. In my opinion Ruutu is the superior player, however, he couldn't reach his potential in Chicago. Same for Ladd in Carolina, although I think he is tad overrated.

11:16am: The Avalanche have traded Karlis Skrastins and a 3rd round pick to the Panthers for Ruslan Salei.

Analysis: The Panthers will plug Skrastins on their back-end to block shots, but the deal was made for the 3rd pick. Salei is getting up there in age and isn't a long-term option for a young team like Florida. As for Colorado, Salei bring veteran experience on the back-end, as the Avs have demonstrated they are serious about making a playoff run.

11:13am: Dave Hodge has to be 134 years old.

11:00am: The boys on the set are hungry, so JFJ has just bought pizza for his fellow members. What a great guy. He just over-tipped the pizza guy and gave him a no-trade clause...

10:50am: Cristobal Huet to the Capitals for a 2nd round pick in 2009.

Analysis: I know this trade seems stupid but I actually like it. Price is ready to carry the load and he's definitely no worse than Huet. The Habs were going to lose Huet anyways, so at least they get a draft pick out of the deal. Also, the team is also going to make another move today, so let's not rush to judgment.

10:43am: The Richards trade is a big one. Brad Richards and Johan Holmqvist for Michael Smith, Jussi Jokinen and Jeff Halpern.

Analysis: Jokinen is a nice winger and Smith is a solid netminder who flies under the radar, but this trade doesn't make the Bolts better unless they use this extra money to sign a defenseman in the off-season.

10:42am: Brad Richards has waived his no-movement clause but the word on what the Bolts are getting back is not yet out.

Analysis: I'm a big Richards fan and I really think this move has Brett Hull's hands all over it. He realizes Richards' potential and ability; the extra offense should put Dallas over the top.

10:39am: Apparently Brad Richards has been traded to Dallas pending his approval.

10:35am: The details are out. Campbell for Steve Bernier and a 1st rounder.

Analysis: Well, I am not the biggest Steve Bernier fan. He's a big guy but he isn't the most consistent player. At least the Sabres are getting some value for Campbell though. Plus, while the first round pick will be at the end of the 1st round, it is a deep draft and those picks are always worth something.

10:33am: Even though they have yet to mention his name, you have to wonder if the deal includes Matt Carle. He was rumored to be going other way in the Redden rumors and Redden and Campbell are both pending UFA's.

10:25am: Our first real trade and it is Brian Campbell to the Sharks.

Analysis: I'll hold out until I see what they gave up, but he is EXACTLY what they need on their back-end.

10:23am: TSN has upstaged its Cam Janssen interview with a Wade Belak interview! Well done. I'm confused though. JFJ hasn't given Wade a no-trade? But he has a pulse...

10:21am: Kenny Holland is always a good interview, but c'mon, he ain't giving you anything right now. Is there a more useless interview than the GM pre-deadline interview??? Do people expect Holland to say, "You know we just offered Hudler and picks for Hossa"?

10:17am: The crew is now analyzing this trade. Somebody please bottle me. This is agonizing.

10:15am: Another trade has been made. The Leafs have dealt Wade Belak to Florida for a 5th round pick.

Analysis: Any pick for Belak is a plus.

10:10am: Mike Milbury just questioned the contract given to Patrick Marleau, specifically because of his inability to compete. Ummm, Mike Milbury....ummm, didn't you sign Alexei Yashin to a 10 year contract?????

10:07am: Pierre and JFJ are disagreeing on the value of Pavel Kubina. I'm with Pierre on this one--and it's not close.

10:04am: People need to stop ragging on Brad Richards. The guy is better than he is getting credit for. Has anyone seen his linemates this season? He logs big minutes in all situations and has proven to be clutch in the past.

9:59am: JFJ says he thinks Brian Burke would have given up the Oilers' first round pick for Mats Sundin. That is interesting; I like it when former GMs give you some insight like that.

9:50am: You know the cast is in trouble when Mike Milbury has been the voice of reason all morning.

9:44am: The cast has Cam Janssen on the line! Tremendous. This is definitely the first time he has EVER been interviewed. So far this beats the Marty Biron interview from last year.

9:41am: Duthie is caught off-guard as Gord throws it back to him while he's clearly on Facebook...

9:39am: Gord Miller is intrigued by Detroit. Bob McKenzie is also intrigued by the Wings...that he just had as an after breakfast snack.

9:33am: We have a trade! The Devils have acquired Bryce Salvador from the Blues for Cam Janssen.

Analysis: A nice move by the Devils to shore up their defensive corps. Salvador is a UFA but Janssen isn't much to give up. It was clear after the Blues extended Jackman that Salvador was on his way out.

9:30am: Matthew Barnaby just called Duncan Keith a stallworth???? A Donte Stallworth? Matthew I think you mean stalwart.

9:28am: I've now taken to listening to the new Jack Johnson CD in the background. It makes listening to Dave Hodge that much more soothing.

9:26am: Michael Farber tells us Patrick Marleau has another gear... Thank you Michael. You mean his 29 points isn't to the best of his abilities?

9:22am: Why do people keep bringing up the Ducks' poor goal differential? Have people not realized that Selanne and Niedermayer weren't there for a majority of the season? Am I missing something? This team is far and away the best in the NHL right now.

9:17am: John Lu tells us that Hossa's equipment is in his Atlanta stall right now. That is pretty intense. Is John gonna tell us that Hossa uses Dove soap too? Gotta love the pre-trade reports when no one has any news or anything to say.

9:14am: The last 20 minutes of boredom has allowed me to check my spelling of Buhler below and imdb tells me it's Bueller. My bad.

8:55am: Can anyone tell me why TSN isn't broadcasting this in HD? Buhler?

8:40am: I'd say the MVP of the telecast so far has been Darren Pang. Panger is being honest with his analysis of many of the players being bandied about today.

8:35am: There we have it, Bobby Holik admitting to Matthew Barnaby in the past that if he's your number one center you don't have a chance to make the playoffs. Funny, because I don't remember him saying that when the Rangers gave him 5 yr /$45 million.

8:27am: Cory Woron tells us the Leafs are going to workout on the beach today and that the TSN crew will have video of that. Folks, I DID NOT MAKE THAT UP. Seriously.

8:21am: Gord Miller just asked Bob what Foote's contract situation was with Colorado. Thanks Gord, goin retro with the analysis. I wonder how many minutes Ray Bourque will log tonight...

8:12am: Our first real filler has debuted. The panel is now listing their top five Stanley Cup contenders. Does anyone care??? For goodness sake, it is February.

8:06am: We have just sat through almost fifteen minutes of nothing. Finally, Dreger tells us that no one from the Bolts has told Richards, "Here's the deal we want you to consider." But Dreger does expect that to happen soon. McKenzie tells us that Rob Blake (the actor) has not yet waived his no trade clause. In other news, McKenzie has waived his no bacon clause and is expecting the breakfast B.E.L.T in a matter of moments.

7:52am: John Lu tells us that the zamboni was on the ice at Habs practice. Thanks Jon!!! Terrific insight from the TSN reporters who are on location.

7:50am: In what is becoming terrific unintentional comedy, Duthie continues to whisper into his mic during interviews.

7:46am: Gord Miller's first appearance on the show is upstaged by Darren Dreger's first appearance. Apparently the Stars are the favorite for Richards with an offer of Mike Smith, Jussi Jokinen and others. Bob McKenzie tells us that Adam Foote wants to remain in Columbus and the deal is getting close. Big Mac does mention that if the talks fall through, he may come into play.

7:35am: Duthie just said that both the Richards and Hossa deals are close to getting done. He lists the Sens and Habs as top candidates for Hossa. Late last night the rumor was that the Sens were including Antoine Vermette in their package and the Habs possibly including Chris Higgins. It will be interesting to see what the Thrashers are looking for.

7:32am: K, it has already reached the point of awkward with JFJ talking about the Leafs and it isn't even 8am CST.

7:28am: Pierre just said the Leafs may not make the playoffs...

7:23am: Shocker of the day--the first Mats Sundin interview!!! This was an unexpected beginning to the telecast. Over/under how many times we see this video today is at 4.5.

7:20am: I finally got TSN broadband to start working. Just to let readers know, we will be relying on TSN throughout the day for the most recent news and unintentional comedy. If you haven't heard, Pierre Maguire has apparently just traded a few dollar bills for an eight ball... I mean, how else could he have this much energy at 8am?????????

7:16am: There were some overnight rumors that Brad Richards had been traded to Dallas and Marian Hossa to Montreal; however, these have yet to be confirmed by the major broadcast networks and it doesn't look like they have been completed just yet.

7:13am: Mike Comrie has agreed to a one-year contract extension with the Islanders, and appears to be staying put on Long Island.

Analysis: Comrie seems to like playing for NYI and the team appears to be happy to have him. This decision made sense for both sides.

Fantasy Watch: Buy/Sell

BUY

F Michael Cammalleri, Los Angeles Kings
Before being listed as day-to-day with a rib injury, Cammalleri was struggling to put up points at the same blistering pace he set earlier in the season. In his last five games, the forward only scored one point, causing fantasy owners to bench him even before he was sidelined with a rib injury. Although Cammalleri has not returned to the ice, TSN reports that the forward has indeed started skating and could return very shortly. Due to his offensive struggles before his injury, Cammalleri may be had at quite below his value price.

F Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning
With only two points in his last seven games, Richards stock has taken a big hit. He is currently fourth on Tampa Bay in scoring, and hasn't recorded a goal since December 13th. It might surprise many to see Richards in the buy column this week, but with his value extremely low, he might be worth taking a chance on. Tampa Bay has a wealth of talent and with Richards' ability to create chances on the power-play, he may be in for a big second half.

SELL

F Antti Miettinen, Dallas Stars
Miettinen has surprised everyone over the past month, scoring 16 points over his last 15 games. Only exceeding the 30 point plateau once in his career, Miettinen is currently on pace to set new career highs in goals, assists and points. Although Miettinen has given owners a fantasy boost, the third year forward should not be counted on to continue scoring at this pace. With Miettinen's value extremely high, it's advised to ship him out in favor of a more reliable fantasy option.

F Daniel Cleary, Detroit Red Wings
As stated in Monday's “Scouring the Waiver Wire” column, Cleary tends to go on extended hot streaks only to cool down a week or two later, eventually falling off the fantasy radar. Evidence of this can be traced back to last December where Cleary put up fantastic numbers throughout the month, scoring 11 goals and 17 points in 15 games. After being claimed immediately in most leagues, the forward fell back down to Earth, only scoring three points in January, disappointing several fantasy owners (yours truly included). Thus, it's advised to trade Cleary while his value is still high before he falls off the fantasy radar.

F Mark Recchi, Atlanta Thrashers
Since being waived by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Recchi's stock has skyrocketed while playing for Atlanta. Scoring 14 points in 14 games with the Thrashers, Recchi has given Atlanta another legitimate scoring threat. Although it may seem absurd to sell Recchi, one has to keep his age in mind. At 39, Recchi no longer has the legs he used too and will undoubtedly require more rest as the season goes on. With many owners seeing a rejuvenation in Recchi, it's advised to trade the veteran for younger fantasy studs while his stock is still high.


For Illegal Curve, I'm Jonny Remis