http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/opinion/2012/01/the-penguins-plight-crosbys-recovery-30-thoughts.html
Some quotes from Friedman:
2. Philadelphia, for example, realizes its defence will need fortification to handle Boston's four-line attack. And the Rangers refuse to place Sean Avery on re-entry waivers because they don't want the nearly $2 million cap hit if he gets claimed elsewhere.
3. Can't help but look at Wojtek Wolski's $3.8 million cap hit and wonder if the Rangers will do some maneuvering there too, should it be necessary. Doesn't look like he's a fit right now.
Translation: a waiving?
8. Among teams considered ready to make a move are Toronto and San Jose, with Chicago hovering. Brian Burke is one of the game's most aggressive GMs, and Doug Wilson appears ready to add depth as Martin Havlat moves closer to a return. The Blackhawks have the cap space to do something if they wish, a luxury that hasn't always existed as of late.
9. Obviously, there's a lot of talk about Luke Schenn. But hearing that a few teams are watching Toronto AHL defenceman Korbinian Holzer very closely (Anaheim is one). A few guys who see him much more than I do think he's ready for a consistent shot at the NHL. He's defensive-minded (a good penalty killer) and doesn't back down. Could be part of a package for something.
10. Burke was damned if he did/damned if he didn't by trying to soothe Schenn, who really likes it in Toronto. The danger in telling a player he won't be dealt is a) things change quickly and b) sometimes GMs feel it's better to lie to a player in case a potential trade falls apart. Jamie Langenbrunner and Teemu Selanne were two players packaged shortly after being told nothing was going on, and it took both a long time to get over it.
Toronto, Montreal...who likes playing in that kind of environment. Hopefully Ottawa never reaches that pitch.
11. It is believed the Blackhawks have some interest in Derick Brassard. Blue Jackets' GM Scott Howson did say Saturday that Brassard, who is showing new life under Todd Richards, may not be traded after all. (Howson's mouth turned into a hermetically sealed vault when I asked about Chicago's interest.) Brassard had a huge blocked shot to preserve a 4-3 win last Friday over Phoenix.
Too late, the price has gone up now that Brassard is playing MUCH better.
12. Those who are waiting? It's believed the Flyers covet Ryan Suter, so you've got to save your biggest bullets. David Poile is on record as saying he'll hold back until the last minute. Remember, the Flyers and Predators consummated two pretty important trades over the past few seasons: Peter Forsberg at the 2007 deadline, and Scott Hartnell/Kimmo Timonen for draft picks a few months later. Paul Holmgren must feel pretty confident that if he needs to pull off a complex transaction, he can do it with Poile.
Yikes...the price will be JVR for a prospective rental I think...
15. Terry Pegula blamed injuries for the Sabres' ugly performance so far, and there's some truth to that. But, every team's got them to some degree. What you can control is effort and, for whatever reason, Buffalo just isn't as competitive on a nightly basis as it needs to be.
16. One question about Buffalo: Have the massive deals given out to Christian Ehrhoff and Ville Leino damaged the dressing room? Now, it's not like current Sabres haven't gotten paid. Ryan Miller, Jason Pominville and Derek Roy all got new contracts before Pegula took over. (And they matched Thomas Vanek's offer sheet.) But, over the years, several GMs have said it's a dangerous dance when you reward players from outside -- especially in a cap system.
Bad, bad, bad situation in Buffalo - or is it? Can they turn it around without a massive trade? As the best in the biz would say, 'more to come...'
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