NHL returns to business after Olympics
The Olympic finals are over, but will not be forgotten soon after the tremendous gold medal match that saw Sidney Crosby and the Canadians take a 3-2 win over Team USA in overtime. But it's back to the grind for the NHL now with this week's trade deadline on Wednesday the first big order of business. Joining Crosby in Pittsburgh will be defenseman Jordan Leopold who was acquired from Florida for a draft pick on Monday.
Well, that was a hell of a game, wasn’t it? Sidney Crosby and Canada’s 3-2 overtime win over the United States at the Vancouver Olympics won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
But put it aside we must; it’s time for the NHL to get back to business after a two-week break. Let’s just hope they can come to some agreement to do it again four years from now.
Leopold!
The post-Olympic trade machine has already begun turning in advance of Wednesday’s 3:00 p.m. deadline. Here are the deals announced Monday at press time; others will have certainly been made by the time you read this.
To Pittsburgh: D Jordan Leopold
To Florida: 2010 second-round pick
To Chicago: G Hannu Toivonen, D Danny Richmond
To St. Louis: G Joe Fallon
To Nashville: D Denis Grebeshkov
To Edmonton: 2010 second-round pick
To Columbus: C Greg Moore
To N.Y. Islanders: D Dylan Reese
The biggest name moving in this batch is Leopold, an excellent skater who has soaked up 22:26 of ice time per game for the Panthers this year. He’ll add depth to the Penguins blueline and shore up their 6-1 betting odds of defending their Stanley Cup. Grebeshkov is the other notable player in this mix; his arrival in Nashville may spell the departure of D Dan Hamhuis, who was rumored at press time to be on his way to Philadelphia.
Other players who could be on the move include Islanders D Andy Sutton, Oilers D Ladislav Smid, Coyotes RW Peter Mueller, and Blackhawks RW Kris Versteeg.
Luuuuuu!
Not only did fans in Vancouver get to witness Team Canada going for gold, they were also given an extra helping of local hero Roberto Luongo, who stepped in for Martin Brodeur after Canada’s earlier loss to the United States during the preliminary round. Luongo will get to spend Tuesday polishing up his gold medal while Andrew Raycroft (.912 SV%) starts in net for the Canucks against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Raycroft was a rock for Vancouver earlier this year when he made six starts for the injured Luongo (.919 SV%), winning four and earning a 3-0 shutout over Colorado.
Miller Time Delay
Ryan Miller was named the Most Valuable Player at the Olympics. He was also one of the busiest players, so the Buffalo Sabres have decided to give the Team USA goaltender the night off when they visit the Penguins on Tuesday.
Patrick Lalime is expected to start instead. Lalime (.896 SV%) had his moments as a rookie with Pittsburgh in 1996-97 and for five years with the Ottawa Senators, but he’s been a below-average goalie since the lockout and represents a steep downgrade from Miller (.930 SV%).
Antti Matter
The Blackhawks were rumored to be looking to trade one of their two goaltenders, most likely Cristobal Huet (.903 SV%), and the arrival of Toivonen (.890 career SV%) would suggest that a move is in the works. So would coach Joel Quenneville’s announcement that Antti Niemi (.913 SV%) would start Tuesday’s matchup against the Islanders in Uniondale. Niemi has won each of his last four starts; however, the last three were by shootout, with Niemi allowing 11 goals in total. The Islanders are +160 home dogs in this matchup with a total of 5½ goals.
It’s a Shame about Ray
Perhaps the Flyers should look at dealing for a goalie, as well. They moved Ray Emery (.905 SV%) to the long-term injured reserve list on Monday, leaving the surprising Michael Leighton (.925 SV%) as their No. 1 netminder. Leighton started the season with Carolina, his fourth stop in the NHL since joining the league in 2002, and had done little to make himself noticeable until joining the Flyers off the waiver wire in December.
Philadelphia is 12-3-1 with Leighton between the pipes, where he’s expected to be Tuesday night in Tampa against the Lightning (+120). As we go to press, Flyers GM Paul Holmgren says he’s “comfortable” with Leighton and Brian Boucher (.896 SV%). We’ll see if he’s still comfortable by Wednesday.
The Olympic finals are over, but will not be forgotten soon after the tremendous gold medal match that saw Sidney Crosby and the Canadians take a 3-2 win over Team USA in overtime. But it's back to the grind for the NHL now with this week's trade deadline on Wednesday the first big order of business. Joining Crosby in Pittsburgh will be defenseman Jordan Leopold who was acquired from Florida for a draft pick on Monday.
Well, that was a hell of a game, wasn’t it? Sidney Crosby and Canada’s 3-2 overtime win over the United States at the Vancouver Olympics won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
But put it aside we must; it’s time for the NHL to get back to business after a two-week break. Let’s just hope they can come to some agreement to do it again four years from now.
Leopold!
The post-Olympic trade machine has already begun turning in advance of Wednesday’s 3:00 p.m. deadline. Here are the deals announced Monday at press time; others will have certainly been made by the time you read this.
To Pittsburgh: D Jordan Leopold
To Florida: 2010 second-round pick
To Chicago: G Hannu Toivonen, D Danny Richmond
To St. Louis: G Joe Fallon
To Nashville: D Denis Grebeshkov
To Edmonton: 2010 second-round pick
To Columbus: C Greg Moore
To N.Y. Islanders: D Dylan Reese
The biggest name moving in this batch is Leopold, an excellent skater who has soaked up 22:26 of ice time per game for the Panthers this year. He’ll add depth to the Penguins blueline and shore up their 6-1 betting odds of defending their Stanley Cup. Grebeshkov is the other notable player in this mix; his arrival in Nashville may spell the departure of D Dan Hamhuis, who was rumored at press time to be on his way to Philadelphia.
Other players who could be on the move include Islanders D Andy Sutton, Oilers D Ladislav Smid, Coyotes RW Peter Mueller, and Blackhawks RW Kris Versteeg.
Luuuuuu!
Not only did fans in Vancouver get to witness Team Canada going for gold, they were also given an extra helping of local hero Roberto Luongo, who stepped in for Martin Brodeur after Canada’s earlier loss to the United States during the preliminary round. Luongo will get to spend Tuesday polishing up his gold medal while Andrew Raycroft (.912 SV%) starts in net for the Canucks against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Raycroft was a rock for Vancouver earlier this year when he made six starts for the injured Luongo (.919 SV%), winning four and earning a 3-0 shutout over Colorado.
Miller Time Delay
Ryan Miller was named the Most Valuable Player at the Olympics. He was also one of the busiest players, so the Buffalo Sabres have decided to give the Team USA goaltender the night off when they visit the Penguins on Tuesday.
Patrick Lalime is expected to start instead. Lalime (.896 SV%) had his moments as a rookie with Pittsburgh in 1996-97 and for five years with the Ottawa Senators, but he’s been a below-average goalie since the lockout and represents a steep downgrade from Miller (.930 SV%).
Antti Matter
The Blackhawks were rumored to be looking to trade one of their two goaltenders, most likely Cristobal Huet (.903 SV%), and the arrival of Toivonen (.890 career SV%) would suggest that a move is in the works. So would coach Joel Quenneville’s announcement that Antti Niemi (.913 SV%) would start Tuesday’s matchup against the Islanders in Uniondale. Niemi has won each of his last four starts; however, the last three were by shootout, with Niemi allowing 11 goals in total. The Islanders are +160 home dogs in this matchup with a total of 5½ goals.
It’s a Shame about Ray
Perhaps the Flyers should look at dealing for a goalie, as well. They moved Ray Emery (.905 SV%) to the long-term injured reserve list on Monday, leaving the surprising Michael Leighton (.925 SV%) as their No. 1 netminder. Leighton started the season with Carolina, his fourth stop in the NHL since joining the league in 2002, and had done little to make himself noticeable until joining the Flyers off the waiver wire in December.
Philadelphia is 12-3-1 with Leighton between the pipes, where he’s expected to be Tuesday night in Tampa against the Lightning (+120). As we go to press, Flyers GM Paul Holmgren says he’s “comfortable” with Leighton and Brian Boucher (.896 SV%). We’ll see if he’s still comfortable by Wednesday.
