The Atlanta Thrashers have acquired Alexi Zhitnik for Braydon Coburn.
Alexi Zhitnik who was already dealt once earlier this season from the Islanders to the Flyers didn't offer the Flyers any long term need and although Coburn hasn't come into his own, he is still a very promising player with good agility for his size and should be a good long term fit for the Flyers. Zhitnik doesn't possess a flashy game at this point in his career but knows how to get the job done. This should help provide much needed stability on the Thrashers back end.
The Atlanta Thrashers have struggled the last two weeks losing valuable points and playoff position and it appears as though GM Don Waddell had enough and decided to pull the trigger on a deal tonight.
Over 1001 career NHL games, Zhitnik has registered 448 points and 1194 penalty minutes. While Coburn has only played in 38 career games totalling 5 points and a -1.
Joe Corvo is also a healthy scratch tonight for the 2nd game in the home and home series against the Sabres. Have the Sens found someone who is willing to take on Corvo's contract? Corvo still has three seasons left on his contract after this season with a cap hit of over 2.5 million dollars a season.
I wouldn't blame Hitchcock for scratching either one of these guys based on their performances this season but it seems strange that a non playoff team would bench two players that they may be trying to sell. Berard we know will find a new home between now and the deadline Zherdev being dealt is still a question mark although rumors have made their rounds.
With the signing of Brewer they number of available defenseman is slowly dwindling away. Berard could provide a much needed offensive boost to several teams powerplays around the league and I wouldn't be surprised if Atlanta are pushing hard for him right now.
I will keep a close eye on this situation as something may unfold before the night is over.
The Mighty Ducks cleared some cap space and dealt rugged defenseman Shane O'Brien and a 3rd round pick to the Tampa Bay Lightening for a 1st round draft pick and goalie Gerald Coleman. It's appears as though the Ducks are preparing to bring in a veteran defenseman with the extra cap room they cleared. Tampa Bay have been searching for a physical defensemen for most of the season and this move adds depth that had been sorely lacking on the Lightening's blueline.
Shane O'Brien had 2 goals, 14 points and 140 PIM's in 62 games this season.
Nolan Baumgartner was claimed of re-entry waivers by the Dallas Stars and Joey MacDonald was claimed by the Boston Bruins on Saturday.
Over Baumgartner's career he has played in 124 career games, adding six goals, 43 points and 67 penalty minutes.
MacDonald being claimed by the Bruins will save the Red Wings 117 000 dollars in cap room leaving many to wonder if Detroit has a trade in the works. MacDonald has a less then impressive 1-5-1 record this season with a 3.46 GAA and a .872 save percentage.
The St. Louis Blues have announced the signings of Eric Brewer and Manny Legace while the Boston Bruins have also signed Marco Sturm to a multi year deal.
Brewer signed a 4 year deal averaging 4.25 million a season which by some people's standards seems like a lot of money but Brewer does have a reputation for being a big game player. Over the course of 497 games Brewer has totaled 140 points. Brewer is probably best known for playing on Canada's Olympic gold medal team in 2001-02.
Manny Legace has provided solid goaltending this season for the Blues and has earned a 2 year contract extension. Many people questioned Legace's ability as a goaltender after playing on a great Detroit Red Wings team but proved critics wrong playing good for a non playoff team this year. Legace won a Stanley cup in 2002 with Detroit and has 137 wins and a 2.28 GAA in 228 career games.
It had been widely thought that Marco Sturm would test the free agent market this summer but this week the Bruins started serious negotions in an effort to keep him. Sturm signed a 4 year deal that will see him average 3.5 million dollars a season. Sturm was the best player that Boston received as part of the Joe Thorton deal and has compiled 347 points in 658 games.
With under two weeks left until the Feb. 27th trade deadline, a trend seems to be taking place. The western conference teams are stacking up. The Flames added some much needed grit and depth with two separate deals obtaining Craig Conroy, Brad Staurt and Wayne Primeau. Dallas snagged Nagy, and now the Nashville Predators have acquired the star of this years trade deadline Peter Forsberg.
Where has the east been in all this? Well I guess you could make a case for the NY Rangers after all they did make two deals getting Avery and Dupis which could pay dividends going down the stretch. Ultimately though it seems as though the majority of the rumors and deals have surrounded the teams in the West.
Here's ten players the East might respond with and the teams they could very well end up with.
1. Bill Guerin - The defending Stanley Cup Champions will make a serious attempt at acquiring Guerin or his St. Louis teammate Keith Tkachuk. Ottawa will also be strong contenders in the Guerin sweepstakes.
2. Gary Roberts - It seems like only a matter of time before Ottawa or Toronto get him and when healthy Roberts embodies the playoff sprit better then most.
3. Bryan Berard - Although he has been a defensive liability his entire career Berard knows how to run the powerplay better then most rearguards. Atlanta, Buffalo and Tampa Bay have all inquired one of them will get him.
4. Keith Tkachuk - Carolina will make a pitch if they lose out on Guerin. Ottawa have also shown interest but don't be surprised if the west win out on this one again, Detroit will make a serious push especially now that other teams in the west have loaded up.
5. Aaron Miller - Maybe a lesser known defensemen in some hockey circles Miller brings a hard nosed approach that would be a welcome addition to any teams backend come playoffs. He's been linked to Buffalo but don't rule out the Pens or Thrashers. Pittsburg could really use a guy like this that adds a little jam to their lineup.
6. Bryan Smolinski - Smolinski or smoke as teammates often call him is one of few centers available. Montreal could get him cheap although rumors suggest there trying to pull off something much bigger.
7. Martin Gelinas - Will he waive his no trade clause? This guy loves the playoffs and given a chance will waive his no trade clause in a heart-beat to take another crack at Lord Stanley. Pittsburg have there scoring lines going all they need is some veteran leadership and grit to fill out there roster and they will be looking much more like a threat. There will be no shortage of team after Gelinas, expect Ottawa or Toronto which ever one loses out on Roberts to go after him.
8. Todd Bertuzzi - There are still several questions about Bert's health. Ideally he would play a couple games for Florida before he's traded but times running out. Montreal want a power forward, and appear willing to take the risk.
9. Eric Brewer - Brewer is known as a big game player. St.Louis like's the way he has played under new coach Andy Murray and are trying to resign him but if things don't get done by the deadline look for Buffalo, Montreal, Atlanta, and the Rangers to all to get involved.
10. Curtis Joseph, Martin Biron, Ed Belfour - Alright I know this is more then just one guy but there are a lot of different scenarios possible here. Cujo has just recently been linked with Tampa Bay. The problem Tampa is having is they like Holmqvist but would like to move Denis and there's not much interest in him or his contract around the league. Something that has just popped up is the possibility of Glen Sather reuniting with Joseph. Lunqvist has struggled at times this year and the Rangers would like to bring in a veteran backup for insurance. Biron and a pick/prospect could very well be part of a deal that would see Belfour and Bertuzzi go to Buffalo.
As we get closer to the deadline, things will slowly start to unfold but one thing we know for sure is that the Western Conference still has a lot to say about all this.
I guess you could call me a lifer. No I am not in prison, I am a life long fan of hockey and more importantly the NHL. I write it the way I see it. It doesn't matter if it's hockey rumors, trades, rules, salary cap, latest NHL news, prospects etc. I will write about it and give you my take on what's is going on around the league. I try to focus on all teams, not just the elite or any one team in particular. If you have any comments or questions feel free to leave feedback and I will address it.
The Hockey Magnet
