Los Angeles – The 2010 NHL draft may have quite a fireworks display even before Steve Tambellini makes his way to the podium to announce to the world the winner of the Tyler vs. Taylor sweepstakes.  Going into the ’09 draft, there was one trade in the days leading up to the first round.  As of June 24, 2010, we have had two major and three minor trades.  Thank you salary cap era.

There are several names being kicked around on the trade market going into Friday.  Tomas Kaberle and Jason Spezza top the list.  Teams that are shopping for goaltending help will be looking at names like Tim Thomas and Tomas Vokoun.

A rumor coming out of Boston in the last 36 hours is that Marc Savard has been put on the trading block.  Some other players like Sheldon Souray and Ethan Moreau have been on the block for some time.  Florida has been very public with the fact that they would love to trade their 15th pick recently acquired from the Boston Bruins.  Do not expect the Oilers or Bruins to trade out of the top 2 unless they flip-flop picks.  The real fun starts once the Florida Panthers go on the clock.  Panthers GM Dale Tallon has made it no secret that you can trade for almost anyone on his entire roster.

I expect to see the most fireworks between picks 7 and 23, where several teams will want to move up or down, and try and obtain extra picks.  The wild card of the draft is Russian sniper Kirill Kabanov, a premiere goal scorer who comes with a ton of baggage.  A team with multiple first-round picks, or a deep farm system might take a run at him.  Also, keep an eye on the Washington Capitals.  What young Russian kid would not want the chance to play with the “Great 8”?

This should be one of the most exciting first rounds the NHL draft has had in years.  “Better get your popcorn ready!”

Follow me live on the draft floor via twitter for all 7 rounds at draft_mike.

Mike Murangi
NHLHS Draft and Prospect Correspondent
mmurangi@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @Draft_Mike

The 1994 entry draft was a solid one for goaltenders.  Jose Theodore was chosen in the 2nd round by Montreal.  In the 5th round, the Dallas Stars chose Marty Turco, and four goaltenders were chosen in the 9th round, three of those eventual starters: Tim Thomas by the Nordiques, Evgeny Nabokov by the Sharks, and Tomas Vokoun by the Habs.

None of them are having a season like Johan Hedberg.

Johan “Moose” Hedberg was drafted in the 9th round, 218th overall, by the Philadelphia Flyers.  While his compatriots are suffering through either average seasons (Thomas, Theodore), off play (Turco, some can argue Nabokov), or suffering behind sub-par teams (Vokoun), Hedberg is literally having the best year of his career.  In this, his 9th year in the NHL, Hedberg has only once had a goals against average lower as this season’s 2.67, and he has never had a save percentage as high as his .914.  He’s putting up solid numbers behind an Atlanta Thrashers defense who allows 33.4 shots a game, which is 29th in the league.  While wrangling with all of this pressure, the 36 year old goaltender has grabbed the reigns as Atlanta’s current #1 goaltender in the midst of a playoff run.

Familiar territory indeed for the consummate professional.

He was called up at the end of the season in 2001 for the Pittsburgh Penguins from the Manitoba Moose.  It was a bit of a late call-up, so Hedberg did not have time to adjust his goaltender’s mask, which had a giant moose noticeably painted on it.  The fans in Pittsburgh took to cheering “Moooooooooose!” after every solid save, and it stuck – Hedberg’s prefered nickname of “Jo Jo” was no more.

As a welcome to the NHL, Hedberg was treated to playing 18 Stanley Cup playoff games, where the young, new starter flourished under pressure.  Despite the fact that the Penguins were defeated by the eventual champion New Jersey Devils, the improbable run of the young goalie sincerely captured the hearts of Penguins fans, who are still known to sport the occasional Hedberg jersey.

His second year with the Pittsburgh Penguins saw him take the starting role over Jean-Sebastien Aubin, who was suffering from a very poor outing his 3rd NHL season.  Hedberg’s Penguins did not make the playoffs that season, however in his 66 GP he finished with a 2.75 GAA and .904 SV% – a standout on a team who went 28-41-8-5.

In 2003-2004, Hedberg was traded to the Vancouver Canucks for a 2nd round selection in the 2004 draft.  He only played one season with the Canucks, having a solid 2.52 GAA, but only in 21 games played.  He only got the chance to play 2 games in the playoffs that season, with a .922 SV% and 2.45 GAA  The next season he left for the Dallas Stars, only playing in 19 games and missing the chance to play goal in the playoffs for the 2nd year in a row.

He was signed to a free agent contract in Atlanta in 2006 by Don Waddell, who was looking for a solid mentor to their new starter, the 2001 #2 overall pick Kari Lehtonen.   This first season saw Hedberg step in as a solid backup and immediate fan favorite, and it also allowed Hedberg to return to the playoffs.  The Thrashers were swept by the New York Rangers in the first round, but Hedberg’s experience still shone through.  Lehtonen was young and shaky, as his 5.59 GAA and .849 SV% showed.  Hedberg, though, still had a .928 SV% and a 2.45 GAA

That season was the last Hedberg had of around 20 games.  Lehtonen’s wonky groin caused him to miss many games the following season, and in 2008 Hedberg was called on to start 36 games.  The following year, he was required to play 33 due to a groin issue, a herniated disc, and a concussion all to the young Lehtonen.  2008-2009 saw Hedberg play mentor to the young Ondrej Pavelec, and that role has been continuing this season.

Pavelec is still young (only 22) and has a lot more experience waiting for him to really solidify that ability that is so apparent in flashes.  It’s ill-advised to lead a team that has been flirting with the playoffs all season with a young goalie like Pavelec, especially when his strong start sputtered.  Hedberg was called upon to step in, and like the consummate professional he is. has helped the Thrashers nip at the top 8 nearly all season long – both with and without Ilya Kovalchuk.

Hedberg is appreciated by the fans, winning the February Atlanta Thrashers Fan Club player of the month this season.  Prior to the conclusion of last season, Hedberg won the players’ player award two years running for his quiet and dignified clubhouse leadership, and in 2008 he was the Thrashers’ Masterton Award nominee – which there are rumblings that he’ll be nominated for again.  It would not be surprising for Hedberg to win the team MVP as voted on by the fans – the first time in quite a while that honor has not gone to Kovalchuk.

Hedberg is quiet and always dignified – and when he gets riled up, he always promptly apologizes even when he doesn’t need to.  Quick to share the credit when there’s a win, and probably too quick to shoulder the blame for a loss, he’s often given credit in the locker room for being one of the team’s top leaders.

Rumors have it that Waddell and Hedberg’s agent, Jay Grossman, might work towards a contract extension for Hedberg this offseason.  Moose is set to become a UFA, and this season has warranted a bit of a payraise to the goaltender’s modest salary of just over a million dollars.

Hedberg is a beloved player in Atlanta.  It’s not often that you see a demand for merchandise surrounding a backup goaltender, but Hedberg jerseys and shirts abound in the Team Gear store.  Fans in Atlanta hope that Moose stays on, either in goal as a mentor or as a goaltender coach to Ondrej Pavelec.  He’s shown that he still has a lot to teach.

Laura Astorian
NHLHS Thrashers/Blues Correspondent
lastorian@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @hildymac

The title says it all.  This article will be no more than a comprehensive list of NHL (and some other players owned by NHL teams) players set to participate in the 2010 Winter Olympics.

For the sake of clarity we have sorted players by team.  Minor league players in red, injured players in blue.

Anaheim Ducks (8) – Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Scott Niedermayer, Teemu Selanne, Saku Koivu, Jonas Hiller, Bobby Ryan, Luca Sbisa

Atlanta Thrashers (5) – Ilya Kovalchuk, Maxim Afinogenov, Ondrej Pavelec, Pavel Kubina, Tobias Enstrom

Boston Bruins (6) – Patrice Bergeron, Marco Sturm, Tim Thomas, David Krejci, Zdeno Chara, Miroslav Satan

Buffalo Sabres (4) – Toni Lydman, Ryan Miller, Henrik Tallinder, Andrej Sekera

Calgary Flames (3) – Jarome Iginla, Miikka Kiprusoff, Olli Jokinen

Carolina Hurricanes (3) – Eric Staal, Joni Pitkanen, Tuomo Ruutu

Chicago Blackhawks (6) – Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Tomas Kopecky

Colorado Avalanche (3) – Paul Stastny, Peter Budaj, Ruslan Salei

Columbus Blue Jackets (6) – Rick Nash, Jan Hejda, Samuel Pahlsson, Fredrik Modin, Milan Jurcina, Fedor Tyutin

Dallas Stars (4) – Brenden Morrow, Jere Lehtinen, Loui Eriksson, Karlis Skrastins

Detroit Red Wings (7) – Valtteri Filppula, Brian Rafalski, Niklas Kronwall, Nicklas Lidstrom,  Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Tomas Holmstrom

Edmonton Oilers (2) - Lubomir Visnovsky, Denis Grebeshkov

Florida Panthers (2) -  Dennis Seidenberg, Tomas Vokoun

Los Angeles Kings (5) – Drew Doughty, Jack Johnson, Jon Quick, Dustin Brown, Michal Handzus

Minnesota Wild (5) – Niklas Backstrom, Mikko Koivu, Antti Miettinen, Marek Zidlicky, Martin Havlat

Montreal Canadiens (6) – Tomas Plekanec, Yannick Weber, Jaroslav Halak, Andrei Markov, Sergei Kostitsyn, Andrei Kostitsyn

Nashville Predators (6) – Alexander Sulzer, Shea Weber, Marcel Goc, Ryan Suter, Martin Erat, Patric Hornqvist

New Jersey Devils (6) – Martin Brodeur, Paul Martin, Zach Parise, Jamie Langenbrunner, Patrik Elias, Johnny Oduya

New York Islanders (1) – Mark Streit

New York Rangers (5) – Ryan Callahan, Chris Drury, Henrik Lundqvist, Andres Ambuhl, Marian Gaborik

Philadelphia Flyers (5) – Chris Pronger, Mike Richards, Kimmo Timonen, Oskars Bartulis, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen

Pittsburgh Penguins (5) – Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Marc Andre Fleury, Sergei Gonchar, Brooks Orpik

Phoenix Coyotes (3) – Sami Lepisto, Zbynek Michalek, Ilya Bryzgalov

Ottawa Senators (6) – Jarkko Ruutu, Filip Kuba, Milan Michalek, Daniel Alfredsson, Kaspars Daugavins, Anton Volchenkov

San Jose Sharks (8) – Dan Boyle, Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Dany Heatley, Douglas Murray, Thomas Greiss, Joe Pavelski, Evgeni Nabokov

St. Louis Blues (3) – Eric Johnson, David Backes, Roman Polak

Tampa Bay Lightning (5) – Antero Niittymaki, Ryan Malone, Mattias Ohlund, Martins Karsums, Andrej Meszaros

Toronto Maple Leafs (6) – Jonas Gustavsson, Mikhail Grabovski, Phil Kessel, Tomas Kaberle, Mike Komisarek, Niklas Hagman

Vancouver Canucks (7) -  Roberto Luongo, Sami Salo, Christian Ehrhoff, Pavol Demitra, Ryan Kesler, Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin

Washington Capitals (4) Tomas Fleischmann, Nicklas Backstrom, Semyon Varlamov, Alexander Ovechkin

-Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Founder
amonaghan@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @NHLHotStove

Over the last 24 hours, numerous goalies became available throughout the league.  We already discussed the availability of Jaroslav Halak here, but there are a few interesting options popping up.

John Fontana with Raw Charge wonders if the Lightning are shopping goalie Mike Smith.  With solid depth in the minors and a significant amount of money owed to Smith this season and next (2.4 million cap hit) it may make sense to move the talented netminder.  With the 27-year-old playing six of the last nine Lightning games, it certainly makes sense that the team would be shopping him.

Likewise, the Florida Panthers listed goalie Tomas Vokoun as available according to Chris Botta of Fanhouse.  Botta points out that top prospect Jacob Markstrom seems poised to join the club after this season leaving them with what they would consider two top goaltenders.  Markstrom is certainly the future of the organization, but if he needs more time to develop the Panthers may have another lost year on their hands.

Vokoun carries a lofty cap hit of 5.7 million meaning Florida most likely would need to take on a contract of similar weight.  Despite breaking the bank, the Czech native is perhaps the only true number one goalie on the market and would provide a boost to those teams needing insurance between the pipes.  Botta predicts a second rounder as fair value for the 33-year-old.  Would a Daniel Briere for Vokoun swap make sense?

Perhaps our wackiest rumor for today, The New York Post’s Larry Brooks believes Dan Cloutier would be a good fit with the team that drafted him. Not only is the aforementioned Cloutier suspended for fighting in his first game, but he has not seen an NHL game in over two years.  Unless the Rangers are in the market for a new enforcer, I simply do not see them grabbing the 33-year-old and not taking an established backup like Michael Leighton.

In all honesty, acquiring Cloutier would be a baseless move.  Although he could teach Donald Brashear a thing or two about fighting.

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed our latest trade rumors feature. You can help NHLHS stay alive by visiting our sponsors to the left.

Follow me on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates

-Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Founder
thehotstove@gmail.com