Midweek Musings: Trading Places...

On we go with your usual round of Midweek Musings...

Hey, it's some NHL talk on the Breakaway! Hop on and giddy up!: Yesterday was the trade deadline in the NHL, and in amongst the minor deals of the "Cam Janssen to St Louis for Bryce Salvador" variety came a few absolute blockbusters, which we shall analyse below...

Brad Richards (C) and Johan Holmqvist (G) to Dallas for Mike Smith (G), Jussi Jokinen (LW), Jeff Halpern (C) and a fourth-rounder:
Dallas get one of the best goalscoring centres in the league to take some of the load off Mike Modano, and a serviceable back-up to Marty Turco, while Tampa get two third-liners who can do a job and a very good young goalie to solve their possible starting problem. Trouble is, Dallas also get the weight of Richards' $7.8mil contract to renegotiate in the off-season-that is a lot in a $50mil cap...

Pittsburgh get Marian Hossa (RW) and Pascal Dupuis (LW) for Colby Armstrong (RW), Erik Christensen (RW), Angelo Esposito (C) and a fourth-rounder:
One of my Pens-supporting friends was so chuffed about this he rang me moments after the trade happened to discuss it, and we generally agreed we were happy with this one. This is a winner for the Pens-they get yet another offensive weapon for Sidney Crosby to feed, and a serviceable second/third-line winger who's still fairly young. With the monster that is Hal Gill being added in a seperate trade, it's worth losing Amstrong, Christensen, and the hit-or-miss prospect that is Esposito for two players who could push the Pens over the top in the chase for the Stanley Cup...

Cristobal Huet (G) to Washington for a second-round pick: This is a steal for the Caps-they earn themselves another starting goalie for nothing but a second-round draft-pick, and cover/replacement for Olaf Kolzig. It leaves Montreal with two young goalies with little playoff experience, though, which is a brave decision from the Canadiens GM Bob Gainey...

Brian Campbell (D) to SJ (with a 7th-rounder) for Steve Bernier (C) and a first-rounder: Brian Campbell is a damn good d-man. Steve Bernier is a quality young centre. This trade works pretty well for both sides, although Sabres fans will feel somewhat aggrieved that yet another one of their top players has been traded away...

Sergei Fedorov (C) to Washington: Fedorov and Ovechkin on the same line, anyone? The legendary Russian is on the downslope of his career now, but can still play-give him either Ovechkin or Alex Semin to feed and he can add something to the Caps which could push them into the second round of the playoffs if they can just make them...

Phew...wasn't that exciting? And it leads nicely on to the next point...

If the NHL can do it, why not us?: I know the EIHL is not really in the same league as the NHL when it comes to contracts, with the vast majority of players on one-year deals and thus things not really being conducive to it...however, wouldn't allowing trades in the EIHL or EPL make life a lot more interesting? Imagine the furore mid-season if Belfast offer Mark Dutiaume and Paul Moran for, say, Colin Hemingway and Ben O'Connor, and the GM's take it. The imports in particular are used to the trading system as a hazard of the job, and it would add an extra level of intrigue to things...especially for the playoff rentals for the last few games of the season...I'm realistic enough to realise that it's never going to happen, though.


So, that's your midweek musings...Tomorrow sees Belfast take on Sheffield in a game which I assume will be covered by the excellent Belfast webcast...and tomorrow's post will contain one of the famous One Minute Previews of that game, as well as a ramble or two. Keep keeping your eye on the puck...