Now that the cosmics have considered me to be the best suitable replacement for GM, I thought it might be worthwhile to check out some potential trade targets for the Flames. The first step is identifying what the team needs. Darryl Sutter for some reason might think otherwise, but it is not depth players. We have plenty. Please stop acquiring them. Likewise, it is not defencemen either. Between Jbouw, Reggie, Gio, and White, we are perfectly fine. Pardy and Sarich aside, of course, but still those guys aren't even that bad I just have a hard time watching them.
So, Calgary's two main needs: a first-line scorer (at this point not necessarily a center even) and a backup goalie. I'll start with the former.
1. Paul Kariya
I had to use this picture when it came up
Kariya is a UFA next season and he is playing with the Blues who are in 12th place, five points back of a playoff spot. This might be a guy who they would be willing to let go for the right price. Perhaps an onslaught of depth players...we have a few of those if I haven't mentioned it yet. Iginla and Kariya were on the same 2002 Gold Medal winning team in Salt Lake City, for whatever that's worth.
2. Slava Kozlov
Probably the only reason I know this guy is because I had him in my hockey pool a couple years ago. Now that I think about it I did really bad in that one. I'm pretty sure he's been scratched for the last few games in Atlanta but if you played for the Thrashers you wouldn't give a fuck either. Its hard to tell where to stand on this guy. 80pts one season, then 41, then 76, and now 24 (in 52 games). I think that for the right price he could be useful.
3. Saku Koivu
A couple things come to mind when you look at Koivu. Firstly, he is on the Ducks, who by no means are out of a playoff spot yet (three points back of eighth). So the asking price might be hefty. Also, he chose to sign in Anaheim this summer after playing his entire career in Montreal. He probably doesn't want to run back to a Canadian city, especially one that just drove Dion Phaneuf out of town and one that isn't guaranteed a long playoff run/a spot at all. He is still useful I believe with 33pts in 53 games.
There are other people like Ray Whitney, Mike Modano, Jeff Halpern, and Doug Weight who might be worth mentioning but fuck it. Onto the backup goalies.
At the beginning of the season Brent Sutter said that part of the reason we fucked it up so hard in the playoffs was because Kiprusoff's workload was getting to be too much and that he would get lots of rest this season. Enter the backup netminder, CuMac.
He has proved himself more than incapable of being a competent NHL goalie at this point so let's take a quick look at some realistic backup options. Keep in mind that even if the Flames get a backup, it is still likely going to be Kiprusoff who does most of the heavy mucking down the stretch.
1. Dan Ellis
This is not because Nashville is giving up on the playoffs. They are doing decently sitting in seventh place, a couple points ahead of the Flames. This could be a trade that happens because the Predators just signed Pekka Rinne, their other goalie, to a contract extension after the Olympic break. Of course, one reason why Ellis wouldn't make it to Calgary is that the Flames are fighting for a playoff spot with the Predators. This of course could pull the asking price way up.
2. Martin Biron
Martin Biron plays for the New York Islanders and he is having a terrible season. 4-11-2 with a .889 save% and 3.24 GAA are not numbers that your parents hang up on the fridge. But, his trade value is low, and he is probably still a better option than CuMac, which is what we are trying to get here. He also has bright blue eyes that can pierce straight through your soul.
These eyes have seenalota things but they've never seen a backup like you
3. Johan Hedberg
Don Waddell, the GM of the Thrashers, recently said that his team was looking to be buyers at the trade deadline. Only problem is that before that he traded the captain and best player on his team, Ilya Kovalchuk, to another team in the conference. So I'm gonna go ahead and ignore him. Johan Hedberg would fit as a goalie for the Flames. He also doesn't really fit in Atlanta as its pretty clear that Ondrej Pavelic is going to be the starter for that franchise. Hedberg is 14-9-5 this season with a .916 save% and a 2.56GAA.
Realistically Sutter won't end up doing anything at the deadline and the Flames won't make the playoffs. Let's not kid ourselves here. Still, I'll be glued to the TV tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment