NHL Trade Rumors
The NHL is on Olympic Break while its stars travel to Vancouver to play in the 2010 Olympic Games. While they’re away (until February 28th) there is a trade hiatus in the NHL. That hasn’t stopped GM’s from talking of course and we now have almost two weeks for blockbuster deals to take shape.
Sports Interaction Review: NHL Trade Deadline
Teams that will become scary with one addition:
Pittsburgh Penguins: Looking to add a forward to play with Malkin. Pens having been looking at Carolina’s Ray Whitney and Toronto’s Alexei Ponikarovsky to be the lucky benefactor of some crisp Malkin passes and a chance to win a Stanley Cup. Malkin is slumping in production this year and getting him a scorer to feed can’t hurt. This team is a Stanley Cup favorite every year they have Malkin and Sid the Kid on their roster together.
Philadelphia Flyers: With the career of goalie Ray Emery in jeopardy with a hip injury similar to that A-Rod had this past season with the Yankees, the Flyers are in the market for a goaltender. Montreal has two in Jaroslav Halak and Carey Price that both could be starters and are likely to move one or the other by the deadline. Florida G Tomas Vokoun has also been rumored to be on the market and is by far the best goaltender out there. The Flyers maybe the only team with enough assets up front to make a blockbuster deal for the All-Star net-minder, and would be a serious contender with a quality backstop like Vokoun.
Best 3 guys reportedly on their way out:
Toronto Forward Alexei Ponikarovsky: Underrated winger for the Maple leafs has played well the past couple of years without a true center. He likely will not return to Toronto and become a free agent so the Leafs would be wise to move him. Ponikarovsky is ready to be a top 6 forward for a contender right now.
Nashville D Dan Hamhuis: Defenseman has played significantly better than his contract pays and Nashville will not be able to re-sign him. They will not want to lose out on him and the Devils amongst others are looking for a big defenseman. He will be an impact player at this deadline for any team that needs some size on its blue-line.
Carolina Forward Ray Whitney: Whitney is the marquee name out there right now at the forward position with Ilya Kovalchuk traded to New Jersey. Whitney has posted 19 goals and 29 assists on a struggling Hurricanes team and is their best chance to get some much needed prospects in the farm system. The Canes will ask for a lot for Whitney who may be the first to be traded after the Olympics.
