McKenzie: Who's buying? Who's selling?
TSN.ca Staff
3/7/2003
It should come as no surprise that the Toronto Maple Leafs are the Canadian team most likely to be making moves between now and the trading deadline.
The Owen Nolan trade was just the first salvo in a Leaf attempt to seriously upgrade the roster. Look for the Leafs to add at least one defenceman and quite possibly two from a list that includes Aaron Miller of the Los Angeles Kings, Glen Wesley or Aaron ward from the Carolina Hurricanes, Alexei Zhitnik of the Buffalo Sabres and Brad Ference of the Florida Panthers.
The hitch for the Leafs, though, is that there's intense competition from all the other contenders to get those defencemen, so it won't be easy or cheap.
In Ottawa, the Senators are still looking to add size and grit up front and while there continues to be talk about getting Brad May from the Phoenix Coyotes, that won't happen as long as the asking price continues to be blueline prospect Tim Gleason. The Sens want to add one more forward but they can afford to be choosy and won't hesitate to back off if the price is too high.
In Montreal, the Habs aren't likely to make the playoffs, so they're sellers. Anyone who doesn't fit into their long-range plans is available and that list includes anyone from Patrice Brisebois to Doug Gilmour to Donald Audette. The trouble is, players like Brisebois and Audette aren't marketable and don't give enough bang for the buck. Gilmour, however, would be an attractive rental. If the Habs are willing to eat some salary and Brisebois would agree to restructure his contract, the 11-year NHL veteran is an excellent bet to move. The Canadiens desperately want him out of the organization.
In the West, there is the potential for activity but it would be a surprise if there's a lot in terms of quantity and quality. The Vancouver Canucks are legitimate cup contenders and will be looking to add a quality forward who can play in their top nine or a depth defenceman, but they can afford to be selective and will only give up prospects or picks - nothing off their current roster.
The Calgary Flames have been making headlines for weeks about a possible trade for Jarome Iginla, and just about everybody else on the roster for that matter. Unless ownership and management suddenly reverse their field, Iginla won't be traded and neither will any of the other core players on the Flames (unless of course, some team comes calling with an unbelievable offer). Calgary doesn't want to trade Bob Boughner as he's exactly what they need: an affordable defenceman with character and experience. They would only consider giving him up if someone is going to dramatically overpay.
As for the Edmonton Oilers, General Manager Kevin Lowe would like to shake things up, but c'mon people! Don't be buying into these wild rumours about Janne Niinimaa going to Toronto for Darcy Tucker or Anson Carter or Georges Laraque being dealt. It's true that there are no untouchables on the team, but the Oilers lack two things: goal scoring and size up front. Carter is their top goal scorer. Laraque is their biggest, toughest presence. If they trade those guys, how do they come out ahead? And as for 'Niinimaa for Tucker,' how can a team - any team - give up a 30-minute defenceman for a second or third-line forward? The Oilers would love to add a Chris Gratton or a Brad Isbister but to do it, they'll have to give up prospects like Alexei Semenov or Jani Rita and they're hesitant to do that.
It should be an interesting weekend for all the Canadian teams, but be sure to keep an eye on Toronto and Montreal - the Leafs because they're most interested in buying and the Habs because they'll be most intent on selling.
For those who like to see big deals done leading up to the trade deadline, there is a fear that Toronto's acquisition of Nolan may be as good as it gets, that any subsequent trades will pale in comparison.
Don't be so sure about that.
Whether more big names with star status move by Tuesday is going to depend largely on some of the "buyers" out there - teams such as the New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers because there certainly is some big-name talent to be had.
Those three teams, for example, are - to varying degrees - in the market for front-line goal-scoring wingers. For the right price, the following players are available: Teemu Selanne of the San Jose Sharks, Tony Amonte of the Phoenix Coyotes, Miro Satan of the Buffalo Sabres and Ziggy Palffy of the Los Angeles Kings.
But none of those teams - the Sharks, Coyotes, Sabres and Kings - have to trade their stars. It has to be a good hockey deal that includes quality young players or prospects.
The truth is there are a lot of hot spots in the NHL, places where the sellers are preparing to get busy. But each of these hot spots has its unique set of circumstances.
Sure, Buffalo could trade Satan, Chris Gratton or Alexei Zhitnik, but the Sabres' asking prices will be high. They don't have to trade anyone now because these are the kinds of deals that could be made at the draft, too. Gratton and Zhitnik, by the way, are the best bets to move.
In Carolina, the Hurricanes aren't just ready to unload defenceman Glen Wesley. Blueliner Aaron ward and forward Bates Battaglia are two other commodities in high demand. If Ward goes, Wesley might be kept. And the same holds true in reverse.
With each passing moment, Los Angeles looks less and less like a playoff team, which means that if the Kings can't sign defenceman Aaron Miller and centre Bryan Smolinski, they'll be on the move. Any potential Palffy trade will depend purely on the return.
Phoenix, like Buffalo, doesn't have to dump their talent for financial reasons. If they get a great offer, Amonte could move. The same thing goes for netminder Sean Burke and defenceman Teppo Numminen. But it's not a fire sale.
Pittsburgh, on the other hand, looks like it is a fire sale, where everyone but Mario Lemieux looks to be available. Martin Straka's injury history and contract might work against a move, but he's certainly a talent who could be had.
Florida is eager to dump salary and Valeri Bure, but he has a somewhat limited appeal for the same reasons as Straka. Chicago is ready to unload a handful of veterans including Phil Housley, Lyle Odelein, Chris Simon and Steve Thomas, amongst others.
And then there are the Sharks, who after dumping Nolan are now fielding offers on virtually all their thirty-something players: Selanne, Vincent Damphousse, Mike Ricci, Scott Thornton, Adam Graves and Bryan Marchment.
It appears there are more sellers than buyers right now, but it will only take a few of each to get hooked up on the right players. Once that happens, away we go. Some stars will be changing addresses.
Cheers,
Aquaman