Well, hockey betting fans, it’s time for my last installment of “To trade or not to trade.” We still have five days until the deadline but, with the flurry of activity that could come early next week, chances are a trade candidate will get dealt while I’m writing about him.

The latest big name to discuss is another high-profile defender: Chris Pronger. A big, tough leader with a unique blend of shutdown skills and offensive ability, he would obviously boost the Stanley Cup odds of anyone who acquired him. Whether or not he’s a good guy to target isn’t in question at all; New Jersey or Philadelphia would make sense. But is a potential Pronger deal good from the Ducks’ perspective?

First of all, as some hockey betting pundits have already pointed out, yesterday’s Chris-Kunitz-for-Ryan-Whitney deal doesn’t necessarily increase Pronger’s chances of being moved. Because Scott Niedermayer is no guarantee to stay, the Ducks may wait until the summer to make a decision on Pronger. Online betting fans should remember, too, that Niedermayer has just as many rumors floating around him, with the Devils reportedly the strongest contender to get him. If NIedermayer left, would it be smart for the Ducks to move Pronger? Maybe they’d need to keep him for another year.

If I’m Anaheim, I think I deal both Pronger and Niedermayer next week if the offers are right. I’d never bet on it happening at the sportsbook, but I think it would be a smart move because:

- Anaheim is on the outside of the Stanley Cup betting playoff picture right now

- Even if the Ducks squeaked into the eighth spot, they can’t compete with Detroit, San Jose and Chicago this year or for the next couple of years

- They’d tank a little without Pronger and Niedermayer and secure a better draft pick

- It’s a deep draft this year and they could have multiple first-rounders if they moved the defenders

- With Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, plus whichever NHL-ready players they could land in Pronger/Niedermayer deals, plus multiple high picks in the 2009 draft, the Ducks could make a rapid turnaround and contend in the Stanley Cup odds in a couple years

…crazy? I’m not so sure. Can’t wait to see how the trade deadline shakes up NHL lines…

Forget his great numbers for just a second.  NHL betting fans should know, based solely on the fact that this is my third post about him in the last two months, that Scott Clemmensen has been a revelation for the Devils this season — and for online betting fans who stuck with New Jersey sans Martin Brodeur.

OK, back to the numbers:

- 39 starts

- 25-13-1 record

- 2.39 GAA

- .917 save percentage

- two shutouts

Those aren’t just stopgap numbers; those are viable starting netminder numbers. That makes it all the more painful to see that the Devils just demoted Clemmensen to the AHL upon Brodeur’s return from injury. I knew Brodeur would get his job back, but who would’ve predicted this shabby treatment at the sportsbook?

I understand Lou Lamoriello’s logic from a franchise standpoint; (a) Marty is your all-time greatest player, so he naturally gets the reins back as soon as he’s ready and (b) You risk losing Kevin Weekes since he has to clear waivers to be sent down, so Clemmensen has to go.

Long-term, though, is this the right move? Now you piss off Clemmensen, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and virtually assure he won’t be back as insurance to Marty. Maybe the Devils already know that or maybe they plan to deal one of their backup goalies very soon, but it’s still a risky move considering that Marty isn’t guaranteed to stay healthy the rest of the year. Wouldn’t you rather lose Kevin Weekes than Scott Clemmensen at this point? Those who bet on hockey should watch Brodeur closely, as his play could really affect the Devils’ nightly online betting prospects if he gets the lion’s share of starts going forward.

Sleep with one eye open, Carey Price…

On a night during which much of the sports world was focused on NBA betting, something important happened in the hockey betting universe.

Habs backup goalie Jaroslav Halak shut out the hottest team in the NHL, the Vancouver Canucks, in what was easily Montreal’s most spirited effort in at least a month. The Habs had serious jump, the Bell Centre was rockin’ and it all started with Halak, who made multiple breakaway saves.

What does it all mean at the sportsbook? Well, given Carey Price’s recent struggles, Guy Carbonneau seems to be giving Halak a full shot at the starting job. He handed the reins over the Price in a snap move a year ago, so would he hesitate to do the same with Halak? It doesn’t seem that way. Halak is slated to keep starting until he loses; so far, that’s two wins in a row for him.

The situation will be much easier to understand a week from now. At the start of the season, the Habs were expected to showcase Halak in hopes of trading him before the deadline, so it’s entirely possible that they’re simply trying to give buyers a good look at him before March 4. Keep an eye on the situation if you bet on hockey, as it could signicantly affect Montreal’s online betting prospects, not to mention Stanley Cup odds, going forward.

Well, this should be interesting. Yeah, seeing A-Rod’s “steroid” free frame take hacks in World Baseball Classic betting should be fun. And no one can deny the craze of the March Madness odds. But this is a hockey blog, folks. The most interesting story of the week for NHL betting fans is the firing of head coach Tom Renney and subsequent hiring of hotheaded former Tampa Bay Lightning coach John Tortorella — a.ka. the hockey coach most likely to be a Miami drug kingpin (look at the guy!).

It’s clear the Rangers needed a change — and Renney wasn’t exactly the “disciplinarian” type to slap some sense into them. But is the Tortorella hiring going a bit too far? Shady hiring circumstances aside (what was it - seven hours after Renney was fired? Hmm…), online betting fans know the Rangers just hired a man who can’t stand Sean Avery and has feuded with New York reporters in the past.

What does it mean for NHL betting? Well, those who bet on hockey should legimately consider picking the Rangers at the sportsbook this week. Teams almost always start quickly under new coaches (Bruce Boudreau got the Caps off and running last year; Cory Clouston’s Sens streaked out of the gate before crashing back to Earth last week), so the Rangers should be no exception. Now - right now – is the time to bet on the Rangers since they’ll still be underdogs at the Internet sportsbook. What are you waiting for? Go make some bets!

It worked for Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in their NBA betting heyday. It sure as hell works for the Yankees and Red Sox every time they went toe-to-toe in MLB odds. So what’s wrong with the growing rivalry between Sid and Ovechkin? Maybe some people don’t like Sid’s whining or Ovechkin’s theatrics, but I think the sports world needs some lighter entertainment right now, and that includes NHL betting. Here’s a look at the most recent chapter in this soap opera (from yesterday)…

I’m more partial to Ovechkin…I’d bet on him over Sid at the sportsbook if they ever went toe to toe. Don’t you think Alexander the GR8 would have a granite jaw?

What do you think, online betting players?

Well, well, well…just when we think the scandal machine has calmed down…just when we were ready to put our feet up and enjoy a long Saturday of games followed by the UFC 95 odds…a doozie of a controversy hits Montreal.

Yep — you’ll have to forgive Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn, not to mention Roman Hamrlik, if they struggle to help their team in NHL betting matchups for the next while. La Presse broke the story — Pasquale Mangiola, who was recently arrested for drug trafficking and illegal weapons, is apparently a good chum of said Habs trio, especially the brothers from Belarus. The way I see it, the scandal can break three ways…I’ve created some sportsbook lines for you online betting nuts.

OPTION 1: KOSTITSYNS ARE ALSO CRIME BARONS/HIRED MUSCLE FOR MANGIOLA (+200)

They may seem like pansies on the ice, but NHL hockey players look like football players when they’re in public. Maybe they’re Pasquale’s muscle…nicknamed the “Sticks Brothers” for their ability to whack information out of suspected rats.

ANDREI: “YOU. YOU, BAD MAN. ARE YOU WEARING WIRE?”

SERGEI: “WE WILL PUNISH YOU!”

(hockey stick beating ensues)

OPTION 2: KOSTITSYNS “DIDN’T KNOW HE WAS A MOBSTER” (-100)

It sorta makes sense, right? Fairly new to the country, you run into a guy who adores you…buys you stuff…wines and dines you…goes to all your tennis matches….oh, wait. I was thinking of Sergei Fedorov and Anna Kournikova.

OPTION 3: KOSTITYSNS ARE UNDERCOVER COPS (-350)

It’s the perfect trap! The Feds (the RCMP in this case?) Find out Mangiola loves hockey…plant the Kostitsyns in a bar…and voila! Mangiola takes the bait. How else could all the phone calls have been recorded? Huh? This option gets my NHL betting pick.

Alex Kovalev. AK27. the ultimate enigma. Yeah, a lot of people hate him…some probably want to toss him into the UFC betting octagon and see Brock Lesnar pound his face in. Before you write him off as a total douche, though, watch this:

Wow. How can an online sports betting fan not gain some respect for him after that? He’s a phenomenal talent. In fact, some say he is the most naturally gifted player on the planet but only plays when he wants to.

Regardless of what NHL betting fans think of him, Kovalev’s days in Montreal appear to be numbered. He’s an unrestricted free agent this summer, he has publicly called out the Habs’ youngsters for being irresponsible in their night lives and appears to want out. Would you bet at the sportsbook on him re-signing? I didn’t think so. Even though Les Canadiens are in playoff contention, is it better for them to cash AK27 in while they can? Bob Gainey and the Habs face the same dilemma as Jacques Martin and the Panthers do with Jay Bouwmeester.

My thinking: deal him. Yeah, you lose a fan favorite and what could be a valuable playoff contributor, but Kovalev only plays well every second year anyway and this is one of his “off” years. Pittsburgh makes so much sense as a destination that it hurts. The Pens could keep Evgeni Malkin with Petr Sykora, then pair Kovalev with Sidney Crosby, who desperately needs a winger who knows out to hit the black rubber thingy into the mesh. Kovalev played well in Pittsburgh before, so he could adjust quickly.

Two other teams for NHL betting fans to watch: Edmonton and Los Angeles. The Oilers are openly pursuing Kovalev while the Kings, who reportedy are chasing Gaborik, could try for Kovalev if they don’t get their man.

How badly do you think Dana White is sweating about his job security heading into the UFC 95 odds?

Sorry - WAY off topic. Thinking ahead to the weekend. Let me rephrase that question:

How badly to you think the New Jersey Devils wish the playoffs started today? Some hockey betting fans think they’re the top Stanley Cup odds contender now. Can you argue against them considering the Devils dethroned San Jose on the weekend?

I can’t believe I’m about to utter these words, online betting fans…

Martin. Brodeur’s. Return. Could. Be. The. Worst. Thing. To. Happen. To. The. Devils. This. Season.

We’ve all heard it before…if you read Bill Simmons, you know about the “Patrick Ewing theory” — when a team overcompensates and plays better without its star and mentally “relaxes” once he returns. I can’t help but think Martin Brodeur’s return will put the Devils in more serious Ewing-theory jeopardy than any sports team in recent memory.

Scott Clemmensen is still playing quite well, the offense is rolling, with two effective scoring lines…I’d bet at the sportsbook that Brodeur’s return will at least screw things up temporarily. If New Jersey can readjust to Marty, though…they’ll win the Eastern final and qualify for Stanley Cup betting.

Enough serious talk. If you’re a hockey fan, this video, upon which I just stumbled (don’t ask), has to make you nostalgic for the NHL’s early 1990s heyday.

Stanley Cup betting creeps closer every day and I’m having a devil of a time (Pun intended? Or not?) determining who will win the Stanley Cup. With respect to March Madness betting, all signs point to this year’s playoffs being the best team-sport tournament we’ve seen in years. The parity is astounding.

Since the NHL betting playoff participants look like they’ll be ridiculously well-matched, the survivors will need gamebreakers — high-impact players who respond in the clutch.

Could Dan Boyle be one of those guys? He’s been a major reason behind the Sharks’ banner season, with 42 points — including 14 goals already — in 49 games. Not bad for a blueliner, eh? The Sharks’ Achilles heel during their recent years of dominance has been an inability to win big games, but now they’ve added two defensive pillars - Boyle and Rob Blake - with Cup rings. Could be the difference maker in the Stanley Cup odds against New Jers - uh, I mean, whomever the Sharks could meet if they reach the Final.

Let’s sit back and enjoy this beauty Boyle scored Friday night. Sucks to be you, Tony Lydman.

We’ve had way, WAY too many Florida-Panthers-oriented posts on this blog lately. What can I say? I sincerely apologize. But they keep busting out comedy for us, from Don King, to this movie-quoting announcer:

I guess that’s what you have to do when your “hockey audience” is too focused on Daytona 500 betting to care about “ice hawkey” at all. Wow. I guess this is cool…hard to argue with “Come with me if you want to live” after a goal.

Hey, maybe it’s working. The Panthers are hot in NHL betting right now…you can even consider tossing a sportsbook picktheir way if you bet on hockey.