e_prime

Looks like Kovalev may not even make it to the deadline before he's traded. http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=417114 It appears as though Alex Kovalev's time with the Florida Panthers is over. According to reports out of Florida, the 40-year-old winger did not make the trip with the team to Carolina to play the Hurricanes on Saturday. Reports state the Panthers are looking at other options and that an announcement is pending. Kovalev has two goals and five points in 14 games with Florida this year. He has been a healthy scratch for the team's other six games this season. Prior to his time with the Panthers, Kovalev hadn't played in the NHL since the 2010-11 season when he had 16 goals and 34 points splitting the season between Ottawa and Pittsburgh.

I know he's currently on IR and can't be traded, but If Ken can get anyone to take Cola off our hands we should take it. White for draft pick. Huskins, I would hold onto for now.

Think... no. Hope and Pray... yes.

I want a win on Sunday so badly. I'm watching the game with one of my best friends (a Chicago guy and huge Hawks fan) and nothing would feel better than having that trump card in my pocket for a while.

I'm guessing you mean: Sammy... Cleary... Bert... Sammy is the only one with a NTC. Cleary's expired at the end of last season. Bert's is modified. Kronwall and Sammy are the only Wings players that currently have non-modified NTC... I'm sure you realize that NTCs can be waived. I don't view NTCs as handcuffing this team. These veteran guys that sign here with a NTC appreciate that stability and it's not something to scoff at. On the other end of the spectrum, do you honestly think Sammy or Bert wouldn't waive their NTC to go to a contender if another Stanley Cup were on the line and the Wings weren't making the playoffs?

You ain't kididng. I read somewhere (I'll try and find the article/link again) that the Rangers had inquired about O'Reilly and Sherman had asked for pieces (He wanted two players if I remember correctly) that Sather hadn't even been willing to give up for Rick Nash. That's how high the asking price was. Forget that.

I would be fine with either. See if you can get a 2nd... it is what San Jose gave to Carolina when he was traded back in 2011. If not, make it a conditional 3rd round pick... jumps to a 2nd rounder if Carolina gets to the ECF. I'm okay with that too. I like the guy and I think that his numbers could be solid even without playing alongside Lidstrom, but he's certainly working his way out of the line-up with poor play and poor attitude.

Unsaddle... is referencing Ian White's #18, Maltby's old number. DIdn't get to watch this game, but I think we've figured our expendable/tradeable D-men at this point.

Which one? LOL. If your goal is to ultimately sign him... and you're willing to pay him $5+ (which is what O'Reilly wanted) because you think he's worth it... Then WHY NOT PAY HIM THAT?? No, let's be shrewd and have another team sign him to an offer sheet that can handcuff us further than the $5 million/per. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. I don't care what the perception is around the league or in the dressing room about how quickly the Avs matched that sheet. It's so obvious that O'Reilly had Sherman by the balls the entire time and HEY! would you look at that?! He got what he wanted and more. Feaster and O'Reilly are both in a sinking life-raft when it comes to job security.

Draft Picks. That is all.

+1 Essentially, Kenny's gotta make some moves that might be out of his comfort zone as a GM or he stands pat with what he's got. If he DOESN'T make a good move and the team continues to perform in the manner it has been, it could be the begining of the end for his job security.

It will be very short lived.

I don't understand how Franzen's contract is viewed as "unmovable." It's 3.955 cap hit until he's 40, but you know dang well Franzen isn't playing until he's 40. Unless of course you mean, it's a good hit for his production levels. IF they're looking for just a rental. How about Flip? He's more versatile (center or wingman) than Franzen and not as lazy. As far as Boston defensemen go, I doubt you could pry either of these two names from them, but Sidenberg or McQuaid would look excellent as Red Wings.

For us, I think I'd keep White over Liles -- relative same size but younger, right-handed, and lower-cap hit. Liles is almost $4million until 2015-16 We need a shutdown guy or a LEGIT #1 more than another decent but not exceptional puck-mover. I can see why Toronto is going to try to move Liles and Komisarek (possible buy out of Komi.) They can bring up Gardiner to fill in Liles' role, and can get a much cheaper vet to fill in for Komi, or even improve their defensive corp with those saved dollars. Additionally, those moves will gIve them some cap room to shore up their RFAs and allow them to make some off-season or trade deadline moves.

The other thing to keep in mind, and I just started doing the "maths" on this stuff, but there will be teams that are going to need to dump salary to stay competitive while getting cap compliant when next year's cap max goes down. Which means a lot of teams are going to be making trades at the deadline... and come July 1st (or whenever Free Agency starts this upcoming off season Vancouver is a prime example. Here's the maths: Going into 2013-14 5 defensemen signed for 22.9 million 7 forwards signed for 28.2 million 2 goalies signed for 9.3333333333 million total: $60,403,333 cap at $64.3 cap space: 3.897 million 14 players signed so that's 9 players needed. Now obviously they can get rid of luongo's salary @ 5.3 with a trade, but you know that if that's a trade VAN will be taking some salary on. (So, let's just imagine they buy him out just to get to the numbers and where you can see what VAN will be ultimately working with and how it can benefit other teams looking for talent through trades.) ...and let's say they buy out one of their defensemen (ballard, bieksa, hamuis ... it doesn't matter) That's still only going to net you another 4.2-4.6 million... but let's be generous…9.9 million with the two buy outs. Netting you 13.797 million for 9 players. That's an average of 1.533 million per player… which just barely pays for their current UFA/RFA forwards at their same salaries for next year... and you've still got to grab up three more defensemen (7) and a backup goaltender. Now I'm not suggesting that VAN wants to sign all or even any of their pending free agents forwards or defensemen, but you know they're going to want to stay competitive… so, they've got some work to do to balance/fill out that roster and get to a better place cap wise.

Simmonds/Glass was really nice.

Yes, beause $3.9 million for a guy who's never going to sniff those final years of his contract is really handcuffing this team and their capspace and yet, when healthy adds almost 60pts to the team in regular season and 18+ points in the playoffs. Sure. No value there AT ALL. Meanwhile, I'm not even going to touch this NONSENSE about Flip+++ for Ryan. Why in godsname woud the Ducks trade Ryan if they're making a run?

Regier made some awful choices when it came to free-agents... but a coaches job is to take those pieces and make them gel or formulate them into a cohesive unit. ...even with OUR patchwork and highly FRAGILE team Babcock has made SOMETHING of this team. Ruff was/has been lost and floundering when it comes to directing the Sabres. If you can't get Miller behind you... you've got nothing... That said. He's bought himself another trade deadline... maybe another draft... maybe another half-season. ...otherwise, I see Brian Burke rolling in and bringing proper levels of pugnacity, testosterone, truculence and belligerence to the Buffalo Sabres. (Ott and Scott will fit in nicely)

So will Regier be the first fired GM in this shortened season or did he just buy himself another season of buyouts/trade-deadlines/drafts/waiver-wire aquisitions?? Always thought Ruff/Regier as a package deal... same old/same old... content to (maybe) contend, mired in mediocrity. Split 'em up and maybe you've got something.

Aren't the two bolded statements the same?? So, which is it? Are you pissed or super-pissed that Holland didn't land Suter? ...because that was his plan. As far as depth... White, Quincy, Cola... all depth defensemen... just not that #1 guy.

Well said, but that is entirely too much reason and rationale for LGW. Where is your rage and snark? That being said, if it were to be done, we should trade him now. For the month of Feb. he's got G: 2 A: 1 Pts: 3 +/-: -1. PIM: 6 He's obviously warming up, so we should do away with him immediately. While he's hot.

s***! How embarrassing! I was looking at 2011-12 stats on THN Player list. Where's the head your hang in shame emoticon. Sorry guys! Carry on!

Omark has more goals up with EDM than all of our forwards not named Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Brunner, Franzen, and Filppula. THIS YEAR. Whether he can crack the Oil's stacked forward corps is besides the freaking point. If we can grab him away and put him on a line with a couple of guys that he's known to have some chemistry with... I don't see a problem. He was a 4th round pick in 2007. It wouldn't take much to get him.

Unfortunately, no... we'll pay him based on his potential. We're still waiting for him to breakout, no? ...or we're so afraid to lose him to another team, we'll overpay.

Yeah, for all the puck moving offensive defensemen we supposedly have, I didn't see much great puck movement. That last PP was abysmal on the break out of our zone.