How could the Panthers and Habs not have dealt Bouwmeester and Komisarek respectively?
Jacques Martin's Florida Panthers had better win the Stanley Cup.
Because if they don't, and star defenceman Jay Bouwmeester walks at the end of the season for nothing, the Panthers general manager may wish he could make Trade Deadline 2009 his mulligan. I think then he'd like another shot.
Bouwmeester, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, was arguably the most coveted commodity on the market, but the Panthers were unable to move him. The Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks were said to be the two most interested trading partners.
The Flyers apparently dropped out of the running an hour or so before the 3 p.m. Eastern deadline and the Canucks elected to stand pat. Keep in mind, the Canucks made a huge acquisition earlier acquiring Mats Sundin.
On some level I can understand Martin being so desperate to make the playoffs - the Panthers haven't been to the post-season since 1999-2000 when they were swept by the Devils in the first round and haven't won a playoff round since 1996 when they lost the Stanley Cup final. What I wonder, though, is what we'll be saying about the Panthers one year from now - especially if they don't make the playoffs this year and are on the outside looking in a year from now.
Something like, "Geez, wonder how the Panthers would be doing this year if they had gotten SOMETHING!!! for Bouwmeester?"
And if the Panthers, who have made great strides this season, but stand to take a step back if Bouwmeester blows town, are in a position to miss the playoffs at the trade deadline next season, not trading Bouwmeester this year could be Martin's undoing.
In Montreal, GM Bob Gainey held on to Mike Komisarek, which really isn't a surprise because the big defenceman is one of his team's most valuable players. But in doing so, he set himself up to possibly lose a high-end defenceman for the third straight year with nothing in return. Komisarek, like Sheldon Souray and Mark Streit before him, is slated to be an unrestricted free agent this summer. It is understandable that Gainey wanted to keep the shutdown defender to see how far he can help carry the Habs, but given the fact Souray walked two years ago and Streit bolted last summer, you have to wonder what was behind Gainey's reluctance to move Komisarek and bring back assets.
And you also have to wonder if the Canadiens would be further up the standings if they had anything whatsoever to show for Souray and Streit.
Does anybody believe the Canadiens or Panthers will win the Stanley Cup this season? Not me. So I am mystified at teams holding onto impending UFAs and allowing them walk for nothing. Not necessarily teams with a legitimate chance to win the Cup, but teams that are long shots.
Maybe it's just a me thing?
Prior to the implementation of the salary cap, teams could let players walk and then replace them in the summer. But those days are gone. Many teams are locking up with long-term deals and by time July 1 rolls around, only secondary players are left and they are commanding unbelievable contracts. I am speaking of the likes of Danny Briere, Scott Gomez, Chris Drury and Brian Campbell. Then when a team such as the Flyers sours on Briere, it is impossible to trade him.
It is a phenomenon worth keeping an eye on.
In terms of players that did get traded, the New York acquired 6-foot-6 centre Nik Antropov from the Toronto Maple Leafs and veteran defenceman Derek Morris from the Phoenix Coyotes - two guys playing for contacts, so they should be inspired. If Sean Avery works out, the Rangers have helped themselves tremendously.
Toronto's Brian Burke likely hoped to make a bigger splash than he did as he tries to resurrect the Maple Leafs, but with Antropov and Moore gone, and Martin Gerber tending the net down the stretch, perhaps the Leafs stand a better chance of getting a lottery pick. That, for the record, is a good thing especially if they get John Tavares or Victor Hedman.
So who is the favourite to win the Stanley Cup after the trade deadline? I'd say the Detroit Red Wings or San Jose Sharks, with a nod to the New Jersey Devils and Calgary Flames. Not much changed, huh?
