A look at how the trade winds are blowing in the world of hockey.
For some general managers, the term "deadline deal" has become an oxymoron.
"It's like (Nashville GM) David Poile," a scout told us Friday. "When you do a deal with him you have to stipulate which deadline."
Well, perhaps the biggest deal left this February could be moving along at an iceberg's pace as well, as both Los Angeles and Edmonton hem and haw over a deal that would send prospects north and make Ales Hemsky an L.A. King.
Any time you pit L.A. GM, (Dithering) Dean Lombardi, against his counterpart in Edmonton, (Sluggish) Steve Tambellini, the resulting stand-off could go all the way to quintuple overtime.
It's like the Sphinx making a deal with the Statue of Liberty. The joke is, Edmonton should win the trade because by the time it's done, Hemsky might be retired.
Seriously though, after striking out in his owner-ordered chase of Ilya Kovalchuk, it is believed that Lombardi covets Hemsky as Monday's deadline approaches. In fact, so many key players have moved already - Alex Kovalev, Chris Stewart, Erik Johnson, Tomas Kaberle, Kris Versteeg, Mike Fisher - that many believe the pressure is on Lombardi to furnish his team with a one of the last remaining impact forwards on the market who will allow the Kings to compete for a Western Conference title.
Meanwhile, Tambellini has repeatedly stated that he's listening, yet is under no pressure to make a deal with his team rebuilding and another year left on both Ales Hemsky's and Dustin Penner's deals.
"I think Tamby could turn out to be a major player at this year's deadline," said our scout. "With so many players having moved already (and three days to go before the deadline) it's almost expected now that he go out and do something."
Hemsky ($4.1M cap hit through 2011-12) is available, as is inexpensive defenceman Ladislav Smid ($1.3M this season, RFA on July 1). The question is, which of his long list of prospects would Lombardi part with?
L.A. has backup goalie Jonathan Bernier, a former No 1 pick who could be seen as a goalie you could build a team around. The Kings also have Saskatoon centre Brayden Schenn - exactly the player that Edmonton, which is weak down the middle, would covet.
Then there are the Kings' three prospects on defence: 6-foot-4 Colten Teubert, drafted 13th overall in '08. "He's got character, he's tough," another scout said Friday. "Good mobility for his size."; Russian Vyacheslav Voynov, the 32nd pick in '08 who has become an intriguing offensive D-man, with 40 points in 56 games at AHL Manchester this season; and the Kings's 15th overall pick from last June, USA World Jr. defenceman Derek Forbort.
He's in his first season at the University of North Dakota, so is behind in his development compared to the two '08 drafts. "He's the one I'd want," a Central Division scout said of Forbort, who turns 19 on March 4.
The Canucks are watching the Minnesota Wild, in the wake of being uncertain about Cody Hodgson's ability to suffice as a fourth-line centre. They're looking at John Madden, a pending UFA who would be a fantastic addition to GM Mike Gillis' lineup in Vancouver.
Not only is Madden a crafty face-off man, he's a fine, fine leader who had a bigger influence on the Blackhawks last season than you'd think.
"It's his leadership qualities," said a Blackhawks scout. "He had already won a Stanley Cup with the (New Jersey) Devils, and you can't have enough of those guys at the end of the day.
"I talked to a GM just today who's trying to surround his team with that veteran presence. Key times and key minutes, he's played them. It's hard to get those guys that do that."
Madden is a guy who learned his craft in a Devils room inhabited by coaches like Larry Robinson and Jacques Lemaire, and players like Scott Stevens, Randy McKay, Ken Daneyko, and Martin Brodeur.
He'd be a huge acquisition for Vancouver. Huge.
The problem is, with the Wild in playoff contention as well, Wild GM Chuck Fletcher will require a roster player who can help immediately. Draft picks won't get the job done.
The story out of Dallas on giving up on James Neal was that he and the coaching staff weren't getting along. Lots of players have not liked playing for Marc Crawford over the years - and many have liked him. But that seems a poor reason to give up on a big, talented winger like Neal.
Also, the Stars are feeling cornered on the Brad Richards situation.
They don't have a true idea how long his concussion symptoms will persist. No one does. Nor do they know what they should be getting in trade because of that, should they decide to deal him. Plus, Richards has a no-trade clause, so the Stars options are limited. And how do you trade a concussed player anyhow?
Other unknowns? Whether Dallas will get the new owner by July 1 that is needed for Richards to re-sign there; or whether, if Richards moves on, financial overseer Tony Tavares will let GM Joe Nieuwendyk spend that $7.8M in payroll on other UFAs.
If there is no owner in place by the draft and July 1, it might be a very non-productive summer in Dallas.
Meanwhile, the New York Rangers are first in the line of teams trying to acquire Richards by the deadline.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, a team that has had its share of good fortune over the past few years - going back to the lottery win that brought them Sidney Crosby - is seeing the worm turn on them this season. Evgeni Malkin blew out a knee and is out for the season, Crosby's concussion troubles could render him just as helpful this spring, and now lead D-man Brooks Orpik has a busted finger.
Losing Orpik for 4-6 weeks is a major blow - both on the ice and inside the Penguins dressing room. He is a big-time leader, and the kind of blood 'n' guts D-man that every Stanley Cup champion seems to have.
If he is out through the playoffs however, the Penguins can spend his $3.75M in cap space. St. Louis defenceman Barrett Jackman would look good in Pitt as a replacement for Orpik. They play roughly the same game.
So, everybody wants a depth defenceman these days. But they don't have much money to spend, and it would be great if he were a UFA.
First, you have to call up the list of D-men with a cap hit of, let's say $1.3 million or less. Then eliminate those who are on teams in playoff contention (like Washington's John Erskine), players who have recently been dealt (St. Louis' Kevin Shattenkirk), and recent high picks who are part of a team's future, like Florida's Keaton Ellerby or Ottawa's Erik Karlsson, the list of candidates gets awfully short.
Here's the crop of guys who fit the mould of getting moved for a fifth-, sixth- or seventh-round draft pick, who could help a playoff team:
Smid, Edmonton ($1.3M).
Milan Jurcina, Isles ($1 M).
Ryan O'Byrne, Colorado ($942,000).
Mike Weaver, Florida ($900,000).
Brian Lee, Ottawa ($875,000).
Jonas Holos, Colorado ($785,000).
Jason Strudwick, Edmonton ($725,000).
Throw in Steve Montador from Buffalo, who makes $1.55 on the last year of his deal. Chicago watched him again Friday night against Ottawa, and like Smid as well.
