In which I will occasionally analyse a rumor or two reported by "Eklund" on his Hockeybuzz.com website.
Be advised that it's not my intent to trash Eklund, run him down or mock him, but merely to offer up my two cents worth. I'm well aware that he's a lightning rod for controversy and folks either love him or hate him. I'll leave that to others to debate.
My intent isn't to shoot the messenger, but merely to question certain rumors he reports.
Anyway, he reported Thursday of rumors of Brian Leetch possibly signing with the Edmonton Oilers, and of the Toronto Maple Leafs possibly having interest in Phoenix's Nick Boynton.
Regarding Leetch, I'm in agreement with Larry Brooks of the New York Post: he's not returning to action this season. I think Leetch has retired in all but word. Sure, he's a "name" but his best seasons are far behind him and he hasn't played an NHL game since April 2006.
I think his old Rangers teammate Kevin Lowe is more interested in Boston's Brad Stuart and former Oiler and current St. Louis Blue Eric Brewer.
As for Boynton, why? This simply doesn't make sense. The Leafs already have over $17 million tied up long-term in four blueliners (McCabe, Kaberle, Kubina and Gill). The last thing they need is another expensive ($2.95 million per season for two more seasons after this one) blueliner, particularly when their most obvious need is an offensive winger to play with Mats Sundin, and perhaps after that, someone who can stop pucks and make up for the Leafs defensive decificiencies better than Andrew Raycroft.
Yes, the Leafs defence corps needs more defensive "umph", but given what management has paid those four, they've left little wiggle room to upgrade. Forget moving Kubina or Gill, because nobody'll want 'em at their current salaries, and forget moving another forward, unless it's to get a better one back in return.
1) One of the MANY reasons we don't have any respect for this guy(Eklund)is his track record. We know you alluded to 2 instances where he reported a trade a very short time before it was in the mainstream press, but those instances are so rare as to be only slightly above chance. (A stopped clock is right twice a day!)
2) As for the rumors alluded to here: If one went back and counted, Eklund has 'rumored' Leetch or Jason Allison going to about 20 different teams the past 9 months or so. We bet he gets it right eventually. LOL
3) Folks have such an appetite for his drivel that most get defensive when those facts are demonstrated on his site. Eklund himself gets very defensive when his track record is mentioned as well. This above all illustrates to us that he is NOT what he tries to sell
This just tells me that some people are desperate for a blockbuster trade to happen. So any rumour (any rumour at all) will do.
The majority of rumours this year have been pure speculation at best. These are prime examples. Looking at most teams, you can tell right away what asset each one of them needs. The Oilers need a defensement, the Habs need a center and the Maple Leafs need a scoring winger (although, being a Habs fan, I hope the Leafs do something stupid). Yet all these rumours don't address those needs.
The only rumours I heard this year that made sense were Brewer or Stuart to Edmonton and Fedorov to Montreal. But then even those are questionable once you start talking about the cap.
Heck, maybe no trades have happened because it takes this long just to figure out the accounting side of moving a player these days!
Last edited by Batalla on January 25th at 12:24 PM.
1) You are dead-on Batalla! Most of these so-called rumors by Eklund, and most of the mainstream writers for that matter, aren't based upon any 'inside info', but by conjecture based upon their perceived team needs
2) We loved it when Eklund recently published a trade rumor then had to back peddle from it when he realized the rumor he thought up involved a player with a no-trade clause. The moral of that story is do your home work before creating these rumors! LOL
3) Have to admit that we too enjoy reading them. However the place for that is the Spector web site where he summarizes them, not create them!(http://www.spectorshockey.net )
Last edited by fauxrumors on January 25th at 12:39 PM.
I have an idea here-
Montreal sends Sheldon Souray to EDM for Horcoff. I know this is highly unlikely for several reasons (Sourays a larger Marc-Andre Bergeron, Their'd be about a mil added to Montreals cap) But I think that deal could work. Edmontons scout don't know left from right and wouldn't catch that Sourays a terrible defensive player and I think Montreal can absorb a mil (or whatevers left at this part in the season.) Problem is Horcoffs been the biggest underachevier this year after getting a fresh 3.something contract with Edmonton, not to mention MacT loves him. If we threw in a 2nd rounder could he potentially land Souray?
Thomas42: No, it won't happen. Souray may be average at best defensively but his big shot is the big reason the Habs PP is among the best in the league this season. The Habs won't move him, even at the risk of losing him for nothing this summer.
Is the best we can land still Stuart. I saw him in a game with Boston and i'd say he's not much of an upgrade. Can you tell me who else Edmonton might be looking at?
I foresee Leetch getting involved with USA Hockey in some way, shape or form (other than playing) for the next Olympic team, but highly doubt he laces the skates up ever again at the NHL level.
Good evening Gents,
I can not believe the names being thrown out there, Leetch, Stuart, Brewer, Boynton????? Is this the best available? If these guys can't help their current teams what makes you think they can help another team, give your heads a shake. I keep coming to this point time and time again, the talent pool in this league sucks. Everyone is looking for Prime-Rib and all thats left is chop liver. Plain and simple!!!
A lot of teams realize that guys like Boynton and Stuart are upgrades. Look at my Oilers. Our "top" all-round defenceman is Jason Smith. And what kind of cast is backing him up eh? Bergeron the worst defensive player in the world. Followed by Matt Greene who is still learning the game. Steve Staios is out right now but really he's quite run of the mill. And our last spots are a mix of old rookies and young journeyman. Teams like the Oilers do need an upgrade and the "chopped liver" out their is better than the dogfood we have now.
Hey Thomas42,
Thanks for pointing out your Oilers. They have one quality defenseman, the rest shouldn't be playing in this league, their not good enough. The Bruins have Chara, the rest, chop liver. All I am saying guys is that the talent pool in this league is a joke, they just keep recycling these guys. Hey Phoenix boy, wasn't Boynton just signed this year. He was overated in Boston. As for the Maple Laughs, look at what they have spent for four lamp posts, and where do they stand defensively. Which begs me to ask any of you out there, are there any prospects in the minor leagues that could play in the NHL. I suspect NOT.
Well if I had to pick defensive prospects - and I think that was meant - I'd take Manitoba's Alexander Edler, who had a strong last season with Kelowna and plays also good in the AHL this year, plus he already had a call up to Vancouver and didn't do so bad. And I also think that Richie Regehr has what it takes to play in the NHL. But that are only two... and without question you are right F1F, the talent pool has been dried out with all the expansion.
I wouldn't go so far as to say there is no defensive talent in the league guys... Albeit, there aren't many Niedermeyers or Lidstroms out there, but they'd still clean our clocks.
The problem is that these guys grew up playing a trap-type game. Positioning being key, then taking out the player before he can get the puck. Clutch, grab, hook and otherwise interfere. That's the name of the game. Or at least it WAS.
So all it's showing is that these d-men are having trouble adapting to the newer game.
Give it a couple years and you'll see some pretty sweet d-men coming out of the minors. And let us not forget Erik Johnson and Jack Johnson...
I'm Lyle Richardson, also known as Spector, Foxsports.com 's "Prince of Pucks".,which is based on the fact I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I couldn't think of a better byline. I've been an NHL hockey commentator since 1998 on my website, Spector's Hockey, and I'm a contributing writer for Foxsports.com , The Hockey News and Eishockey News. I'm also a regular on The Faceoff Hockey Show and a frequent guest on "The Late Crew" on The Team 1200 Ottawa.
