THE TRADE DEADLINE LOOMING LARGE

As the trade deadline looms near, the Canes seem to be focused on getting the most for what they have. I think that A. Ward has played well enough of late to command a late round pick, who knows maybe JR can swing something like the Wallin trade. I’d be pleased with JR somehow swings a trade for a 3rd rounder, but I realistically think a 5th rounder will be fetched. The Whitney situation is like a daytime thriller. He has all the skill in the world to push a team over the top in the playoffs, but who will step up to the plate and offer the Canes enough to bring him in for a run. There are reports that the Pens do not want to make a run at any deadline acquisitions that would leave the prospect pantry bare. That being said, IMO, teams that are making the push to make the playoffs for the first time in years, will in the end pay the price to get proven commodities like Whitney or Corvo. Personally, I think a Mueller and a 2nd/3rd for Whitney or Corvo, or the kings giving up T. Hickey or C. Teubert and a 1st/2nd. Those are my ideal trades, but only time will tell how this all shakes out.

I will be interested to see if players like Walker, Samsonov, and Larose are going to get any interest from teams for a 3rd or later draft pick. I think Wallker’s injuries and Larose’s to a much lesser extent, will potentially limit their value. Samsonov and Larose both may not garner much interest as they both have contracts for next year. I love Larose and would hate to see him go, but the way Dwyer has played, there would be an easy replacement at a cheaper expense.

Excellent points. I would love to Whitney (as rental) for Mueller and 2nd round pick.

Hypothetically if we were to obtain a young d-man for Whitney, I would really hope we trade Corvo. I understand he has blossomed during his time with the Canes, but he’s not on the young side. If we were to not resign him, our defense next year could be Pits, TImmy, Carson, Alberts, Tuebert/Hickey, a mid-level unrestricted free agent and possibly McBain. I think signing Corvo for 3 years would potentially handcuff us for future movement along the blueline, despite the relatively low potential contract of Corvo. If we were to give him 3 years, he would be 36 at the completion of the deal. Does he really have that much gas left in the tank, especially being someone that has just recently hit stride?
Would I be upset or displeased with Corvo’s return? Absolutely not. However, if we acquire a young defenseman for Whitney and take Fowler, if we fail to get the #1 or 2 pick, I think our blue line would have just improved astronomically with relatively little financial cost. Yes, there will be growing pains, but if Tuebert develops into a Gleason-esque d-man with a little more offensive flair and Fowler is the next Doughty, coupled with Gleason, Pits, McBain and Carson and eventually Lawson and Dumoulin, we have the makings of a young, but gifted blue-line.
Then again who is to say Teubert and Fowler live up to expectations and their potential. Ahhhhh the anticipation and guessing of prospect development.

On a side note, does anyone have any insight into what expectations we have of Kyle Lawson? He has solid at Notre Dame; nothing flashy but workman like. I read Cory’s article on hockey’s future, but was curious if anyone had more information on his future with teh organization.

you do bring attention to some of the " potential" complexities for trying to rebuild yet be and remain competive . Sadly the Canes aren’t the only team trying to juggle and put together players and lines with just as much Concern and caution as JR …it makes me glad that I never had nor desired his job. hell i had a thought…seeing the JR is so respected in and by many in the NHL…how about the owners get rid of GB and replace shorty with JR…then again, would JR even want the job ?

I like your mention of the “take out” factor.
In 2006, the fact that the ‘Canes got Doug Weight seemed just as important that the other teams didn’t get him.

http://hendrickshockey.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2161:top-25-tradeable-players&catid=40:the-rumors&Itemid=86;

This article lists:

#1. Ray Whitney;

#17. Aaron Ward;

#20. Scott Walker;

#24. Joe Corvo.

   Interesting in some ways that Brind’Amour and Yell are not mentioned at all. I think Brind’Amour would be well-served to go to another team if he wants to play in the NHL for a few more years. It is odd that Yelle wouldn’t get any offers because as a fourth line center who kills penalties and blocks shots, he ought to have some value for a playoff team.

I think the Canes may be able to get Hickey and a 2nd from LA for Whitney. If it is Teubert, they should accept nothing less than a 1st along with Teubert. I think Teubert will be a physically effective force, but I think Hickey is the better all-around defenseman. I think Teubert is a solid 3rd or 4th defenseman or will be. I think Hickey is a 2nd or 3rd with the possiblity of being a 1st.

I’m just hoping we can get Hickey, I think he would be a great D partner for Gleason.

To the rest of the league Joe Corvo is a poor man’s Joni Pitkanen….older, slightly lower quality passer, but with a better shot (who can argue w/his cannon from the point). So Joe isn’t going to get signed for only $2.75 mil for 3 years. If he does, then we’ve gotten a pretty serious hometown discount. My guess is that in the FA market, Joe is going to command something like $11 mil to $11.5 mil for a 3 year deal and probably something like $7.5 for a two year deal. He represents the “oft sought” puck moving defenseman. And, quite frankly, despite the occaisional brain-cramping bad pass, he’s very solid in his own zone (great stick).

So I think we do what we can to rent Joe, with the understanding that we want him back in July. I think we let him know what we’re thinking and I think that we should be thinking something like a 2 year deal at $6.5 to $7 million. He’s worth it and we don’t have the pieces in place yet to replace him. That would still represent a solid home town discount. Picard is going to be given a chance to show what he can do (his shot is a cannon too). He then becomes either a Corvo-repalcement or a trading chip at the draft. Given that I believe we’re going to get at least 2 more picks and at least one more NHL ready prospect, I’m thinking JR is planning on trading up on draft day to have more than 1 first round draft pick. Perhaps as many as three…I would not be surprised at all to see Picard or Lawson or some other mid to low level Canes prospect get packaged with a lower round pick, to yield a somewhat higher round pick.

Here’s what I’m hoping/guessing…. we get a 4th back for AWard, get a 1st and a prospect for Whitney, get a 2nd and a prospect for Corvo (or maybe just a 1st rounder or just a good prospect), and a 4th or 5th rounder for Walker. There’s a chance that Yelle and/or Samsonov could go but I think we would only get a 4th or 5th for Yelle and nothing better than a 3rd for Sammy.

Finally, I look at next year and don’t feel that we will be a “rebuilding” team. We’re too small market for that….we’ve got to be competitive…let’s call it “retooling” (which is what I heard somebody else refer to it as). So, we’ll shed some salary, bring up our most talented youngsters, hopefully pick up some other NHL ready youngsters, and hit the ground running…maybe an off season signing, but nothing dramatic. We’ll have a very good 1st two lines, but they will be very young…can anybody say trial by fire. I predict lots of 5 to 3 and 6 to 4 games….just my two cents worth.

   In my endless lists of hypothetical lines for next year, I continue to see a gap at the third line center. I would be pleased to see Seguin drafted if we can get him; but that seems somewhat unlikely. Also, as PackPride17 so articulately discusses, it is a ton of pressure to put on a #1 pick to pencil him in as starting on the third line.

  I think the idea of a third line checking line is a concept that probably can be modified. I look at the USA and Canadian teams and think it is feasible to work all four lines (and certainly three lines) with combinations of skill, size, and a meanstreak. I like the idea of having four lines that can hit and check and can also score.

   The more I read about the upcoming NHL draft and look at various videos of the available players, I am convinced this draft class is quite talented. I don’t suggest there are ten Malkins, Crosbys, Ovechkins ready to step in; but there are fifteen to twenty very talented, large forwards who would help the Hurricanes for years to come.

I posted this on the main CC site, but it is relevant here, I think, so I am posting it here as well — hopefully, that is not a tasteless thing to do.

Generally, I think Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun is, well, a clown more than a hockey commentator. He surprised me with a detailed and knowledgeable article outlining the needs of each team. Either he intentionally plays the role of a knave when he had significant hockey knowledge, or somebody ghost-wrote the article. It is well worth reading.

   I remain curious whether Jim Rutherford can figure out how to get an under achieving, but talented, power forward out of the situation in Florida or Phoenix. Kreps and Mueller are thought to be available. Pittsburgh has managed to develop quite a number of large power forwards in their system. Boston, too, has a number of talented young power forwards in their system.

http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2010/02/27/13055696.html

  Here’s what he says about the LA Kings, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, and Ottawa:

LOS ANGELES: The Kings would like to add scoring. After falling short in the Ilya Kovalchuk sweepstakes, they may be closing in on a deal for Whitney.

OTTAWA: The Senators are looking for a defenceman to play a No. 6 or 7 role. Ward is on the radar screen. So is Kubina. GM Bryan Murray doesn’t want to subtract from his active roster.

PHOENIX: The Coyotes don’t have a lot of money to spend, but they’d like to rent a defenceman. They’d be willing to move C Peter Mueller if they were able to get an established veteran in return.

PITTSBURGH: The Penguins would love to get Whitney, but are in a tough spot cap-wise. D Sergei Gonchar could be a UFA, but he won’t be going anywhere. They could add a depth defenceman.

Blake Wheeler is exactly the kind of player the Hurricanes need. He is a RFA at the end of this season. If the Hurricanes could sign him to a long-term contract, then something involving Whitney and Aaron Ward for Wheeler, roster player, and pick would make sense.

  Here’s an interesting article on Boston.

http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/articles/2010/02/28/bruins_looking_to_upgrade/

If we do end up trading Whitney and Ward to the Bruins I think that Wheeler and a 2nd would be relatively equal. Alone, Whitney will command a 1st or a high level prospect and some other high piece to supplement the value. While Ward won’t return more than a 4th, if we’re lucky. Mikko Lehtonen is a prospect in the Bruins system that really interests me because of his size, youth and Finnish connection. He is having a strong season with the Baby B’s right now. He also hasn’t received much attention from within the Bruins system, i.e. call ups, long looks in camp, etc. I think if we could pull that deal off, it would be very beneficial for us. We get the big bruising winger we are looking for, while also getting a solid center prospect that will blossom like all the Fins have on our team.

and ideas…but wouldn’t it be funny if we were all wrong ? Be safe everyone