CBarnezz's NHL Backroom Blog

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Canadian Team Trade Updates...

Let me start by saying that its hard to nail down good chatter versus bad chatter.

I was predicting Ottawa will pick up Toskola, but Vesa resigned a 2 year contract worth $1.35 mil with the Sharks. So what does this mean for future trades?

Edmonton
Looked like Lowe had his goaler, as a Yotes deal for contract Cujo seemed like a done deal, but as with many trade talks it changed. Lowe should go after an UFA goaler because he wants to sign a solid #1 in the summer. Biron seems logical but the Sabres are just being greedy with their ask. So look for talks about Weekes or Cujo to get done.

Ottawa
I still stand by my Ottawa sources and maintain Jokinen not sign with the Sens, despite what other rumour sites say. The only way Ollie signs with the Sens if they get a great deal on an UFA goalie (and Roloson is the target now) however, they could land a goalie and Jokinen if they overpay. Cbarnezz prediction: If Jokinen lands in Ottawa he will have a sub par post season,will fail to win a Stanley Cup and Jokinen will leave and sign elsewhere as an UFA.

Montreal
The Habs are still looking to make a few deadline moves with Ribiero, Bonk and Zednick all as players Gainey will look to trade. Zednick could attract a fair trade, though Ribiero & Bonk are tougher sells. With Ribiero talks linked to Washington and Montreal interest in Witt a deal might work but McPhee has asked for RFA Perezhogin. Gainey has apparent interest in Kuba from Minnesota also. I do stand by my earlier prediction that Gainey picks a Selanne out of his trade hat!

Vancouver
The Nucks are not quite as are panicked today as they were after Ohlund/Salo Olympic injuriescuz both are not season ending boo boo's. They are still looking hard for a defenceman or 3 and a solid back-up goalie for Auld. Weinrich should be 1, while Carney could be another who can plug holes and log big minutes and 2 available players are Minnesota's Roloson and Kuba, but it will cost them. They may be forced to solidify D only and bring in a defined back-up like Weekes.

Toronto
Despite all the BS rumours you hear out of Toronto (and there are a ton of them) believe non of them. I mean who would trade Sundin, Tucker, Allison, McCabe, Belfour, and Stajan (not to mention the perenial Antropov, Berg trades) all by the deadline and still make the playoffs. Only 1 big trade will happen, McCabe will be traded before the deadline. A few minor deals are being discussed for the likes of a Berg & Czerkawski.

Calgary
As reported previously, the Flames are looking at different C options with Suter calling Keenan's ask for pending UFA Jokinen as ridiculous. Calgary will look at other options like I reported before...Mike York, Jan Hrdina, Allison, and there's even a hint that Suter will wait till the last minute to look at Savard if the Thrashers "Waddell" themselves out of a guarenteed playoff spot.



** Consider This **

With big names like Tkachuk and Jokinen bouncing around as trade deadline possible deals and pending UFA players like Chara, Redden, Richards, Selanne, Savard, Legwand, Zidlicky, Kuba, McCabe, Jovanowski and Witt (not to mention all the goaler UFA's) popping into the GM's heads of Stanley Cup front-running teams, DO NOT count out teams we've heard very little from like Colorado, Detroit, Carolina & Philidelphia.
Cbarnezz Prediction: Before the trade deadline is over both Lacroix and Clarke will make significant trades.

Sunday, February 26, 2006

POTENTIAL TRADES: PLAYER BY POSITION BREAKDOWN

Last of 3 Positional Breakdowns..Goalers

Curtis Joseph
Interested teams: Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Ottawa, Florida, and LA.
Predicted Destination: Cujo may not go anywherw, but will go to Edmonton if he does move to be reunited with Lowe.

Vesa Toskola
Interested teams: Ottawa, Vancouver, Edmonton, LA
Predicted Destination: Toskola will go to the Sens right after the freeze is lifted, could be the 1st trade.

Marty Biron
Interested teams: Vancouver, Ottawa and Edmonton
Predicted Destination: Edmonton will snag Biron if a Cujo deal cannot be worked out.

Andrew Raycroft
Interested teams: Edmonton, Vancouver and Colorado
Predicted Destination: Stays in Beantown.

Manny Fernandez or Dwayne Roloson
Interested teams: Vancouver, Colorado, Edmonton, Tampa, Colorado
Predicted Destination: Look for Fernandez to re-sign & Roloson to go toVancouver with Kuba to inject life into the Nucks who have tons of cap space after Ohlund/Salo/Jovo injuries.

Roberto Luongo
Interested teams: Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, Rangers, Edmonton
Predicted Destination: Lots of talk about a 3-way deal, but its too complicated for a deadline deal. My sources say if Luongo moves it will be in the summer.


Other Rmours…

From the chattering sources behind the scenes I have spoken with, Edmonton will be the first out of the gate to make a trade.
Cbarnezz prediction: Sunday night, Monday morning the Oil will bring in Cujo as their new goalie.



McCabe will be traded with interest coming into to JFJ from a ton of sources. Teams calling include...Vancouver, Colorado, Rangers, and Carolina . McCabe will reject his latest offer of $5.3 M.
Cbarnezz prediction: McCabe will go to the Canes for 1 of Andrew Ladd, Jack Johnson, Tyson Strachen, Chad Larose or Nate Hagemo…possibly 2 players if a bidding war starts.



Lots of Ottawa chatter...
Muckler already had won the bidding war for Jokinen, but Hasek got injured. In a way this was a good thing for Sens fans cuz they were by most estimates going to overpay for Oli (the ask being Havlat or Fisher/Eaves + pick) When Hasek went down it nixed the deal in place...now look for Toskola or another goaler to join the Sens.

One source I have who I re-connected with recently after years is barking loudy about a deal he insists will happen. He thinks Roloson & Daigle will go to the Sens (this used to be a great source so keep an eye on this).
A lesser light Centre may still however be headed to Ottawa...talk is around 2 names...Mike Comrie or Mike York.
Cbarnezz prediction: Look for Mike York to go to the Sens despite a Comrie /Cujo package rumour.

Friday, February 24, 2006

Olympic Hockey

Ok, Ok, I was only 50% right. I said my Gold medal final prediction was...

Finland vs Canada

I was predicting with my heart more than my head. Truth be told, after Finland won I said to my friend Kipper that it would not be Canada, but Sweden would get to the Gold game. So I was like 75% right!

Anyhow, the game is Finland vs Sweden and I will go with my boy Mats and the Swedes to win gold.

While the Russians will win bronze in a 7 - 5 shoutout.

A LIST OF POTENTIAL TRADES: PLAYER BY POSITION BREAKDOWN

Forwards

Olli Jokinen
Interested teams: Panthers, Flames, Sens, Kings, Rangers
Predicted Destination: Colorado with an out side shot of Calgary.

Owen Nolan
Interested teams: San Jose, Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton,
Predicted Destination: San Jose

Kieth Tkachuk
Interested teams: Rangers, Bruins, Senators, will stay in St.Louis
Predicted Destination: Rangers

Dallas Drake
Interested teams: Nashville, Philly, Ottawa, and St.Louis
Predicted Destination: Should stay in St.Lou, but outside chance Sens be

Shane Doan
Interested teams: Coyotes, Sabres, Toronto and Senators
Predicted Destination: Will stay with ‘Yotes

Brad Richards
Interested teams: Nashville, Montreal, Toronto and Minnesota
Predicted Destination: Montreal - might be an off-season package

Mark Parrish
Interested teams: Calgary, Philly
Predicted Destination: Philly if a Darcy Tucker deal falls thru

Jeff Friesen
Interested teams: Bosto, Philly, Calgary and San Jose
Predicted Destination: Boston

John LeClair
Interested teams: Detroit, LA, and Bruins
Predicted Destination: Detroit

Mark Recchi
Interested teams: Philly, Bruins, stays in Pitt
Predicted Destination: Word is he’s staying, but Philly may get him

Sergei Samsonov
Interested teams: Philly, Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver, stays in Boston
Predicted Destination: Calgary - might be part of a Raycroft package

Darcy Tucker
Interested teams: Philly, Edmonton, Colorado, stays in Toronto
Predicted Destination: Philly – outside chance Colorado comes in big, but if I know MLSE he stays in Toronto

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

What a great day…Olympic hockey!

Quarter finals started early today with some average games. The Swedes beat the Swiss pretty easily and the Finns beat the US in a closer penalty filled match.

Still to come is Slovakia vs Czech and the Russia vs Canada game. I am going to pick the Czech and the Canada to win. That means in the semi-finals we will see Canada vs Finland and Sweden vs Czech.

I am predicting a Czech vs Canada final Gold medal game and a Sweden vs Finland Bronze medal game.

Note: Mattius Ohlund left the Sweden game with an injury, possibly affecting some NHL rumours, so check out some of my predictions below…


A LIST OF POTENTIAL TRADES: PLAYER BY POSITION BREAKDOWN

DEFENCEMEN

Bryan McCabe
Interested teams: Carolina, N.Y Islanders, Vancouver, N.Y.Rangers, Florida, and LA.
Predicted Destination: Carolina for 1 of Andrew Ladd or Jack Johnston

Brendan Witt
Interested teams: : Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, LA and Nashville
Predicted Destination: So many bogus rumours…hard to call cuz McPhee’s getting greedy

Brent Sopel
Interested teams: Vancouver, Montreal and Carolina
Predicted Destination: Vancouver to fill the Ohlund/Jovo injury hole

Aki Berg
Interested teams: Nashville and Colorado
Predicted Destination: Nashville

Kieth Carney
Interested teams: Vancouver, Colorado, Montreal, LA,
Predicted Destination: Colorado

Ruselan Salei
Interested teams: Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto
Predicted Destination: Montreal might be part of a Selane package

Eric Weinrich
Interested teams: Vancouver, Calgary, Colorado
Predicted Destination: Vancouver to fill the Ohlund/Jovo injury hole

Jassen Cullimore
Interested teams: Toronto, Vancouver and Nashville
Predicted Destination: Toronto as part of a package with Arnason

Luke Richardson
Interested teams: Detroit, Vancouver, and Colorado
Predicted Destination: Colorado part of a package with Jan Hrdina

Andrei Zuzyn or Filip Kuba
Interested teams: Detroit, Vancouver, Toronto and Colorado
Predicted Destination: Toronto will push for Kuba.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Trade Predictions after the Olympic trade freeze is lifted…



Montreal has shopped both Ribiero & Bonk and have inquired about Witt along with Nashville, Vancouver and Toronto. This one is tough to call because there is so much talk its hard to know what is legit.

Cbarnezz prediction: Witt will be traded to Nashville who will beat the Mtl. offer Ribiero, however Habs fans will not mind because Gainey will pull a Teemu Selanne trade out of his hat and play Teemu with newly signed Koivu.



Nashville will look to add possibly add a centre if Legwand is not healthy and a defenseman, looking mostly at Witt, Carney or Salei, but will settle for my prediction, a cheaper choice if the Witt deal falls through.

Cbarnezz prediction: With so many rumours around about Witt it is hard to tell which is the latest. 1 of 2 things will happen…Nashville will acquire Aki Berg for a draft pick…or McPhee will get too greedy and hold out for a better trade for Witt, and he will get injured before the deadline.



Calgary is in the hunt for a number one center to play with Iggy. Ek buzz and other sites are throwing out shiet rumours like Jokinen, Sundin, and my favourite Joe Sakic. Get a grip! Suter did inquire about Jokinen, but the asking price (Phanuef) was out of the question. Calgary has had discussions about a number of less expensive options such as…Mike Comrie, Steve Rucchin, Mike York & Jan Hirdina, any of which could get done.

Cbarnezz prediction: I am hearing the Flames will pass on the options above pass and instead pick up Joe Niewendyk for one last kick at the can before he retires.

Hello and welcome to Cbarnezz's NHL backroom.

This blog will post rumours from a number of inside sources I have obtained over the year's. A number of my sources originated from the Toronto area and have slowly, but consistantly expanded across the leauge. I am excited to start formally blogging at such an incredible time like this and am looking forward to great Olympic hockey from now until the finals.

I hope you enjoy reading my blog and I welcome your comments as my network grows and I delve further into the blogging world.

CB

MSN e-mail: cbarnezz@hotmail.com