As Teams Struggle, Trade Chatter Intensifies
Given the salary cap issues most teams have, making a deal to freshen of team chemistry is not easy.
A NHL GM told the Ottawa Sun that teams are trying to dump salaries. “I’ve talked to a couple of teams and all they’re trying to do is get rid of money,” the general manager said. “They offer up some big players, but it’s just to clear up cash.”
The Hurricanes look like a team desperately needing change. They are 2-8-3 in this young season and they just lost top center Eric Staal to injury.
“I’d like to get to the end of November and see where we’re at, but it has been so disappointing in the last two home games in how we’ve played and how we’ve lost games,” Carolina GM Jim Rutherford told the Raleigh News & Observer. “We have a responsibility to our fans to win games and try to win another Cup. We can’t dig too deep a hole that we do not have a chance to get to the playoffs.
“I will be talking to other teams more than I usually do at this time of the season, but you need to find a partner to do a deal. It’s disappointing for me to do this, but I have to be fair to our fans. It’s very disappointing to watch a team that has the ability to win find ways to lose.”
Staal will see his string of 349 consecutive games played come to and end.
“When things go wrong, they go wrong,” Rutherford said. “All teams have to deal with injuries. We have enough players to step up but we’ll have to do it with confidence at an all-time low.”
While the Hurricanes are reeling, the Flyers keep rolling with top prospects stepping in nicely for injured veterans like Simon Gagne (out six to eight weeks with groin muscle tears) and Daniel Briere. So GM Paul Holmgren isn’t looking to make a deal.
The depleted Red Wings could eye Peter Forsberg’s latest comeback with interest, but unless Foppa is willing to play in goal, we’re not sure how much he can help that team at this late stage of his career.
The Maple Leafs are getting Phil Kessel off the injured list, but Brian Burke must be concerned that his team is quickly falling out of the playoff race.
Ron Wilson could be losing it soon — his patience or his job.
The punchless Wild are looking to add an offensive forward. So are the floundering Ducks. But, again, pickings are slim.
Speaking of punchless, if the Blues can’t find the net soon maybe they need to make some changes and add some scoring. Expectations are way too high for this team to be getting shut out.
It’s a little soon to hit the panic button. We’re still playing hockey in April!
With it being so early, when would you hit the panic button? 30 games, 41 games how long do you wait? I think that the coaches are doing everything that they can, but the players need to wake up and step up. Some of the players on this team are doing a great job, but others are fall way short, you can only blame bad luck so long. Working hard and playing smart creates it’s own luck, that combine with great skill will win you games. I can’t and will not claim to know what is wrong with this team, and I will not dare to suggest that I could articulate a way to fix it, but something has to give. I just hope that it can be worked out before January. If not, keeping the glass half full, I guess we and get a good draft prospect. Go Blues, lets get it going boys!