The trade deadline is still four weeks away, but crazy things are expected over the course of the next month, if not sooner.
Sami Kapanen to the Flyers was a nice appetizer, but it's going to get a lot better than that before it's done. Luckily for armchair general managers, some of the big deals might not wait until the Tuesday, March 11 deadline, either. NHL general managers spent a few extra days after the All-Star weekend in South Florida, so potential deals that were kicked around are still fresh in their minds.
Last year, Pavel Bure, Joe Nieuwendyk, Adam Oates, Darius Kasparaitis and Tom Poti received new mailing addresses in the final 24 hours before the deadline. But the "blockbuster" moves leading up to that deadline were tame in comparison with what we are likely to see this year, with Marty McInnis, Kevin Weekes, Martin Rucinsky, Tom Barrasso and Cliff Ronning being among the second-tier players moved in the three weeks prior to the 2002 deadline.
Some teams will be trying to dump salary and add draft picks to build for the future.
Contending teams want to make a deal to shore up the weak spot on their roster. Avs general manager Pierre Lacroix has been especially adept at cutting late deals, nabbing Theo Fleury, Ray Bourque, Rob Blake and Kasparaitis in recent years.
Or, as is the case with the New Jersey Devils, some teams just want to rid themselves of malcontents, such as forward Mike Danton, about whom New Jersey head coach Pat Burns has joked: "Some of the trades I've heard involving him, we'd hire a private plane and take him there."
Whatever each team's motive for making a deal, the next month is sure to be fun for hockey fans who fancy themselves as swap-meet Svengalis. While the teams continue to duke it out on the ice for playoff positioning, the GMs will have at it behind the scenes trying to swindle a star from another team for as little as possible.
The greatest day Some may vote for the first day of training camp, the dawn of a new regular season or the night the Cup gets skated as the best day of the year, but cast one vote for CBC's fourth annual Hockey Day in Canada. More than just a tripleheader involving all six Canadian teams, it's a day-long celebration of the game in its homeland. CBC will air 15 1/2 hours of programming on Saturday, with Ron MacLean and Don Cherry hosting from the Arctic Winter Games Complex in Iqaluit, Nunavut.
"We are thrilled to be able to host Hockey Day in Canada," Iqaluit mayor John Matthews told CBC. "Hockey is a very popular sport in Iqaluit and throughout Nunavut for both the spectators and those who play the game. The pride we all have for Jordin Tootoo's successes and the pride he shows for Nunavut is a reflection of this."
CBC will have reporters spread across the country, broadcasting live throughout the day from Summerside, P.E.I.; Quebec City; London, Ontario; New Liskeard, Ontario, Port Alberni, B.C. and Medicine Hat, Alberta. As for the actual games, the Oilers and Canadiens do battle in Montreal starting at 4 p.m., the Leafs play host to the Senators with the puck dropping at 7 p.m., and the Canucks and Flames close out the busy day beginning at 10 p.m. in Cowtown.
Hull stuck on 699 Brett Hull doesn't strike me as the patient type, so I'm guessing his quest for goal No. 700 is eating at him a bit more than he has let on. Hull has fired 30 shots on goal during his seven-game drought, but Dan Cloutier, Roman Turek, Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo, Tomas Vokoun and Patrick Roy (twice) have kept him from lighting the lamp in the past 2 1/2 weeks. The Red Wings have three games against non-playoff teams this week: vs. San Jose on Monday, vs. Buffalo on Thursday and at Atlanta on Saturday. A congressional investigation may be launched if Hull can't tickle the twine against one of those three teams.
New Jersey @ Colorado -- Tuesday, 9 p.m. EST The jerseys are the same, but the teams bear but a faint resemblance to the ones that battled for the Cup just 20 months ago. Jason Arnott, Bobby Holik, Randy McKay, Alexander Mogilny and Petr Sykora have left Jersey, while Ray Bourque, Chris Drury, Jon Klemm, Ville Nieminen, Shjon Podein and Stephane Yelle no longer call Colorado home. This 2001 finals flashback should be a dandy since both teams are playing well: The Avs are 6-0-2 in their past eight, while the Devils are 12-1-1-1 in their past 15.
Ottawa @ Pittsburgh -- Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EST The offensive talent on these teams is more impressive than their financial books. Much like the Penguins stabilized fiscally once Mario Lemieux bought the team, the Sens are hoping for some good news from their accountants once Rod Bryden's latest bid for the club is formally accepted. Pittsburgh has Johan Hedberg back in nets after a 14-game absence due to a broken collarbone, and his presence is welcome since Sebastien Caron cooled off in a hurry following his hot three-game start.
Washington @ Carolina -- Friday, 7 p.m. EST The Caps and 'Canes apparently have undergone bizarre personality transplants as popularized in that rash of bad late-1980s movies with the same plotline. Whether the Kirk Cameron-Dudley Moore film Like Father, Like Son, Fred Savage-Judge Reinhold flick Vice Versa or the Corey Feldman-Corey Haim-Jason Robards movie Dream A Little Dream was your favorite of the bunch, Washington is now playing the role of the Southeast leader that could go deep into the playoffs, while the 'Canes are the talented but floundering team that no one can quite figure out.
Chicago @ Columbus -- Saturday, 7 p.m. EST Theo Fleury better hope his epidermis grows another layer this week because he's going to need thick skin to survive the taunts he's sure to hear from the crowd in his first game in Columbus since his Jan. 19 nightclub incident. The Blackhawks are hoping that Fleury's sponsor/babysitter Jim Jenkins doesn't let him out of his sight like he did during Fleury's imfamous trip to the Pure Platinum strip club with teammates Tyler Arnason and Phil Housley.
Plus: Alex Tanguay The 23-year-old left wing took the brunt of the criticism for the Avs' slow start under Bob Hartley, but he has flourished since Tony Granato took over behind the bench. Tanguay has eight goals and 13 assists in the 22 games under Granato, quieting the trade rumors that had featured his name.
Minus: Curtis Joseph If not for the $7.1 million difference in their salaries, Manny Legace might be the Wings' starting goaltender. CuJo is 0-5-1 in his past six starts, and his 2.65 goals-against average ranks 26th in the NHL among regulars, while his .906 save percentage ranks 24th. Both are just rank for a netminder expected the lead Detroit to a second consecutive Cup. The younger, cheaper and just plain better Legace gives the Wings a solid outing on a more regular basis and could get more starts down the stretch.
Plus: Joe Nieuwendyk After sleepwalking through the first 38 games of the season with just three goals, it looks as if someone reminded Nieuwendyk that it's a good idea to play well in a contract year rather than look like a washed-up vet. Since Jan. 7, Nieuwendyk has seven goals and is plus-14 in 15 games, with the Devils taking 26 of a possible 30 points during that run.
Minus: Ladislav Nagy The Coyotes liked what they saw from their talented young left winger when he scored eight goals in an 11-game stretch during December and early January. But Nagy hasn't scored since Jan. 3, a 13-game drought during which Phoenix has just 10 points. With Daniel Briere's numbers off sharply from his career year in 2001-02, Nagy, Shane Doan, Daymond Langkow, Mike Johnson and Tony Amonte all need to pick it up if the 'Yotes are going to make a playoff push.
Plus: Marc Savard It may not go down in NHL history as an epic fleecing, but Atlanta's Nov. 15 swap of prospect Ruslan Zainullin for Savard is looking pretty one-sided so far. Savard has scored nine goals and added seven assists in the past 16 games, and has been very impressive playing between Slava Kozlov and Dany Heatley.
Minus: Bob Probert The legendary tough guy voluntarily entered a residential treatment program this week as part of the NHL's substance abuse program. Though he was doing radio work for the Blackhawks this season, Probert was still getting paid under the terms of the one-year, $600,000 deal he inked last summer, allowing him to seek the NHL's help in his battle with substance abuse. Probert didn't have any problems for nearly eight years (after missing the entire 1994-95 season), but his demons came back once his playing days were over.
"I've been in the league a long time. I know when people are playing hard and when they are [expletive] around."
-- Penguins center Mario Lemieux after Brad Ference goaded Super Mario into taking 29 penalty minutes and his first regular-season fighting major since March 20, 1987, during Pittsburgh's 6-0 loss to Florida on Thursday.
"It's a [expletive] joke is all it was. If that's how he wants to carry on, that's the way he can do it. Whatever. I don't even care. I'm playing for my teammates."
-- 'Canes All-Star right wing Jeff O'Neill after head coach Paul Maurice made O'Neill, Bates Battaglia, Jeff Heerema, Craig MacDonald, David Tanabe, Niclas Wallin and Aaron Ward participate in an exhausting 12-minute post-practice skate on Thursday in Los Angeles.
"Why is it hard to make a trade? It's real simple. You know how in real estate, they say it's all about location, location, location? Well, in the NHL right now, it's all about budget, budget, budget."
-- Canucks general manager Brian Burke at the NHL's GM meetings in Hollywood, Fla., this week.
"Of course I'm thinking I should be playing more. It's always been a problem so far in my career. Obviously, right now we're struggling. The first 20 games of the season, I was needed. After that, I don't know what happened. Maybe because my contract is up. I don't know what to think. I'm just upset right now."
-- Red Wings center Sergei Fedorov after playing fewer than 12 minutes in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Avalanche.
Jason Chimera, LW, Oilers Edmonton native Chimera has given the Oilers a big offensive boost in his first season. One of the fastest players on perhaps the fastest team in the league, Chimera has been active around the net in his rookie season in addition to playing well on the rush.
"His skills are quite incredible," Oilers GM Kevin Lowe told CBC's After Hours on Saturday. "I think if you are going to show a video of what a skater should be, you'd show a video of Jason Chimera. He's really impressed the organization from the time he was in junior. Then he really impressed us in the AHL, and he has continued to improve."
Chimera has 11 goals and seven assists in 41 games, and his clutch play has impressed the team despite the fact he's averaging just 10 1/2 minutes per game while playing on the third line. Among Chimera's goals are three game-winners.
0.79
Difference between the goals-against averages of Curtis Joseph (2.65) and Manny Legace (1.86).
1.17
Assists per game by Mario Lemieux, second among players in the 1,000-assist club to Wayne Gretzky's 1.32.
Games that Blue Jackets goaltender Marc Denis is on pace to start, having started in 52 of Columbus' 54 games so far.
Our latest best guess at what the postseason seeding will look like.
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
Ottawa Senators
Dallas Stars
New Jersey Devils
Vancouver Canucks
Washington Capitals
St. Louis Blues
Philadelphia Flyers
Colorado Avalanche
Toronto Maple Leafs
Detroit Red Wings
Boston Bruins
Minnesota Wild
New York Islanders
Edmonton Oilers
Florida Panthers
Anaheim Mighty Ducks
Each week during the season, this space will be devoted to your comments on a particular issue.
Last week's topic: Which arena offers the best home-ice advantage?
The American Airlines Center in Dallas. The Stars have the best home record in the league. In only its second year of existence, the AAC has become an intimidating place to play. Even when teams score first, the Stars come back to win. And no one beats them when they score first. Best of all, the ice is still pretty chippy and slushy (like Boston Garden of yore), and only the Stars know where the dead spots are. Amanda, Austin, Texas
Without a doubt, "The Joe" has a huge home-ice advantage over other arenas. There are no fireworks, movie outtakes or mascots -- just pure fan excitement and Original Six hockey. Many have noticed that wherever the Red Wings play there seems to be a sea of Red and White anyway. David T. Campbell, Norfolk, Va.
The best home-ice advantage has to be either the old Montreal Forum or the old Boston Garden. It was pure enjoyment to watch a Bruins-Canadiens game at either venue. Steve Kirchner, Albany, N.Y.
During the regular season, it would have to be Montreal with its French music playing. It seems to be one great big party every night up there. However, when you are talking playoffs, without question the "white-out" in Phoenix is not only a great advantage but it's also one of the greatest spectacles in all of sports. Jim Parker, Glendale, Ariz.
The Xcel Energy Center is without a doubt the greatest sheet of ice in the NHL. The X was built with nothing but the fans in mind, and it shows. The Minnesota fan is unquestionably the most intelligent fan in hockey. With the vertical construction, the fans are as close to the players as any arena in the league and know when not to make their presence known. The fact that we sell out every game is irrelevant, because 10,000 Wild fans at the X are louder than any sold-out venue out there. Steve Moreland, Plymouth, Minn.
Since all the old barns (Forum, Maple Leaf Gardens, Chicago Stadium, Winnipeg Arena, etc.) are gone, the rinks are all sterile and the same. I think the toughest environment, however, is getting off the plane and onto a bus in Edmonton in January when it is minus-30 outside. The atmosphere breathes hockey. Cory Schoffer, Peace River, Alberta
The Nassau Coliseum. Nobody wants to be there, least of all the visiting team. Pete Schreiber, Syracuse, N.Y.
For sheer noise and house-rocking fans, it has to be Chicago Stadium. Oh, wait, they tore that down and put up the United Center in the parking lot. OK, then it has to be the Boston Garden. Oops, they now play in something called the Fleet Center. Let's see, the Montreal Forum -- nope, that's gone in favor of the Bell Centre. The Spectrum -- no, that's gone, too. Since all the classic rinks are being abandoned for corporate-boxed, cookie-cutter arenas, how can you have a home-ice advantage when you can't even tell the arenas apart? Richard Solomon, Mamaroneck, N.Y.
I don't know who has the best home-ice advantage, but I can tell you the Devils have the worst. If the arena isn't full of Flyers or Rangers fans, it is half empty. At least all the silence allows the Devils to concentrate. Glen Sherman, Morristown, N.J.
Toronto has the biggest home-ice advantage. Let's face it, having the NHL head offices attached to your home arena has to have have some sort of advantage, along with having the most knowledgable fans in the game. Damien Evans, Leamington, Ontario
I think that the Bell Centre in Montreal is the ultimate home-ice advantage. Everyone is there to see the game and they really love hockey. I am a big Bruins fan and I went to Montreal in December and was amazed at how loud it was in the Bell Centre during the entire game. It was refreshing to see real hockey fans at a game, the likes of which I haven't seen here in Boston since the Boston Garden. Carolyn Treska, Boston
This week's topic: Who would get your vote for coach of the year thus far?
Click here to send us your choice, with a short (75 words or less) explanation. Brevity and humor are good; naughty words and personal attacks are not so good. And don't forget to include your name, hometown and home state/province.
Jon A. Dolezar covers the NHL for SI.com. "Week at a Glance" normally appears each Sunday during the regular season but will be on vacation next week. It will return on Sunday, Feb. 23.
Got a comment, question or scoop for Jon? Click
here.
Jason Chimera, LW, Oilers
