Around the league – Jan 28, 2010

Ice women of the week

Random thoughts

• Keep it in mind that today the Leafs, Flames and Flyers don’t have a 1st or 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft. Both Leaf picks belong to Boston due to the Phil Kessel trade. The Flyers’ picks belong to Anaheim as part of the Human Rake (Chris Pronger) trade, while Phoenix owns the Flames 1st rounder as part of the Olli Jokinen trade and the Blackhawks have the 2nd rounder as part of Rene Bourque trade from July 1st, 2008. The Leafs will miss the playoffs; the Flames are currently in 9th while the Flyers are tied for 6th, but only one point ahead of 9th, 10th and 11th.
• I wonder how many heads will roll if these three teams all miss the playoffs, and don’t have a first or second round pick?
• Since firing their goaltending coach, Eli Wilson, the Senators have won seven straight. Of course Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza have returned, but Brian Elliot was named First Star of the Week, last week so clearly he hasn’t missed his goaltending coach.
• The Red Wings reign is over. They gave up two goals in the final 1:30, and then lost in OT to Phoenix on Wednesday. Chicago is the new big dog in the Central division, while the Red Wings are in a fight just to make the playoffs. Only one player from the 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 drafts has played in the NHL. Shawn Matthias has played 41 games for the Florida Panthers. We will see if the Red Wings scouting staff can re-build the Wings.
• The Oilers and Flames only have two players with 12 or more goals. Iginla (21), Bourque (17), Penner (21) and Gagner 12. Only the Rangers with Gaborik (29) and Callhan (13) have the distinction of having limited goal-scoring threats.
• Ethan Moreau is a hot commodity out west. San Jose, LA and Anaheim are interested. Putting him on a solid checking line with Pisani and Horcoff is as much of a showcase as it is Pat Quinn trying to shelter his young players from the opposition’s top lines. The Sharks and Ducks seem the most interested.
• Sheldon Souray, if he is moved, could easily follow Moreau out west. Keep in mind that Dean Lombardi is very skeptical of acquiring any player who he thinks wants to be in LA for anything other than hockey. So Souray would have to convince him that he isn’t interested in any type of acting until he is done playing.
• I spoke with a few agents this week and it seems many GMs are hesitant to make a move until after the Olympic break. If they make a move before the Feb 12th deadline, they will have to pay a player 16 days of his salary before he plays a game. That might not seem like much, but in a cap-tight world it could be.
• The year is 193 days and the salary cap is broken day on a day-to-day basis. Ilya Kovalchuk and his $6.4 million cap hit means he costs $33,160 a day. So if a team trades for him before the break he’d cost an extra $530,569 against the cap.
• Souray would cost an extra $447,668, while Moreau costs $165,803. It might not seem like a lot, but many teams are trying to save money, but more importantly fit contracts under the cap.
• It sounds like Mike Gillis wants a physical D-man and possibly a centreman. The Canucks are on fire and I can’t see how he doesn’t make a move or two before March 3rd.
• I wonder why Brent Sutter continues to use Daymond Langkow as his go-to-guy on faceoffs? Langkow is a woeful 43.6% on draws. Olli Jokinen is 49.4% and Craig Conroy is 50.2%. None of the numbers are great, but the Flames are tied with the Oilers as worst faceoff teams in the NHL at 47.1%. Wow, Alberta teams suck right now!!!!

Leaders through the season

Final points