We got your fix right here.

We go live tomorrow with our 2009-2010 NHL season wrap-up show.

Be sure to tune in live with us tomorrow from 1-3 p.m. EST.

The Hockey Guys on Blog Talk Radio – link for show tomorrow. Chat room will open approximately 5 minutes prior to show’s puck drop.

With the departure of Olli Jokinen for essentially spare parts, Flames fans believe another deal will be made.  After all, GM Darryl Sutter did effectively clear 500K off his cap after the supposed salary dump.  So is Sutter now looking to Atlanta and and acquiring Ilya Kovalchuk?

Just a few days ago, TSN’s Darren Dreger listed the supposed asking price for Kovalchuk as four or five assets, a young roster player plus a combination of draft picks and prospects.  If Sutter were to shoot for Kovalchuck, GM Don Waddell must not have liked prospect Keith Aulie.

Do the Flames now carry the assets to move for the superstar Russian.

They recently recalled their top rated forward prospect, Mikael Backlund, as the team needed secondary scoring.  It could be more of a showcase rather than a need with the acquisition of Matt Stajan.

Dustin Boyd could be showcased as well as he finds himself playing alongside Jarome Iginla regularly.  At 23-years-old he may fit the bill of a valuable young roster player.

Could Niklas Hagman be on the move again?  Sutter plays him on the third line while he projected for thirty goals.  At 30-years-old he carries a reasonable 3 million dollar cap hit while scoring at least 20 goals for three years now.

The Thrashers apparently asked the Bruins for Tuukka Rask, so one would assume prospect Leland Irving also should be in the mix.

Would a package of Hagman, Backlund, Irving, Boyd and a first round pick, Greg Nemisz or Tim Erixon entice Waddell enough to make a move? Certainly would be a healthy package.  but would other teams offer more?  One would imagine the Chicago Blackhawks or Los Angeles Kings could put together something stronger.

Note that the acquisition of Ales Kotalik and Christopher Higgins would maintain reasonable depth at the wings should a trade of this nature occur.

Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Editor
amonaghan@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @NHLHotStove

Interesting fact: Through 956 games Paul Kariya never left a team via trade.  He moved from Anaheim to Colorado after nine years in California.  Then left Colorado for Nashville and then eventually to St. Louis, all via free agency.

Kariya signed a three-year deal, 18 million dollar contract with the Blues in the summer of 2007.  Although he played 82 games in his first season, Kariya only managed 53 through the last 1.5 + seasons.  His inability to stay healthy likely greatly diminishes his value.

Mark Recchi, six years older than Kariya, went with a second round pick to Boston for Martins Karsums and Matt Lashoff, two decent and low-ceiling prospects.  Bill Guerin, four years older than Kariya, went for a conditional (3rd) pick.  Although those players represent his closest comparable trade, he likens himself more to the Guerin or Recchi trade of two deadlines ago.  Those trades warranted either a first or second plus a low ceiling roster player or mid-level prospect.

Through 42 games, the veteran left wing registered 20 points which projects for 39 points.  His current contract holds a no movement clause meaning GM Larry Pleau cannot move him anywhere without his consent.  Still at 35-years-old he may welcome the move to a contending team.  The Blues simply cannot sustain their winning ways and soon will fall out of the playoff picture altogether.

The Islanders, Flames, Bruins and perhaps even Nashville could use a little depth at left wing making them excellent options for the Blues.  All of those teams also could spare a second round pick or a prospect as they boast some of the deeper prospect pools in the NHL.

To summarize, Kariya must want to leave St. Louis and his value would be a 2nd rounder at most plus a non blue-chip prospect.

Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Editor
amonaghan@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @NHLHotStove

After enduring four long games on the bench after a few previous stints watching from the press box, Ranger forward Ales Kotalik would like a trade.  Jim Schmiedeberg of Blueshirt Banter describes the full story as Kotalik seems destined for a new destination.

The short explanation says Kotalik will not honor a March autograph session because he would like to be moved and preferably to a Western Conference team.  At 31-years old and two more years left on his contract his value must be at an all-time low.

Through 44 games the enigmatic power forward posted 22 points, with 16 coming with the man advantage.

Coach John Tortorella brought him in after watching him on the Sabres and admiring his powerful one-timer.  He designed a powerplay system surrounded around Kotalik and rookie Michael Del Zotto, hoping the young defenseman would feed his counterpart often and successfully.  Through the first twelve games he played at a point-per-game pace which really discounts his numbers over the remaining 32 games.

His 22 points place him sixth on the team in scoring which speaks more on the Rangers inability to score when he struggles than his role on the team.  Still there must be a need for a four time 20-goal scorer somewhere out there.

Last year he fetched a 2nd round pick from the Oilers terminating his tenure in Buffalo.  Considering Kotalik only potted 43 points last year, his 40 point pace seems surprisingly consistent.  Regardless, GM Glen Sather most likely will dump his salary with two more years of a flat 3 million dollar cap hit.

Sather dumped Matt Cullen to the Hurricanes with three years remaining at a similar salary.  Cullen only fetched a 3rd round pick, an AHL player and a mid-level prospect.  At best the Rangers look at a 3rd round pick and some help for the Wolfpack.  Calgary and possibly Colorado or Anaheim likely would require help on the wing come deadline day or if these rumors prove true even sooner.

Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Editor
amonaghan@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @NHLHotStove

What should Alex Tanguay fetch on the trade market?

This subject came to mind after reading a recent article by Scott Cruikshank of The Calgary Herald.  The writer makes the case for Tanguay citing how badly the Flames need a playmaker to go along with snipers Jarome Iginla and Olli Jokinen.  Cruikshank also mentions how the Flames cornered the market for tough, grinding types both in Calgary and Abbotsford, a luxury other teams would dream about, but I digress.

Just three short years ago, Tanguay flanked Iginla alternating between the center and left wing positions but eventually would be traded in favor of current Montreal Canadien Michael Cammalleri.  The Canadiens sent the Flames a first round pick (25th overall) in which they selected Windsor Spitfire Greg Nemisz. At that point in his career Tanguay seemed prime to put up close to a PPG pace, only a year removed from doing so with 81 points in as many games.

Now, at 31-years-old Tanguay offers a veteran presence and most likely a contributor but not that breakthrough offensive player he once was.  Following an injury riddled 50 games in Montreal, the Ste-Justine native signed for a meager 2.5 million with the Tampa Bay Lightning, over half of his previous salary (5.25).

The Lightning hoped for that reasonable salary he would form instant chemistry with fellow Quebecers Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier.  However, an inconsistent effort from Lecavalier as well as the newfound chemistry between St. Louis and Steven Stamkos make Tanguay both superfluous and expendable.  Unless the Lightning have identity issues and somehow think they can sneak their way into the playoffs with a shoddy defensive core and two B rate goaltenders, he should and will be moved.

What will he fetch then?

Definitely not a first round pick as he did two years ago.  The majority of the League chose not to sign him during the offseason with the asset requirement at an absolute minimum.  Definitely not a 2nd round pick  and a young defenseman as he fetched over three years ago during his trade to Calgary.  Those opinions of Tanguay left the league with his former linemate Peter Forsberg.

A quick glance at last year’s deadline would say at best a 2nd round pick.

Last year both Dominic Moore and Ales Kotalik fetched a second, with both producing at a similar pace and a similar age.  Tanguay should finish between 40 and 50 points, both of those players finished with 43 and 45 respectively.  Nik Antropov, a year younger than Tanguay, finished a completely healthy and productive season with 59 points and only warranted a 4th round pick more.

A few teams may need his services.  The Flames for one make sense, especially coming off the heels of their 9-1 loss to the Sharks.  The Islanders could be a fit as they likely need another top six winger and center to stay in the picture.  The Ducks, Coyotes and even Red Wings make sense in order to fill in injuries and boost scoring woes.  Imagine if the Wings signed Tanguay instead of promoting Ville Leino.

Yes Tanguay plays a one-dimensional game which often can be considered selfish, soft or my personal favorite the “wet noodle.”  He also boasts a resume of legitimate scoring potential with playoff experience and a much needed veteran presence.

Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Editor
amonaghan@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @NHLHotStove

It has turned into a game of he said she said. The life of Calgary Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf. A case of teammate gone sour?

Early on in the season, news broke across the wonderful social media network known as Twitter that Phaneuf and the Flames coaching staff were involved in a heated locker room argument questioning his demeanor with the team as well as his play.

On and off for months rumors circulated that #3 either wanted out of Calgary or that they were finding ways to move him themselves. No matter the consensus on his play, Phaneuf has been Calgary’s better blue line player most of this year; if not the best.

During the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Calgary selected Phaneuf ninth overall. We know he was thought highly of from the Philadelphia Flyers who even attempted to move up in the draft in order to select Phaneuf. Nothing came about of it and the Flyers chose Jeff Carter 11th overall.

Rumors have come and gone, even though Philadelphia has been quiet through the storm. Rumblings that Phaneuf’s value is still high within the Flyers organization. Rumors that even up to today have not died.

We all need to understand the rumor world and instead of organizational brass getting so up tight about what is reported, they should just come out publicly and state that there are no truth to said rumors involving certain players.

Without going too far off topic, even after the recent reports came out via various outlets around the Internet that Phaneuf had requested a trade which was then shot down by both Phaneuf and Darryl Sutter; new rumors have surfaced.

On January 9th, 2010, HenricksHockey.com posted an article about Phaneuf just days after all the media drama seemed to die down.

In an article posted this morning at Hockeyleaks.com, Corey Johnson (who contributes to HendricksHockey.com as well) said the denials by both the Flames and Phaneuf means absolutely nothing. They are not going to come out and say yeah I did, or yes he did. Its just isnt going to happen.

Johnson contacted sources and believes this rumor has legs and there is a 60/40 chance Mr. Phaneuf is wearing a new jersey come March. Teams that appear to be interested are the New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, and even the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Johnson also states HendricksHockey.com took a ton of flack over this story after the denials from the past few days, but he goes on record saying there is something to this story.

With that, realize as I say this with great pleasure, to say that just because something of this nature is brought out publicly it is not true nor false. It is a rumor. A noun that means: a statement or report current without known authority for its truth.

As many times as GM Sutter can spit out stating Phaneuf will not be traded it does not mean 29 other general managers will not inquire. Therefore when another teams general manger tells his minions about such event it automatically becomes a rumor.

A fine line exists here. Dany Heatley demanded a trade publicly. If Phaneuf even remotely said he was uncomfortable in Calgary for any significant reason it would turn into the words “Dion Phaneuf requests trade out of Calgary”.

Opportunity for trade is constant.  Human beings act and react especially if persistence exists and will put forth the effort to acquire a piece in which they feel is a prize. There will come an instant when said GM will be unable to refuse such an offer. These offers are called over payments.   These acting managers live in constant communication between the organizations staff and the prized possessions owner. You do know how the old saying goes, “if you want something that bad you do ANYTHING to get it” and with this situation it multiplies. Especially for a player of Phaneufs caliber.

Will Phaneuf get traded?  There is no answer to said question simply due to the fact that if Wayne Gretzky was traded, anyone…can be traded.

Anthony Curatolo
NHLHS Senior Writer
acuratolo@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @ACHockeyGuys