More Bertuzzi trade reactions
You can view some of the original reactions from GM Ken Holland, head coach Mike Babcock, and a few bloggers on my post about the details of the Todd Bertuzzi trade here.
Bertuzzi will participate in Thursday’s practice, but is still 2-3 weeks out from playing in a game. He has been given Steve Yzerman’s locker room stall (gasp) right next to Henrik Zetterberg. I know someone had to get Yzie’s stall, but I still sometimes can’t believe he retired. Anyways,
What are some of the reactions from Wings players?
The captain, Nick Lidstrom, likes the trade from his perspective.
“I think he’s a playoff kind of player with a big body, uses that to his advantage, so I think he’s a perfect fit for our team,†captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. “He’s going to be tough to move around.â€
Bertuzzi and Chris Chelios went at it during the 2002 playoff series between Vancouver and Detroit so some of the Wings teammates find this trade amusing.
Kris Draper, though, is convinced the two will become fast friends, and will surrender their right to having their own hotel rooms. “They’re both waiving their single rooms on the road,†Draper said, laughing. “That’s what’s going around the dressing room.â€
Chelios wasn’t on the Chicago trip because the Wings wanted the 45-year-old to take a day off, but he was on his teammates’ minds. “We talked about Cheli and (Bertuzzi) going at it a few years ago,†Lidstrom said, “but you know, Cheli and (Bob) Probert had that thing going on when Probert was with Detroit, and they turned out to be best friends, so you never know what can happen with these two guys.â€
Kris Draper believes fans will quickly learn to cheer him on when they see what he can bring to this team (much like when Chelios first played for the red and white).
“When you go into another team’s building and they boo you and they hate you, it’s obviously because you’re doing something right,†Draper said. “With Cheli it was the same way, but as soon as he came to Detroit, he became a favorite with the fans and I’m sure the same thing is going to happen with Bertuzzi once he throws on his Red Wings jersey.â€
Other bloggers’ reactions…
James Mirtle at Globe and Mail’s hockey blog (Globe on Hockey):
The biggest question when it comes to Bertuzzi, of course, is his health. At the peak of his game — which at this point was nearly four years ago — he was a dominant player who could change the course of games, score 40 goals and 100 points and generally create all kinds of problems for his opposition.
Including the 2002-03 postseason, Bertuzzi has scored just 45 goals and 144 points in his last 172 games, which equates to a 20-goal, 69-point season over 82 games.
The Red Wings were looking to get tougher heading into the postseason, and acquiring Kyle Calder last night and Bertuzzi today certainly accomplishes that.
Anyone want to put a few coins down on how many games Todd Bertuzzi will actually play for Detroit? This seems like kind of a strange move, but I suppose the Wings wanted to add the requisite “grit” that seems to have caused them problems in the past few playoff seasons. Of course, Bertuzzi has to actually skate first.
Alanah at Canucks and Beyond:
Blast from the past… Todd Bertuzzi has been traded to the Red Wings. Will he and Chelios now be BFF? Wow… As The Stomach Turns.
Some bloggers left comments about the trade under a post at Kukla’s Korner. Here’s a few:
JJ @ Canucks Hockey Blog: Crap. That’s all.
George Malik @ Snapshots: I’m not a fan of the man, and I definitely would have preferred another forward like Zubrus, but Bertuzzi’s a low-risk, high-reward move.
If his back holds up, he fulfills every need the Red Wings wanted to address up front–size, strength, physical bite, tenacious forechecking and tremendous goal-scoring ability. He’s got enough baggage to fill a semi truck, but for the return–a Maltby-like forward in Matthias, and conditional picks–it’s too good a deal to pass up.
It’s obviously somewhat reactionary, but it’s a smart move. Holland has maximized his return for the assets given up–Williams, Matthias, and conditional picks for a 25-goal scorer with some red flags in Calder, and a 40-goal scorer with red flags in Bertuzzi.
Zetterberg out for 2-3 weeks
Henrik Zetterberg’s injury is worse than originally thought. After his back spasmed in a practice on Monday, Hank went and got an MRI. The results showed no injury and thus the team thought he’d be able to return on Friday.
Unfortunately, a second MRI found an inflamed disk. Fortunately, the injury is not incredibly serious. Since the Wings are comfortable with where they are in the standings, Zetterberg will be encouraged to rest and not return too quickly because we all know how important Hank will be for the Wings in the playoffs. Matt Hussey will be called back up from Grand Rapids.
“It’s similar to a herniation,†Holland said. “It’s nothing significant, but the doctors feel he should take seven to 10 days of rest, and the hope is the inflammation goes down. Then we’re slowly going to bring him back. We estimate he’ll be out of the lineup two to three weeks.â€
Photo taken on 2/10/07 by Michael Hammond
The Wings’ injuries seem to slowly be piling on, but aside from Bertuzzi’s back, none of these injuries are serious concerns. Plus with the Wings lighter schedule to end the regular season and current standings, the Wings have the luxury to call up players from Grand Rapids and allow their players to properly recover from their respective injuries.
Current Wings’ injuries…
- Dan Cleary’s sprained MCL (out 2-3 more weeks)
- Mikael Samuelsson’s broken foot (out 1-2 more weeks)
- Todd Bertuzzi’s back (out 2-4 more weeks)
- Henrik Zetterberg’s back (out 2-3 more weeks)
Bertuzzi heads to Detroit
Wow. What a day! I left home for Chicago around 12:30pm Eastern time and listed to Home Ice (XM Radio 204) all the way to Chicago until about 4:30pm. I thought they did a good job with coverage, although I definitely enjoyed watching the TSN stream online before I left. I thoroughly enjoyed the Wings-Blackhawks game and I’m in love with the United Center, but I’ll talk about that tomorrow when I get back home. Pictures of the Wings and Blackhawks warmups will hopefully be up no later than Thursday evening as it just depends when my dad gets me the photos.
Back to the trade deadline talk. When I heard about the Ryan Smyth trade to the NY Islanders, my jaw literally dropped. I could not believe the Oilers traded away Smyth on Mark Messier day AND that they snuck it in right before the deadline. Wow. I would not be a happy camper if I was an Oilers’ fan.
Todd Bertuzzi to Detroit
I am very happy with Kenny’s work this deadline. We got Bertuzzi and gave up Shawn Mathias and two draft picks IF we re-sign Bertuzzi and/or do really well in the playoffs. Assuming Bertuzzi is healthy by playoff time and produces like he’s always done, it’ll be well worth it. I’m just happy that we didn’t have to give away a roster player (although I would’ve happily given up Lilja) or a top prospect. Plus, the draft picks will only come if we get something good out of this deal so if we lose in the first or second round in the playoffs and/or we can’t resign Bertuzzi, we only lose Matthias. I could handle that. If we had gotten Guerin, Smyth, or Tkachuk, we could have very well not done well in the playoffs AND lost them in the offseason due to free agency AND lost a prospect/roster player/draft pick. With this deal, we’re only guaranteed to lose Matthias and a third round draft pick. I like it.
Ansar Khan at MLive.com has the details about those conditional picks:
Florida will get either a first-, a second- or a third-round pick in 2007 based on Bertuzzi’s performance and the success of the team. If the Wings reach the conference finals, Bertuzzi plays in two-thirds of their playoff games and is among their top five playoff scorers, the Panthers get a first-rounder. If Bertuzzi isn’t among their top five in scoring, Florida still gets a first-rounder if the Wings reach the Stanley Cup finals and Bertuzzi plays in two-thirds of the playoff games. If they reach the conference finals and Bertuzzi hasn’t played in two-thirds of the playoff games, the Panthers get a second-rounder. In any other scenario, the Panthers get a third-round pick, which is the minimum.
Florida will also get a second-round pick in 2008 if Bertuzzi, an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, re-signs with Detroit.
Personally, I think Bertuzzi is going to be ready by the start of the playoffs and hopefully he’ll see some game time before the playoffs start. He’s not 100% yet and since the Wings are going to be in the playoffs, we can afford to let Bertuzzi heal instead of rushing back to help us keep a playoff start.
The only photo I have of Bertuzzi that I’ve taken from 1/26/06.
“Bertuzzi is a huge, talented man that adds the dimensions of size and skill that we need on one of our top two lines,” Detroit coach Mike Babcock told The Associated Press. “We’ll give up a first-round pick if there are a lot of conditions met, such as us winning a lot in the playoffs and him helping us do that. We’d be happy to give up that pick.”
…
“Our focus all along was to be a harder team to play against, and both Bertuzzi and Calder will help us do that,” Babcock said. “There are no guarantees, but the front office led by Kenny Holland and Jim Nill has given us a better opportunity to be successful.”
I will post more Bertuzzi trade reactions when I get home tomorrow afternoon, but until then here is trade wizard, Spector, and his thoughts on this trade:
The Red Wings are taking a considerable gamble on this. If healthy, Bertuzzi would be a strong physical addition to the Wings offensive lines, but the possibility exists that he could reinjure his back again, which could sideline him during the playoffs.
GM Ken Holland has been looking for a replacement for Brendan Shanahan all season, and if Bertuzzi can return healthy for the remaining regular season games and the playoffs, he could possibly become the missing piece of the offensive puzzle for the Wings.
And Holland certainly seems pleased with his trade…
“Todd is a unique player,” Holland said of his 6-foot-3, 242-pound acquisition who has 224 goals and added 312 assists in 717 NHL games. “He has size and skill, and scoring and playmaking ability.
“We’re well aware of his injury. This morning, as we worked on the trade, Randy Sexton, the Florida assistant GM, and I got our doctors together to discuss his injury. We have a comfort level that Todd is a few weeks away. By the end of March, he should be in our lineup and contributing to our team. We’re very excited to add Todd and looking forward eventually to getting him in a Red Wings uniform.”
Bertuzzi feels fortunate that the Wings were willing to take a chance on him, back problems and all.
“Who wouldn’t want to come there, with the great history, Steve Yzerman and the rest of the cast. I had many good times playing against Detroit. I’ve always enjoyed coming into Joe Louis Arena. I hope I’m well received.”
Bertuzzi said he hopes to get in as many regular-season games as possible before the playoffs, which he called “a whole new level.” He said he will continue to play “the only way I know how. I don’t play cautious and won’t play that way. I’m coming to Detroit for a reason: To help them out in the playoffs and I hope to be 100 percent.”
…
“I love (Detroit’s) high-tempo style of play,” he continued. “I’m more suited to that. Detroit’s got guys on the back end who can make those outlet and breakaway passes. It’s going to be exciting taking those passes from Nick and Matty and Chris.”
Thoughts on Calder
I was really impressed with Kyle Calder in tonight’s game against the Wings. He scored the first goal of the game on his first shift with the Wings organization. He also notched an assist later in the game. From my vantage point, he seemed to fight for those loose pucks and along the corners so I thought he was an improvement over Jason Williams in that department. My dad took photos of Calder during warmups and Williams before the 3rd period so I’ll have those up as soon as possible. It was definitely weird seeing Williams in a different uniform. I’ll post my post-game reaction sometime tomorrow when I get back home from Chicago (I’m typing this in my hotel room right now).
Williams dealt in 3 way trade
The Detroit Red Wings have finally participated in a trade before the deadline and word has it that there is more to come on the Wings’ front.
Details of three way trade…
1) Jason Williams sent to the Chicago Blackhawks
2) A draft pick and Lasse Kukkonen were sent to the Philadelphia Flyers
3) Kyle Calder sent to Detroit (after being traded to Chicago first)
Williams seems genuinely happy about being traded away giving him a fresh slate with a new team in Chicago. Apparently, the Chicago GM has wanted Willy since last summer.
“Any time you can be a part of an original six team it’s special. Chicago is making strides in the right direction. I’m looking forward to coming to Chicago and in being a major factor on the team. I’m happy to be going to a team that wants me and I’m looking forward to helping the Blackhawks,†said Williams.
Calder’s contract expires this offseason so there really isn’t much of a downside for him since he wasn’t doing well with Philly and now he’s on a team with a good shot in the playoffs.
“I’m just going to go there and work hard, be gritty and play my style,” Calder said.
“It definitely hasn’t been the best year ever,” Calder said. “You’ve got to look at the bigger picture, I guess. They’re a good team. I think it’s a great opportunity for me.”
…
“He’s had a tough season, but he’s a proven NHL player,” Babcock said in an interview with The Associated Press on Monday night after the team landed in Chicago for a game against the Blackhawks on Tuesday. “He works, works and works and he’ll make us a harder team to play against.”
My immediate reaction? I don’t really know much about Kyle Calder, but it seems to me that he’s had an off season (and playing for Philly could do that to you). I like Jason Williams, the person. Not such a fan of Willy, the player. Just getting rid of Williams and his salary ($1.6 million) made me happy.
GM Ken Holland believes that Calder will add some grit to the team.
Calder has nine goals and 12 assists and is a minus-31 in 59 games this season, but general manager Ken Holland said scout Mark Howe, who lives in Philadelphia and has seen Calder play often, convinced the Wings Calder could be helpful.
“He chases the puck, he’s a forechecker,” Holland said Monday evening. “Come playoff time, that’s an ingredient you need. He’s not pretty, but he’s a gritty, greasy type of player.”
Holland said Calder will debut on a line with Robert Lang, whose line with Dan Cleary and Williams had produced almost no scoring for the past month.
Although Calder’s salary for this season is $2.95 million and obviously the Wings won’t cover most of that under the cap, but I wonder what impact that may have in trying to make another deal before the deadline tomorrow at 3pm.
Other people’s reactions…
Spector, the trade genius, has this to say about the trade:
The Wings have been seeking a scoring winger since losing Brendan Shanahan to free agency last summer, but parting with Williams for Calder comes as a surprise.
Like Calder, Williams has struggled offensively this season and has been considered trade bait for some time, but no one could’ve predicted he’d be dealt for a fellow underachiever.
Wings GM Ken Holland is obviously gambling that Calder’s woeful stats this season are a result of playing for a terrible team, believing that he’ll regain his scoring touch with the talented Red Wings.
The odds are at least in Calder’s favor. It remains to be seen, however, if Williams can regain his scoring touch, going from a Cup contender to an also-ran in Chicago.
This move likely takes the Wings out of the running for St. Louis Blues forward Bill Guerin.
IwoCPO at Abel to Yzerman posted his initial reactions to the three way trade:
By now you know Kenny Holland has made his first move of the final 24, moving Jason Williams to Chicago, getting Kyle Calder from Philly in the process. I need a bit to digest this one, so I’ll have something more later tonite. I do think this is the tip of the Holland iceberg though. I think at least one more deal’s in store, of a bigger variety.
James Mirtle discusses the differences between Williams and Calder and also adds that he believes the Wings have another trade up their sleeve:
Calder’s an extremely hardworking, checking type who has decent hands and doesn’t shy away from the front of the next. Williams, meanwhile, struggled last season in the playoffs and is a much more inconsistent and finesse type than Calder.
The Red Wings have been talking about adding jam for the postseason all year long, and this move helps in that regard. (The word is also that Detroit is closing in on getting Bill Guerin.)
Matt at On the Wings offers up his reaction as well:
Okay, the more I read about Calder, the better I feel about him. The general concensus seems to be that he’s a good player who’s just having a bad year. And if he’s a grittier player than Williams with a strong work ethic and good hands, I’m thinking he’ll fit the Wings’ need pretty well. Of course, we’ll have to see how he gels with the team, but I’m optimistic.
…
It’s strange that Williams is no longer a Red Wing. It had to be awkward tonight when he got the call in Chicago. It will be strange if he’s on the ice tomorrow night for the Hawks, that’s for sure.
Well, I’m going to be in Chicago tomorrow night for the game so I will try to get a good photo of Willy in a Blackhawks jersey assuming he plays in tomorrow’s game…
Zetterberg injured
Henrik Zetterberg will not be playing until Friday at the earliest as his back started spasming during today’s practice.
“He went to pull up on a drill and had some back spasms,” Holland said. “He had an MRI on his back, and it showed no injury. Our hope is to have him back playing Friday.”
Hopefully it won’t become serious and that rest will make it all better.
Behind the Blog: Mike Chen’s Hockey Blog
After a long break, BtJ’s Behind the Blog feature is back up and running. To start us up again, Mike Chen of Mike Chen’s Hockey Blog answered 10 questions about his blog, his favorite team (the San Jose Sharks), and the NHL. Next Monday, PB of One Fan’s Perspective will be in the spotlight. If you would be interested in participating in a BtB interview, please send me an email!
Q.1 - According to your archives, you started Mike Chen’s Hockey Blog in September 2005. Why did you start a hockey blog?
Honestly, it was originally just a normal blog back in June or so of 2005. The idea was to get blog posts for search engine optimization for my copywriting business. Problem was, I had no idea what to write about and I got bored REALLY fast. I posted a few things about the impending lockout and people, for whatever reason, actually found them and read them. In September, I deleted the non-hockey stuff and rebranded it as a hockey blog. So the whole thing about the blog helping out my business went out the door really fast but I’ve had fun becoming part of this very cool hockey blogging community. Plus I now make a little money off advertising. That blows my mind.
Q.2 - You recently started blogging for Fox Sports and Battle of California as well. How did these opportunities come about?
The Fox gig came about because Lyle “Spector” Richardson recommended me and a few other bloggers to his editor at FoxSports.com, and for that, I’m super-mega-ultra grateful. I’m hoping the exposure will lead to bigger and better things. BoC came about because the illustrious James Mirtle started it last playoffs to go with the Battle of Alberta site. He needed bloggers for all of the California teams; PJ from SharksPage and I signed up for the Sharks, and Mirtle dug up the awesome Earl “That’s Not My Real Name” Sleek for the Ducks. They’re actually auditioning Kings bloggers right now if anyone is interested.
Q.3 - When did you become a San Jose Sharks fan and what made you do so?
I grew up a Chicago Blackhawks fan living in the Bay Area because the Hawks team of Roenick, Chelios, Larmer, Graham, Goulet, Belfour was ALWAYS on SportsChannel. They were awesome to watch for an impressionable middle-school kid — they ran over people, beat them up, and scored at will. Then the Sharks came into existence and they were my #2 team. In the late 90’s, Evil Bill Wirtz screwed over Hawks fans everywhere by getting rid of all that talent and destroying a Cup contender. When they got rid of Tony Amonte while he was still putting up 30-40 goal seasons, that was the last straw and I renounced my Hawks fandom. The Sharks went from #2 to #1. My dad, however, is still stupidly loyal and the Hawks and Sharks are still his #1-#2. When they play each other, though, he generally cheers for the Sharks because they need the points for the playoff race and the Hawks are always in the basement.
Q.4 - What do you hope to achieve with your blog over the next few years?
It’s really hard to ask for anything more other than more readers. I’ve met (via email) some really cool bloggers and hockey fans, I’ve become part of this great community we have, and I write for a mainstream website now. I think in the future, I’d like to try and get a press pass for some Sharks games. I’d like to write a book about the Sharks history some day, and I think the blog and FoxSports will definitely help with that. So if there are any publishing agents out there who’d like to help me out, please contact me!
Q.5 - Who is your favorite hockey player (either current or retired player)? Why?
Growing up, it was Jeremy Roenick and Wayne Gretzky for two different reasons. JR was awesome in his prime because he did it all and he always said stupid but funny things in the media. I loved watching how Wayne played because he was so cerebral with his game; he always pulled these insane passes out of nowhere and made it look easy.
Today, my favorite players are Patrick Marleau and Peter Forsberg. Marleau’s a homer pick, but it’s pretty special watching a gawky teenager transform into your team’s captain and one of their top players. I’ve always loved how fearless Forsberg is; even though that’s led to his injured body, when he’s healthy he’s still a beast out there. Right now, I have to say that I watch Pens games almost exclusively to see what Sidney Crosby will do. If I had to pick him or Ovechkin, I’d go with Crosby.
I should note that Ben Clymer is also one of my favorite players just because a bunch of my friends and I all have our random crappy players that we like (this spawned the Crappy Player Pick ‘Em on my site). I’m actually going to send Ben Clymer an invitation to my wedding. I figure JR and Forsberg get a lot of fan mail and probably don’t read most of it but a fourth liner like Clymer might actually read something he gets!
Q.6 - Obviously things may change by the time you answer this question and the trade deadline, but which two teams to do you foresee making the Stanley Cup finals?
Right now, Nashville’s depth is frightening, but I think Anaheim will come out of the west (I can hear Earl Sleek laughing from here). I think the Sharks will peak next season when their defense matures a little bit but I just don’t see them having enough to get past Anaheim. Every time I see the Ducks play, their defense just controls the whole game. It’s really not fair.
The easy pick out of the East is Buffalo, but it’s kinda boring to say Anaheim and Buffalo so I’m going to go with a slightly insane sleeper pick and say Tampa Bay just because of the way they’ve been rolling over opponents since 2007 began. It’s eerily similar to the year when they won the Cup. The only issue is whether or not Holmqvist will fall apart.
Q.7 - The debate about fighting in the NHL has gone on over the past year and the Sabres-Senators brawl has only hightened this debate. Where do you stand on this issue?
The Sabres-Sens brawl almost seemed like a circus act to me. Something about it seemed a little different from the vitriol of the old Avs/Red Wings brawls. I’m all for standing up for your teammates but I don’t like it when it ventures into WWE territory. The last Sharks/Ducks games had Scott Parker and George Parros basically scheduling a date to go at it. That kind of stuff seems very staged to me and I’m not a fan of that. There was a game a few weeks ago where Patrick Marleau fought someone, and it was out of pure emotion and leadership. That’s the kind of thing I like to see. When two squads dress their goons and they have their requisite fight, that just seems very stupid and phony.
That being said, I do like the move to free up the instigator suspension because I think it should be clear — if you mess with Sidney Crosby/Alex Ovechkin/Joe Thornton/etc., our goon will beat you down. It establishes a necessary level of fear to protect the skill player while not letting it be a free-for-all total brawl.
Q.8 - If you could change one thing about the NHL to increase its marketability in the US, what would you do and why?
ESPN. I think the ideal thing to do is keep Versus programmed like the pseudo-NHL network with a lot of hockey, then make a side deal with ESPN for at least one game per week. The important thing is that ESPN will not allow advertisers for competitors, which it sees in the NHL/Versus deal. The NHL’s great new ad campaign is being missed by millions of viewers because they can’t get on ESPN. If they could get SOME exposure on ESPN, then they could make their in-roads by advertising during Monday Night Football, etc. ESPN’s done it before with the NBA’s dual deal with ESPN/TNT, so I don’t see why the NHL wouldn’t want to attempt this.
Q.9 - Which team has surprised you the most this season (whether a good or bad surprise)?
Columbus. I thought they were an 7th/8th team with reasonable depth at forward. To see them implode, mostly because Rick Nash and Nik Zherdev have had awful seasons, was a bit of a surprise.
Q.10 - Is there any hockey blog or website that you look to for inspiration?
Every blogger who answers this question winds up giving a “most hockey bloggers are great” answer and I have to do the same. Whether they’re team focused or general, every one of the successful hockey blogs has its own unique tone that makes it special. I think that any blog that has sustained itself for more than a few months and posts regularly is pretty much worth reading. So I’m not going to play favorites here because I really do read a bunch of them and I respect the hell out of every one, whether they’re funny, informative, or analytical. My only standard is that I need to read something that is written well. The blogger doesn’t have to be an English major or a journalist; I just need a basic sense of grammar in anything I read.
I do think that Paul Kukla, James Mirtle, and Lyle “Spector” Richardson should be acknowledged for their dedication and quality work. They’ve done so much to establish hockey blogging as an accepted form of information and entertainment, and they should be applauded for that.
Any additional comments?
To Doug Wilson: Please trade for some defense. Please.
Wings look to secondary market
We all know that the Detroit Red Wings are looking to add a top six forward. It’s looking less likely as the days pass that the Wings will obtain a “big name” by trade deadline (aka Bill Guerin). Rather, they are more likely to get a player from the secondary market like taking a chance on Todd Bertuzzi, who has yet to play in a game since his back surgery on November 2nd.
Assuming that the price for Guerin is the same as that Atlanta paid for Keith Tkachuk or greater, GM Ken Holland will be unwilling to pay the price for him and rightfully so.
Considering the Wings will draft about 10 picks lower than the Thrashers, the Wings would have had to top what Atlanta was willing to part with in current players or prospects.
“The prices are awful high,” Wings general manager Ken Holland said Sunday.
…
Holland said he had talked to a number of general managers Sunday and there were “a number of players we like” still available. He said those players “don’t necessarily have to be big-time names.”
Expect Holland to trade for someone other than Guerin because as George at Snapshots points out, the price will be incredibly high.
A guy with 20 goals and 43 points in 61 games cost the Thrashers 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-round picks, a solid player in Metropolit, and a conditional 1st-rounder if Tkachuk re-signs with the Thrash.
Guerin’s got 28 goals. The math isn’t pretty.
IwoCPO at Abel to Yzerman doesn’t see the trade for Guerin happening either:
My prediction remains Todd Bertuzzi, maybe with a dash of Smolinski thrown in. I know Bertuzzi won’t play until after the deadline but Holland’s not getting Guerin and already lost out on Tkachuk and Bubba Swede. By the way, letting JP Dumont dance his way to Nashville and now allowing Bubba to land Floppa immediately qualifies Holland as David Poile’s punching bag of a little brother, or his bitch; depending on your sensitivities.
Gary Roberts is a waste of time and space at this stage of his career. Spector mentions Owen Nolan as a possibility and the idea doesn’t offend me, but he wouldn’t have the impact of a Guerin.
Tkachuk traded to Atlanta
TSN.ca is reporting that Keith Tkachuk has been traded to Atlanta for a first-round pick and a third-round pick in the 2007 Entry Draft, a second-round pick in 2008, and center Glen Metropolit.
Both teams were in a holding pattern while Tkachuk and his family decided. “I found out late last night, but with three children I needed some time because it’s tough anytime a family is involved,” Tkachuk told TSN on Sunday.
“But from a hockey standpoint, there was never any doubt, it’s a no brainer.”
Tkachuk hopes to meet up with his new team in Boston and play on Monday night before returning to St. Louis to help his family adjust.
In the St. Louis Blues press release, team president John Davidson announced that if Atlanta re-signs Tkachuk this summer, the Blues will receive the Thrashers’ first round pick in 2008.
“We want to thank Keith for his time and dedication to the Blues organization over the past six years,†said Davidson. “We wish him and his family nothing but the best for the future.â€
Maybe it’s just me, but that seems like a lot and something GM Ken Holland would not be willing to give up. As much as I don’t want Holland to give up the farm, I was hoping for a big trade and with Tkachuk off the market, it’s going to get real competitive for the few remaining top forwards.
Boston claims MacDonald
The Boston Bruins claimed Joey MacDonald off of waivers much to my surprise. Fortunately, the Wings do have depth in the goaltending department, but I hadn’t expected anyone to take him especially with his NHL stats.
Michigan Hockey article
I’m an intern for the Michigan Hockey publication and my article was the top story (well part of it) for the most current issue. You can check out the article here until the new issue is put up on the website.
My portions of the top story include:
- “Multiple Hockey is Fun clinics put over 600 kids on skates all across the state” (the portion about the Hockey is Fun clinics at the Joe, but not the portion about Steve Yzerman)
- “Fans get to watch Red Wings practice”
- “Fourth annual Bourne Classic raises money for Hockey has Heart”