Rock Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 FEBRUARY 24, 2004. http://www.spectorshockey.net/ **WAIVER ALERT!** SPORTSNET.CA REPORTS THE PHOENIX COYOTES HAVE PLACED WINGER BRIAN SAVAGE ON WAIVERS. Spector's Note: My thanks to "David" for sending this in. I wish the Coyotes good luck in finding somebody willing to pluck the injury-prone Savage and his $7 million contract off waivers! For the life of me, I never understood why they signed him to that $3.5 mil per season deal in the first place. THE LATEST ON GONCHAR. TORONTO STAR: Ken Campbell reports all that stands between the New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals defenceman Sergei Gonchar is Devils prospect Zach Parise, whom the Caps want as part of the return for Gonchar. The Devils, however, are refusing to part with the MVP of this year's World Junior Hockey Championship. The Toronto Maple Leafs remain in the hunt, and Campbell suggests the Nashville Predators, who have plenty of youth and prospects, could enter the picture. The St. Louis Blues might also be interested if they're still in the playoff hunt. OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Capitals GM George McPhee has apparently told the Leafs they'll have to add either centre Matt Stajan or prospect Alexander Steen to the pot if they want to land Gonchar. The New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings may also be interested in Gonchar or Brendan Witt. TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan reports if the Leafs really want Gonchar they should be prepared to part with some of their future. Among those young Leafs believed to have piqued the Caps interest are forwards Matt Stajan, Nik Antropov and Alexei Ponikarovsky, as well as prospects Carlo Colaiacovo and Alexander Steen. Spector's Note: So what's it gonna be, John Ferguson Jr? Do you part with at least two good young prospects to go for it all now? Do you gamble your future away for a run at the Cup now? What if this deal doesn't work? What if Gonchar isn't the answer? What if making a smaller, less costly deal could work better What's it gonna be, JFJ? NO DEAL IN PLACE BETWEEN BRUINS AND 'CANES. BOSTON HERALD: Steven Conroy reports Bruins GM Mike O'Connell and Carolina Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford both denied reports there was a trade in place that would ship 'Canes captain Ron Francis to Boston. Meanwhile, Karen Guregian reports owner Jeremy Jacobs would like to see O'Connell swing a deal that would bolster the Bruins for the playoffs but added that he agreed with his GM that any deals made would have to be sensible ones that wouldn't deal away the team's future. Guregian suggests the Bruins land a bruising defenceman like Carolina's Sean Hill orAnaheim's Keith Carney. Spector's Note: My thanks to Roger Towne. I've had my doubts for weeks that Francis would be on the move. I do think the Bruins aren't done dealing and will probably swing another one before the deadline. MORE ON THE HURRICANES. TORONTO GLOBE & MAIL: reports the Carolina Hurricanes are bracing themselves for some changes as the trade deadline approaches. It's unlikely centre Rod Brind'amour will be dealt as he has two years remaining on a contract that will pay him $10 million. Brind'amour says nobody has spoken to him about it. Captain Ron Francis said he won't waive his no-trade clause, saying he's already won two Stanley Cups in his career so that isn't a motivating factor. GM Jim Rutherford said he had no intention of moving Francis, adding that he deserves to finish his career in Carolina after everything he's done for the Hurricanes. It's also possible defencemen Sean Hill and Glen Wesley won't be dealt, as Hill's wife is from Carolina and doesn't want to move, while Wesley didn't enjoy the "rent-a-player" experience he went through last season and doesn't wish to repeat it. TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan reports the Hurricanes have no intention of trading away promising rookie centre Eric Staal. Spector's Note: My thanks to regular contributor "Word". Curiously there was no mention of Jeff O'Neill, who's been the subject of trade rumours for weeks. RANGERS PURGE TO BEGIN SOON? NEWSDAY: Arthur Staple reports NY Rangers GM Glen Sather apparently told his players he would decide whether to keep his team together based on their play of the past three games. Except for a big win over the Islanders, the Rangers have been terrible and in free-fall since January, thus Sather may now be in the selling mood. It's believed the Detroit Red Wings may be interested in forward Alexei Kovalev and defenceman Brian Leetch may also attract interest. Scouts from Detroit and Dallas have been apparently following the Rangers recently. It's also possible other veterans like "Martin Rucinsky, Petr Nedved, Boris Mironov, (and) Matthew Barnaby could be dealt, although if the Rangers continue their poor play in the final weeks leading up to the deadline it could adversely affect any potential return for these guys. Spector's Note: Let the firesale begin! The Rangers are all but done and there's no more reasons or excuses to allow this folly to continue any longer. Time to dump salary and try to bring in some promising youth. RUMOURS FROM THE OTTAWA SUN. Bruce Garrioch reports the following: - The Washington Capitals are trying to move goaltender Olaf Kolzig. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Colorado Avalanche are believed interested but are balking at his salary. Spector's Note: The interest in Kolzig from the Leafs I can understand given Ed Belfour's recent back ailment, but I still don't believe the Avs will trade for Kolzig. He's too expensive to be David Aebischer's backup. - The Montreal Canadiens have apparently contacted the Pittsburgh Penguins regarding centre Mike Eastwood as GM Bob Gainey isn't happy with the play of faceoff specialist Yanic Perreault. Spector's Note: Eastwood would be an inexpensive playoff rental if the Habs are looking to improve their faceoff percentage. Just don't expect the aging, plodding Eastwood to bolster the offence. - The Caps are also trying to move forward Robert Lang. The Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings have expressed interest. Spector's Note: The Flyers might have interest if Jeremy Roenick and Keith Primeau are out for a longer period than expected. The Islanders can't afford Lang's salary without dumping some of their own. The Wings may be the only team willing to take him on. - Phoenix Coyotes GM Michael Barnett has decided his team is out of the playoff race and is ready to dump salary. It's believed he'll shop centre Chris Gratton although his salary may make it tough to find takers. The New Jersey Devils may be interested. Spector's Note: The waiving of Brian Savage last night is a good indicator the Coyotes are going to dump salary. I still doubt they'll find many takers for the underachieving Gratton. SPECTOR'S MAILBAG. My thanks to Andrew Girard for the following on the Bruins: "I was just listening to the Dale and Numey Show on WEEI in Boston; Dale Arnold is the home comentator for the Bruins so they talk some hockey on their show. They mention potential trades quite a bit but most aren't worth wasting your time- but they were talking today about the potential trade of Ron Francis to the B's. Apparently there was a good deal of speculation in the locker room after the game between the B's and 'Canes on Saturday that Ron was gonna be heading back to Boston with them; apparently the deal (which wasn't specified/unknown by the two) is set between the teams and is waiting for final approval from Ron. They futher mentioned that Francis has a home in North Carolina and plans on living there when he retires, but figure that he might want to "kick the can" one more time with a team headed to the playoffs. Lastly, they mentioned that it could be an important move for both the young players on the team as well as to show the fans that there is still some life in a team that looked worse than dead for a while." My thanks to "B" for the following Penguins rumours: "for what its worth this was in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette today. "Two other NHL teams, Nashville and Columbus, had scouts in attendance (at the ottawa game). It marked the second consecutive appearance at a Penguins game for the Predators, who are believed to be seeking additional mobility on defense." The following defensman were in the lineup for Sundays game. Tarnstrom, Jackman, Scuderi, Orpik, Focht, and Melichar. So the key words are; Moblile, Penguins, and Defence . . . Tarnstroms the only player that comes to mind there. Finally, this is a word of mouth rumor that has been circling overhead for a week or so now, so take it for what little its worth. But it's rumored that the blues would be interested in reaquiring Mike Eastwood if it looks like they can hold it together and make the playoffs. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 Parise? For Gonchar? Are they NUTS? If Lou pulls that trade I'll be so far beyond pissed off.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30Brodeur30 Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 No way! No how! If the Caps want Parise for Gonchar they can keep him. Lou is not dumb enough to make that deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redruM Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 No worries LL will not make that deal, besides WE DONOT NEED GONCHAR, unless it leeds to a trade of rafi, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbdf Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 no way lou gives away parise. and please, stop all the writing about us looking at gratton - the last player in the nhl i want to see in a devils jersey is gratton - buffalo so totally housed them on the gratton/briere deal. The guy just is not worth it - tampa, philly, buffalo and now phoenix have all learned the hard way. please lou, if you have any hockey sense at all (and we know you do) you must see this too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Devsrule Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 Gratton is overrated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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