D-Day: 2009

All quiet on the Eastern front for Les Canadiens, so far. The biggest rumour to emerge over night has Phoenix sending Bryzgalov and Morris to Philadelphia for Biron and Lupul. but I cannot imagine Biron waiving his no trade clause to head to Phoenix, so I say this one dies before it happens. 

• Boston is apparently after Mattias Ohlund as Chris Pronger negotiations have broken off. (Sportsnet)

75 trades...

On deadline days in the three years since the lockout. I'm no mathematician, but I'm going to go out on a limb and predict 25 trades tomorrow. A few rumours from today:

• Anaheim GM Bob Murray says Scott Niedermayer "is not available"
• Dominic Moore and the Leafs are a million per year apart on a contract, the Toronto Star calls his trade inevitable
• Give teams (including Les Canadiens and Calgary) are still bidding for Olli Jokinen
• Jay Bouwmeester is likely staying in Florida
• The Minnesota Wild are leaning towards dealing star goaltender Niklas Backstrom. My Take: This could be THE move of the deadline. If the Red Wings grab Backstrom, watch out
• The Bill Guerin trade watch continues, and the belief is he is headed to Washington, should they be able to trade Michael Nylander

UPDATE:

• TEAM 990: The Devils are pursuing Anaheim defenceman Scott Niedermayer, and will do so right up until the deadline.
• SI's Jim Kelley says the Sabres are making inquiries of "every available goaltender," suggesting that they are not comfortable with Patrick Lalime down the stretch. 

Quiet day in Habsland, but lots of rumours

With the Canadiens resting until Wednesday against Buffalo, things are fairly quiet in Habsland. Two great pieces in today's Gazette on Plekanec and Halak today.  I really believe Plekanec is a special player. Gainey should not, I repeat not, deal Pleks.

Rumours as they come today. First off, Bob McKenzie's discussion from radio this morning:

• Philly wants to get rid of Briere, realizes it was a bad signing
• Bob Gainey is still shopping for a top six forward, likely a center, Dominic Moore is a possibility
• As far as he can find out, Kaberle to Boston rumours have been fabricated
• Toronto will definitely trade Antropov and Moore, unless Moore signs a contract extension today, and likely Ponikarovsky
• Ottawa will trade both Kuba and Neil
• Phoenix does not want much for Olli Jokinen, McKenzie called this a "soft deal" to be had, they simply want to get rid of him as the relationship has not worked out

More trade rumours...

It's that time of year! Philadelphia has apparently offered James vanRiemsdyk, Joffrey Lupul and prospect to the Panthers for Jay Bouwmeester, as per the Toronto Sun.

To match, what would the Canadiens have to part with? Chris Higgins, PK Subban and a 1? 

• Stan Fischler of NYP fame is saying Sunday on the Devils broadcast that the Flames and Avs have been discussing a deal that would bring Ryan Smyth to Calgary. The ultime screw you to Edmonton? My Take: This deal has legs. The Avalanche desperately need to clear some salary. I would say a package of Lombardi, Aucoin and a 1st would do it. Getting Smyth off the books would be a big win for Colorado's owners. 
• Bill Guerin has been traded, but where? The pundits are saying Washington is the favourite, followed closely by Montreal, Boston, Buffalo and Pittsburgh. Whoever grabs him may not like what they get, because Billy G's playoff stats, in over 100 games, are essentially .5 points per game. Not exactly first line material. My Take: He's going to Washington, probably for a 2nd round pick and perhaps a prospect, no more. 
• Nasville is after Ponikarovsky, according to The Fourth Period. The Preds are looking to deal Radek Bonk. My Take: The Leafs want picks, not Bonks. Ponikarovsky for a 3rd and a 4th, and Nashville picks up a decent, gritty, top nine winger. 
• Steve Sullivan: If, and it's a big if, the Predators decide they're not in this, then perhaps they deal Sullivan to the East. I would think Boston or Montreal would love his speed. But could his body take the beating that is the NHL playoffs? I'd have to think the Predators would be happy with a prospect and a late pick in return. After all, two months ago, he hadn't played in two years. 
• Mathieu Dandenault: He wants out, the Canadiens want to shed his salary, and the Red Wings always liked him. I bet he gets shipped there as playoff depth, probably for a 5th or 6th round pick. 
• Pascal Leclaire to Ottawa for Antoine Vermette, http://blog.dispatch.com/cbj/2009/03/leclaire_to_ottawa.shtml My Take: This makes sense. Ottawa desperately needs a goalie, and Columbus needs a centreman. I could see this one coming to fruition.
• Gary Roberts is available, but has confirmed that he will definitely retire for good at the end of this season. My Take: Roberts is going to a contender that needs a veteran presence. Look for Pittsburgh to take a look. He could also head back to Calgary, or perhaps Vancouver to join his old buddy Mats "the sellout" Sundin. 

Updates On The Evening

• A great game tonight between Montreal and San Jose. The Sharks dominated until a Georges Laraque fight (yes, Georges is actually still alive, I know many were concerned he had gone missing), and after the fight the Canadiens took over. Three unanswered goals in ten minutes. Against the best team in the league. 3-0 Habs. And great, great play on behalf of Mathieu Schneider. This guy is the lucky charm of the year.
• Bill Guerin took the warm-up tonight for the Islanders and then left the ice, he is not injured. Has he been traded? Time will tell.
• Kari Lehtonen is coveted by Philadelphia: CBC
• Brian Campbell available: CBC
• Brian Burke scouting the Bruins, potential Kaberle deal: CBC
• Vancouver in the mix for Jay Bouwmeester: CBC, Daniel Sedin being pursued (but not Henrik)
• Alex Burrows available: CBC
• Two dozen teams have made offers for Martin St. Louis: Pierre Lebrun, CBC
• Erik Cole back to Carolina: CBC
• Milan Hedjuk is available, but was hurt tonight: CBC
• Canadiens still after Jokinen: Lebrun, CBC
• Leafs turned down an offer for Ian White: CBC
• Leafs will deal Jamal Mayers: CBC
• Columbus GM Scott Howson scouted tonight's Leafs-Sens game, word is he may be after Antropov

Gazette: Canadiens After Top End Defenceman

Bouwmeester mentioned, Kaberle more likely, Pronger anyone?

Link here:

http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/mtl090228.html

• The rumour, by the way, is Higgins and Subban or McDonaugh for Kaberle

Rumours today, game tonight

Halak starts tonight against the Flyers in Philadelphia. Time will tell if the reincarnation of Ken Dryden will again turn away dozens of shots, or if the Canadiens defence will break down. 7 pm EST start, on TSN in Canada. Should be a great game.

UPDATE: Habs grab Glen Metropolit off waivers. Ossi Vaananen grabbed by Vancouver.

Rumours today:

• Bob Gainey has told Mathieu Dandenault he will attempt to accomodate his trade request
• Boston is moving hard towards acquiring Chris Pronger: The Four Period and NESN
• Pittsburgh and Toronto are discussing a Tomas Kaberle trade
• Sean Avery will be on re-entry waivers come Monday: Sportsnet
• Niklas Backstrom "must be signed by Minnesota or he'll be dealt" - Pierre McGuire, TEAM 990
• "Canadiens should be after Keith Tkachuk" - Pierre McGuire

Well Deserved Rest Day

The Canadiens are off today, and return to action Friday in Philadelphia against the Flyers. It is a reasonable bet that Jaroslv Halak will start again, after a dominating performance against a once hot Vancouver offence, led by Mats "The Sellout" Sundin. 

In injury news, Alex Tanguay may return Friday or Saturday, but it could be another week before he laces up for a game. Francis Bouillon appears gone 2-4 weeks with a leg injury. And there are now whispers that, if the Canadiens get to the second round, Robert Lang will be able to return from a severed achilles tendon.

Today's Rumours

• Bob McKenzie reported on the TEAM 990 this morning that Vincent Lecavalier "will not be traded this season."
• McKenzie also noted Chris Pronger "will very likely be traded, but at draft time and not in the next week."
• Alex Kovalev appears off the block, as per McKenzie and comments by Pierre Mcguire
• Rumours continue to persist that the Bruins are after either Pronger or Tomas Kaberle
• Devils send Clemmensen to the minors: TEAM 990

Sunday Tidbits

I love Sundays. Why? Well, many reasons. But sports-wise, it's because Sunday is rumour day. All the newspapers seem to print their weekly rumours. Simmons, Garrioch, Boone...it doesn't matter who it is, or whether they have any credibility, it's a fun way to end the week.

Two stick out today for the Canadiens. The first is not much of a rumour persay, but a clarification of what happened in the past. It comes from Steve Simmons in the Toronto Sun, who reported today in regards to Mats Sundin that: "One more Sundin truth: His agent contacted the Rangers and Montreal in a last-ditch effort to avoid signing in Vancouver. When neither responded, he moved West."

The other big news of the day comes from the Ottawa Sun. This morning's paper had this nugget, regarding a certain Avalanche winger:

"League sources say a possible solution the Habs are studying is Avalanche winger Ryan Smyth, who has three years left on his contract at an average of $6.25 million (all terms US) per season and is being shopped by Colorado GM Francois Giguere."

Now that would be a big, big move. And I have always thought Ryan Smyth would look great on the Habs. But his cap hit is enormous, and with the cap going down in two years he would potentially doom us to mediocrity.

One cheaper name I'll throw out there though, who may be available: Teemue Selanne.

Wouldn't the Finnish Flash looks great on the wing with Captain Koivu?

Canadiens at Penguins

Another day, another game...another loss? We'll see. Guy Carbonneau ices the same team tonight, with Carey Price starting after a strong effort last night in a shootout loss to the Washington Capitals.

The Alex Kovalev saga continues (and that's what it is, a saga). As well, Steve Begin is apparently now upset that he isn't playing. I can't blame him. He is the same type of player as Gregory Stewart, and yet Stewart was called up to play ahead of him. Furthermore, Begin makes $1.2 million, and Stewart makes (in NHL terms) next to nothing. If this were any other NHL city, Begin would be dealt, and he is valuable to contenders as a gritty, hard working fourth liner. However, he's French, and this in Montreal, so for at least a few more games he'll likely watch from the press-box.

Also, Georges Laraque. What does he do? Last night, he took a dumb penalty hitting Donald Brashear from behind. Otherwise, he did nothing. I can't believe we have this guy for another two years at $1.5 million. Perhaps Gainey's worst signing as Habs GM - but that's debatable.

And as for rumours, the same ones continue to swirl: Kovalev to Pittsburgh, Kovalev to Columbus, Kovalev responsible for economic crisis, Kovalev meeting in Ottawa with Obama. Etc. Etc. It just keeps going.

Ryan Smyth is apparently available (so says TSN). Now he might look good playing wing to Saku Koivu. But do the Canadiens have the cap room? No.

And lastly, the Habs powerplay came to life last night, going three for four. Mathieu Schneider looked great, playing 27 minutes. Can the Canadiens keep the PP momentum going this evening?

Doc, this is going to be a good one.

Rumours abound...

Rumours tonight that Halak, he of the great game in Colorado two nights ago, could be headed to.....Colorado! They wanted him earlier in the year, and they still do now. Sounds like a defenceman coming the other way. Brett Clark maybe, former Habs  draft pick and flame-out. A good move for Les Canadiens? Probably not good enough to turn around the teams fortunes at this point. More at the following link near the bottom:

http://blogs.denverpost.com/avs/2009/02/15/so-i-go-to-a-dartmouth-hockey-game-and-this-is-the-first-thing-i-see/