[poll id=”6″]
Just what it says. Would you consider it a ‘blockbuster’ deal if, say, Roy and a pick went to Anaheim for one of the big three names bandied about? Would that be enough to shake up the team, in your mind? Or do multiple core guys need to go? Not sure where I am on this scale.
Much more exciting than the Sabres’ recent games, at least for fans, is the fact that the GM of the Ducks has declared their roster open for business, with only Selanne and Koivu off limits. They’ve already tried a coaching change, and are still only 1 point away from being the worst team in the NHL, so now it’s roster shakeup time. We’ve talked about Bobby Ryan before (blast from the past there – remember when Kaberle had trade value?) and Ryan Getzlaf would be the center everyone dreams of. That’s not even mentioning Corey Perry. And hey, maybe we could get Toni Lydman back. That would be kind of fun.
Interesting that Bob Murray wants ‘core players’ in return for his core players if he trades them, not picks or prospects. That creates an atmosphere where an actual blockbuster trade might really happen. As for who can go from the Sabres…well, I’ve had ‘Untouchables’ the past few years, but not anymore. There are two players I would be upset over if they got traded, Myers and Vanek, but if Darcy got a good return, I could probably be brought over to his side. I just don’t think you trade your best goal-scorer when goal-scoring has been a problem at times. I like a lot of the other guys, but I like a lot of the Ducks too. There’s never been a better time for a roster shake-up. Get it done, Darcy
…but as Scott points out a BSN, this is “Iginla for Pominville!” rumor is a big pile of nothing. This all comes from a HockeyBuzz blog post by Garth, who says things like (not linking those guys, it’s the Stafford post if you must see it):
I’ve been told that Pommer ($5.3 million cap hit, next three seasons) and Reggie ($2.75 million cap hit, next four seasons) would be a likely trade package to Calgary for Iginla.
I would not be surprised at all if Buffalo were to trade Ville Leino to Calgary as part of an Iginla trade. Leino’s six year, $4.5 million UFA contract came as a shocker to all observers. Perhaps Regier grabbed Leino as a pre-emptive strike, at a value price, when he knew that he Buffalo was not a consideration to land Brad Richards on July 1. Leino is the proverbial “ghost man on first” right now. Regehr and Ehrhoff were introduced at pressers in Buffalo. Why hasn’t Leino been introduced to the people of Pegulaville?
Now. I probably owe my renewed love for hockey to Calgary and Jarome Iginla, as I had fallen away from the sport for a few years before the lockout (save going to the games a few times due to my buddy’s free Adelphia tix). I loved watching the cup run the Flames made, and Jarome Iginla’s style of play is exactly what I love. But that was years ago now. Iggy isn’t a spring chicken, and I’m not sure trading two young, talented players for one older, more talented player with a rapidly approaching expiry date, is a good idea. I wouldn’t kill them for it, but it would be a mark against ’em.
What kills me is the Leino part of this, well, wouldn’t call it a rumor, more of a hope or speculation. This isn’t the NBA, where sign-and-trade deals are a thing, and I think those are a thing because of the really odd salary structure they use (or did use, before they locked out). Seems like a HUGE risk to sign a guy as trade bait, so I’m inclined to believe Darcy figured Richards was pretty set on NYR, and went after the next best guy he could get. Also, who said Leino’s contract was ‘a value price’? Anyone? It may end up being one, the way Roy’s is now, but I can’t recall seeing ANYONE who thinks it is now. Then there’s also the whole “Sabres need centers” thing. Would be odd to trade him because of that, too. The “Why hasn’t he been introduced? HMM?” aspect might be the silliest. Maybe the guy wasn’t available…he might be in Finland. He might be lounging on a beach in Aruba. It seems odd to immediately jump to ‘OMG he will be TRADED for IGGY asdfasdf;lksadjf’, but then again, I don’t write for HockeyBuzz.