Is it just me, or was this past week interminable? I think it just seemed longer because we had a 4 day weekend in Victoria, what with the 19 feet of snow on Thursday. A lot happened, and I’m not sure I can remember it all. In any case, here’s my best effort.
ITEM ONE: I can’t just let the NHL trade deadline, which came and went on Tuesday, slide. There was a lot of activity, 25 trades in all. Let me review some of the more notable trades. Los Angeles traded Matthias Norstrom, a prospect and two picks to Dallas for Jaroslav Modry a prospect and three picks. As has been the case for a few days, the team giving up a star player (in this case, the Kings) has come up the winner. Modry is an above average blue-liner, and their high picks over the next couple years will certainly help. Now, they have some extra room under the cap for the off-season. Who doesn’t want to go to LA?
Another big trade involved the Red Wings, who gave up two picks for Florida’s Todd Bertuzzi. He has been injured most of the year, but if he can come back, his blue collar style will fit in nicely in Detroit, who is still trying to cope with the departure of Brendan Shanahan, another gritty but sure handed scorer.
A surely understated trade was the one between Washington and Buffalo, in which talented forward Dainius Zubrus (along with Thomas Helbing) was sent to the Sabres for Jiri Novotny and a pick. He will make up for any dropoff from Drury after the hit he took against Ottawa, and will provide a good veteran presence when the team is at full strength.
Buffalo also played a game of “acquire a cheaper goalie” by giving up Martin Biron to Philadelphia, but nabbing the cheaper Ty Conklin to play behind Ryan Miller. This savvy move will pay dividends in the offseason, when the Sabres will likely be after another defensman.
The Blues were at it again. If they could have traded away Doug Weight, they would have 15 first round picks next year, by my measure. Following the trade of Keith Tkachuk to Atlanta the day before, the Blues sent Bill Guerin to San Jose for Ville Nieminen, a prospect and a first round draft pick. Watch out for the Blues in 2011.
The Sabres were likely the most active team at the deadline, but the Pens weren’t far behind. They grabbed a strong veteran in Gary Roberts, and a tough forward to protect their young assets in Georges Laraques. They made one other trade I’ll touch on later.
The biggest trade of them all was the dealing of Edmonton superstar Ryan Smyth to the Islanders for a slew of prospects and picks. This is one of those trades that hurts really bad, but in a few years, I think it will end up working out well for the Oilers. It’s too bad they fell on their face this year though.
ITEM TWO: The Twins have started playing Spring Training games, and I’m pleased with this. There was a scary moment a few days back, when former Twin and now Red Kyle Lohse plunked Torii Hunter in the head. Ron Gardenhire waved it off, saying it was all right. We all know it was unintentional. Like Lohse could hit someone in the head on purpose. I’ve watched him pitch. He can’t hit a target that small. Especially when he’s upset.
ITEM THREE: Remember that post about the UMKC-Valparaiso game that you didn’t read? Well, the two teams met up in the Mid-Continent tournament yesterday, in a much more exciting game. Dee Ayuba had 31 points and the Kangaroos upset Valpo 84-76. They will now play Oakland (MI) in the semifinals of the conference tourney.
ITEM FOUR: OK, are you ready for that last Penguins trade that I alluded to earlier? Well, with all the forward lines full now, they had a scrappy center to give up, which they did to Minnesota. Domenic Moore was traded to the Wild for a draft pick. This deal gives Minnesota some depth and someone who can win a draw, something the team has sorely lacked. So that’s nice.
Elsewhere (mostly Canaday) last week, the Wild got a win and two overtime losses against division rivals Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. While they weren’t all wins, it’s nice that they spent every game of their road trip picking up points. Hopefully this is a trend that continues.
I think that’s enough out of me for now. Until we meet again.
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