NHL Playoff Push: Trades and who will make it

[Guest fairtoflair7]

Well, we are coming down the home stretch of this NHL season. Many teams are still alive and hoping to get in. Some fan's hearts will be broken while others jump for joy.

 

There are many teams still alive for the playoffs: The Islanders, Rangers, Lightning, Bruins, Florida, Montreal, Nashville, Chicago, Anaheim, LA, Edmonton, and a few others clinging for their lives. Some are hot right now while other are medicore. Some also have choked under the pressure.

 

There are also others who dissappointed/who were not supposed to be; that have players up for grabs. According to many GM's, its a buyers market right now. Many teams will get less value for the players they give up but w/the CBA up, many won't take high priced players

 

Some players avaiable are:

Miroslav Satan, Brad Isbister Martin Straka Valeri Bure

Geoff Sanderson Ziggy Palffy Fredrick Modin Craig Conroy

Ray Whitney Anson Carter Chris Osgood Dennis Gauthier

Andrew Cassels Alexi Zhitnick Adam Graves Jerome Iginla

Teemu Selanne Shawn Macheheran Bryan Marchment Glenn Wesley

Jeff O'Neill Artus Irbe Ryan Smith Chris Drury

Bob Boughner Chris Gratton Aaron Miller Radek Dvorak

Ville Nieminen Jan Hrdina Rob Niedermayer Yanic Perreault

Brad May Donald Audette Brad Ference Georges Laraque

Bryan Smolinski Lyle Odelein Mike Ricci Vincent Damphousse

 

 

 

Now I might have missed a few but the players I've named have all been in trade rumors. Some players where won't get traded while other will. It's no guarentee. Now don't post any unrealistic crap and don't flame on here. Just post your thoughts on the playoff race and on the trades. This thread could turn into something big if everyone expresses themselves.

[Guest treble charged]

If Edmonton and Boston start reeling off a few wins in a row, the list of teams that still have a realistic shot will drop dramatically, and a lot more 'sellers' will show up on the scene.

 

I really doubt that Calgary will trade Iginla, unless something just knocks their socks off and is too good to pass up, but I have heard Drury's name come up in trade rumours, so I wouldn't be surprised if he was gone.

 

The Canadiens are pretty much out of it, I think, but even if they weren't, they'd still probably want to get rid of Audette, even though he probably doesn't have a lot of trade value at this point in time.

[Guest MaxPower27]

Why would Drury get traded? I ask because I don't see a whole lot of him here in Florida (Calgary games are about as common as snowstorms).

 

Everytime I get to see him, though, it seems that he's always on. He passes well, shoots well, skates well, and IIRC, is still relatively young. Why would Calgary, a team 'building for the future' trade him?

[Guest treble charged]

Because they can get 2 or 3 decent players for the price of one, is my guess. Plus, Drury has good playoff experience, so a lot of teams are probably interested in that.

[Guest MaxPower27]

If Detroit really wants to fuck with Colorado, they'd try and get Drury.

 

The West is going to be interesting this year, with Dallas, Detroit, Colorado and VANCOUVER.

[Guest the pinjockey]

I could see the Flames trading Iginla if the Flyers decide to throw Gagne into the deal. Which they really need to do. I could see not trading Gagne a couple years ago to rent Bourque, but Iginla is what Gagne is supposed to become so you are just trading a potential superstar for a superstar who is just as young. Plus Gagne is proving to be a big wuss which will not fly in Philly for much longer.

[Guest treble charged]

NO, Philly does not need to do anything. In fact, they should trade all their good players away. Yes, that's what they should do.

[Guest fairtoflair7]

The Flames won't trade Iginla unless they are crazy. If they trade him...the fans will revolt. Calgary hasn't been in the playoffs in 7 years.

 

They have to try to build around Iginla. The only reason they would trade Drury b/c of his salary. There has been rumors about him going everywhere such as for Isbister and others. Iginla's salary is Calgary's only problem.

 

Philly is still looking for a defensemen and another scorer to help them at least score 1 goal in the playoffs HA.

[Guest treble charged]

The West is going to be interesting this year, with Dallas, Detroit, Colorado and VANCOUVER.

I hope we get Dallas/Edmonton in the first round again this year. These guys have played some of the best playoff hockey I've seen over the past few years. If I'm Vancouver, I hope I get either Minnesota or Anaheim in the first round, as I can easliy see both of those teams folding in the playoffs.

[Guest the pinjockey]

I don't think the Flyers will go after anymore D since they got Yuskevich. If they were able to steal a Housley or Schnieder maybe, but they won't go after them full out.

[Guest treble charged]

Philly is still looking for a defensemen and another scorer to help them at least score 1 goal in the playoffs HA.

Now, in their defence, didn't they score TWO goals? I mean, we shouldn't short change them, or anything, even if only one of them was in regulation.

[Guest MaxPower27]

Yeah, Ottawa played them beautifully.

 

IIRC, Housley, Odelien and Numminen are on the block. Though, I think Numminen has a no-trade in his contract. It'd be sad to see him leave Phoenix, he's been with them for YEARS, even as far back as Winnipeg.

[Guest treble charged]

Zhitnik will probably be moved from the Sabres, too.

[Guest treble charged]

I've heard a rumour of Tucker from the Leafs to the Oilers for Ninnema (or however you spell it), but the sticking point is that Tucker would miss a few games due to his suspension and the Oilers kind of need wins now to make sure they make the playoffs.

 

I like that trade.

[Guest MaxPower27]

Leafs need him for muscle though. They aren't going to outplay that OTHER team from Ontario.

[Guest treble charged]

Domi, Corson, Nolan, and Roberts kind of make Tucker expendable. Plus, as was seen early this week, Tucker can let the Sens get under his skin too easily.

[Guest MaxPower27]

yeah, that's true.

 

Are there going to be any surprises in the East? (IE, the Islanders moving on, Tampa doing well?)

[Guest treble charged]

Well, it looks like the world may be coming to an end. The Rangers are getting hot towards the end of the season and are only 4 points behind the Bruins. If they squeak in and are playing well, you never know what they could do.

 

If Tampa finishes 6th, they'll get Washington, so I don't think them winning would really be all that much of an upset.

[Guest MaxPower27]

Boston still has games in hand on NYR, though. I think they have 4 games on NYR.

[Guest treble charged]

The Rangers beat Philly tonight, so I think it's down to 3, now. They seem to be the only team that really has a chance to catch Boston, unless Montreal pulls off some sort of minor miracle.

[Guest MaxPower27]

Somehow, I don't see NYR in the playoffs. That may be just loyalty to my Bruins, but I just can't see it.

[Guest redbaron51]

Montreal will make that late surge and piss all Bruins, Rangers fans.

 

Toronto should get rid of both Tucker and Domi for defencemen that are skilled and are physical (sorry Wade Belak doesn't cut it)

[Guest MaxPower27]

Shyeah right. Montreal will fade. Fast.

[Guest treble charged]

Don't trade Domi. You need someone like that in the playoffs, and he keeps his emotions in check for the most part. I wouldn't shed a tear if Tucker was traded, though.

[Guest MaxPower27]

I don't blame you, TC. Tucker's an ass.

[Guest redbaron51]

Domi's done...A loose cannon IMO, and expandable.

[Guest fairtoflair7]

It's going to be a crap shoot in the East. The Rangers look to be the odd team out b/c Boston and the Isles have 3 games in hand BUT The Islanders have one of the toughest schedules in the NHL from now till the end so it could get interesting. TB is hot now. They are playing great. Boston should eb able to get unless a collapse happens again. It's going to be very interesting b/c Boston/Isles/Rags play each others so these games will really be intense.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Speaking only has a Hockey Novice. Doesn't Vancouver's lack of playoff experience hurt their chances to make a run to the Stanly Cup.

Also Turco doesn't have the experience that Joseph, and Roy have. Having a hot and sometimes experienced goalie is vital in the NHL playoffs.

[Guest redbaron51]

Turco doesn't have much experience, but the Dallas team does.

 

Vancouver has some experiance from last year, but they can't choke

[Guest Banky]

the Isles, Lightening, and Bruins will get the final spots in the East. Whoever gets 6th place gets it easy against the Capitals. But, I wouldn't count out the 8th team against the Senators. these guys are true chokers in every sense of the word. In fact, if I was any team I'd dread facing the Islanders. This team can turn it on out of nowhere and burn people. Islanders/Senators would be very very interesting.

 

Personally, I see the Lightening slipping a little. I've never understood why they are doing so well. I can't see them making ANY waves at all ni the playoffs.