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**BringBackZezel** · 03-09-2004, 08:27 AM

♫ The Lightning are having a hard time closing the deal for Prospal, so the Blues could be in the mix. Sykora from Anaheim is possible too. New Jersey is in on Sykora as well. Could the Blues get them both to form a second scoring line? Or could they do the same by getting both Sanderson and Cassels? Toronto wants another center, and are looking at both Prospal and Cassels.

♫ The Leafs are trying to get Martin Gerber, as insurance for Belfour's back.

♫ The Bruins are hoping to get an "energy" winger. They badly wanted Barnaby.

♫ Pleau is being very patient, but is he dragging his feet like he has a reputation for doing? Time will tell.

♫ Satan will be "very upset" if he is not traded. He wants out in a bad way.

♫ The Senators are hoping to get a good defenseman for Karel Rachunek. They are also hoping to end up with Jason Wiemer. The Senators were one of the teams most disappointed by the Blues two wins over the weekend, not because of Pronger, but because they wanted one or more of Osgood, Drake, and Mellanby.

**BringBackZezel** · 03-09-2004, 08:27 AM

♫ Bertuzzi suspended indefinitely without pay. It will be interesting to see what Brian Burke does now. He, Tambellini and Crawford want the hearing to be over the phone tomorrow morning, but it is not until Wednesday. This really handcuffs him. Guess: he goes hard after two scorers now (Rucinsky and…?)

♫ Blues hope to dump Khavanov. Quenneville liked him, Kitchen does not.

♫ With Malakhov gone to Philadelphia, the other teams are stepping up efforts to get a defenseman (Hill, de Vries, Zhitnik, Tarnstrom, Witt, Smith, Salei, B. Mironov, etc.). Pretty much every playoff contender is pursuing these guys as they look to tighten up for the playoffs.

♫ Toronto had stepped up efforts to get Zhitnik until he hurt his shoulder. Boris Mironov is also in this mix, as Sather has stepped up efforts to move him. New Jersey badly wanted Malakhov, but now seems to have shifted attention toward Hill. The Leafs are in on Hill as well, as well as Luke Richardson. The Flyers thought they had a deal for de Vries, but the Rangers sign off on it yet. Montreal has inquired about Karpovtsev.

♫ The Red Wings have flown in their whole brass for their deadline day pow-wow, including Scotty Bowman off the Florida golf courses. They are hoping to add a gritty winger. Grier is one possibility and everyone knows the Capitals will trade anyone on their roster if they are trimming payroll in the process. They were interested in O'Neill too, but that is no longer possible because of his injury.

♫ Islanders would not mind moving Parrish. Oilers hope to move Isbister.

**BringBackZezel** · 03-09-2004, 08:28 AM

♫ The Capitals want Nik Antropov from Toronto, but what is left to sell? Kolzig, Grier, and Witt. It is hard to believe the Leafs would give up a promising youngster like Antropov for a backup goalie like Kolzig would be, so that would make one think they are after Witt. This is speculation on my part though. I know the Capitals want Antropov, but I am only putting two and two together with regard to the Leafs possible interest in Witt.

♫ Idle thought: Now that the Leafs are on the hook for Leetch next season, does it mean they won't be re-signing Mogilny?

♫ Pleau has talked to Buffalo about Drury, Brown, and Hecht. Everyone will be calling about Drury, because they love his knack for the big goal. Do not expect the Sabres to give him up though.

♫ Everyone expects Craig Patrick to do something because he always does. That probably means Tarnstrom or Morozov will go. He was disappointed when the Blues got Sillinger and the Canadiens got Dowd, because those were the teams he was aiming to peddle off Eastwood to.

♫ Calgary is probably done shopping with the additions of Nilsson and Simon, but they will keep open the lines of communication, just in case.

♫ The Avalanche is looking for a gritty winger to play a scoring role. There is a feeling they are too finesse. They were going hard after O'Neill before his shoulder injury. Could they turn to Eric Daze? Chris Gratton is another they are looking at.

♫ Montreal also likes Daze.

♫ Ottawa is in on de Vries.

♫ Pacific Division playoff team source: "Colorado, Toronto, or Ottawa would be crazy to give up anything for Kolzig. He's no better than what they already have. Unless you're getting Marty Brodeur, or you have a horrible goalie, you're not going to be able to significantly improve in goal no matter who you get."

♫ The Blues are talking to Pittsburgh about Tarnstrom, Bergevin, and Morozov. T ampa Bay would not mind getting Bergevin either, because he fit in well last year when they got him. Vancouver and San Jose are interested in Morozov, with the Canucks reportedly offering prospect R.J. Umberger in return. Why is this significant? Because Umberger is from Pittsburgh, and his debut could spike attendance for a game or two, important for the cash-strapped Penguins.

**BringBackZezel** · 03-09-2004, 08:28 AM

♫ Milbury is hesitant to make a deal for another scorer, because the Islanders expect Yashin back this week. He could play tomorrow against the Blues. Milbury tried to get Barnaby, before he moved to Colorado tonight.

♫ This year, Pleau is willing to move Salvador for the right deal. Last year, Salvador was considered "untouchable." Pacific Division source: "Pleau thought Salvador was twice as good as he really is. Now he's finally realized he's just a dime a dozen #5."

♫ Detroit is talking about making a run to bring back Igor Larionov, because of all the center injuries they have. I mentioned Weight before, but that is extremely unlikely. Larionov has been a wash-out in New Jersey, but maybe would find enough for a last hurrah with teammates he is familiar with.

♫ New Jersey is interested in Slava Kozlov.

♫ Several teams want Holik, but only if the Rangers pay a lot of the tab. Among them: Detroit, Toronto, Colorado, St. Louis.

♫ Teams are starting to call Columbus about Marchant. Problem: he just signed a rich, long-term deal.

♫ Senators and Canadiens looking for more grit on the front lines, Canucks looking for more grit on the blue line. Salei and Odelein are possibilities for Vancouver, but Florida prefers to keep Odelein unless they get a good offer for him.

♫ The Devils are calling about Cale Hulse and Scott Lachance, just in case they cannot get Hill or Witt.

♫ Dallas wants another defenseman, even after landing Therien.

♫ The Leafs are checking in on every available backup goalie. Kolzig, Irbe, Fernandez, Gerber, etc.

**BringBackZezel** · 03-09-2004, 08:28 AM

♫ Witt and de Vries are the two most desired defensemen right now.

♫ The Canucks were interested in Kolzig, but the Bertuzzi situation changes their list of priorities.

♫ Scott Stevens has begun some light workouts, but the Devils are not saying how they are going. They do not want to appear desperate for a defenseman as they pursue Hill and de Vries.

♫ The Blues will go after Brett Hull this off-season. Hull has told friends that he would like to finish his career in St. Louis, if there is no work stoppage. With Quenneville gone, the door may finally be open for him to return again. Bill Laurie wants him for public relations purposes because the team is going to unload a bunch of dollars after the season.

♫ Word is Gary Bettman is trying to convince Glen Sather to trade Mark Messier, so Messier can be involved in the playoffs one last time. Ottawa might be interested because of his grit, and there's a connection there with John Muckler. Another rumor is that Calgary might be interested, so that the ex-Oiler legend can finish with the arch-rival Flames. Problem: Messier does not want to go and wants to retire a Ranger. Bettman will call Messier and try to convince him, but do not expect the old Moose to move.

♫ Havlat lost a lot of respect in the Senators dressing room for side-stepping the brawl against the Flyers. Of all the players on the ice during the brawls, he was the only one who did not get a penalty. Coincidence? Not at all.

♫ Source in the Southeast Division, commenting on the Rangers fire sale: "Never in the history of sports has there been an utter failure the depths of which the Rangers have reached the last seven years. Highest payroll in the league every single year, and never in the playoffs.”

**BringBackZezel** · 03-09-2004, 08:28 AM

♫ Northwest Division source with a Canadian franchise: "St. Louis should either go for it and buy big, or they should sell big. The in-between stuff has been a Pleau flaw that has prevented them from ever being a serious contender."

♫ New York/Long Island/New Jersey area team source: "Buying would be foolish. The best thing they could do would be to trade a couple of their high-end guys for youngsters who can play now. That way, they could still make a playoff run while improving for the future."

♫ Source with the Avalanche (a good friend of mine): "Of the bottom-ladder teams, St. Louis is the one we don't fear at all. Too inconsistent in goal and their big guns are easy to shut down. We are hoping to draw them much more than we want to deal with LA, Calgary, or Nashville."

♫ Source with the Capitals (a good friend of mine): "The Blues should sell. They had their chance to buy, when they could have had Gonchar from us. They wouldn't give up even average prospects for him. If they weren't going to do that, they should just start over."

♫ Central Division source that comes from somewhere other than Detroit: "The Blues getting the four points over the weekend was bad luck for them. The president there was hoping they lost them both so they could justify a fire sale. Now how do you justify a fire sale to the fans when you're in eighth? So now the Blues either have to buy or stand pat to appease the fans. Sauer is very unhappy about it."

♫ Southeast Division source: "The most poorly orchestrated trade of the last five years was the Blues deal to get Tkachuk. It was a buyer's market, but they sold big to get him, killed their depth, and blew their financial wad right when high priced players started going for a pile of junk."

♫ Source with an elite team in the East: "The Blues are stupid if they buy. What's the point of buying? So they can lose in the first round, then tear it down? Dumb, dumb, dumb. No wonder that franchise never wins anything."

♫ Says a source in the New York/Long Island/New Jersey area: "This is the wildest trading season ever and no one knows how it will shake out in the end. Everyone is trying to do a lot, be it buying or selling. Everyone is thinking big."

**JWB** · 03-09-2004, 08:28 AM

I wish Nick would post over here.

♫ Source with an elite team in the East: "The Blues are stupid if they buy. What's the point of buying? So they can lose in the first round, then tear it down? Dumb, dumb, dumb. No wonder that franchise never wins anything."

Yeah, no kidding.

CD · 03-09-2004, 08:29 AM

Geezus...Nick is busy today.

**ElviswasaBluesFan** · 03-09-2004, 08:43 AM

Excellent information.

It really concerns me that I don't see any Blues names available (other than Weight) and he said he doesn't expect him to be traded.

Sell Lar!

**007** · 03-09-2004, 08:43 AM

Well, if Goold is any indication, he @ least got the Khavnov part right in all of that....

**BringBackZezel** · 03-09-2004, 08:43 AM

Larry and Sauer are too cowardly to do the right thing and start selling.

Goddam pussies are ruining MY franchise.

**007** · 03-09-2004, 08:46 AM

Originally posted by BringBackZezel@Mar 9 2004, 09:43 AM
Larry and Sauer are too cowardly to do the right thing and start selling.

Goddam pussies are ruining MY franchise.

Yes they are....I ain't happy aboot it, but the sheep love it that they are 'making the effort' to just get to the playoffs....

Really, really sad that's it come down to maintaining a friggin' streak....

**JWB** · 03-09-2004, 08:48 AM

♫ Word is Gary Bettman is trying to convince Glen Sather to trade Mark Messier, so Messier can be involved in the playoffs one last time. Ottawa might be interested because of his grit, and there's a connection there with John Muckler. Another rumor is that Calgary might be interested, so that the ex-Oiler legend can finish with the arch-rival Flames. Problem: Messier does not want to go and wants to retire a Ranger. Bettman will call Messier and try to convince him, but do not expect the old Moose to move.

I just can't see Messier in a Flames jersey.

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Great stuff from Nick @ BNF

Great stuff from Nick @ BNF

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