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Hello CPHLers,
I apologize for not posting any rumors lately. I was out of town for a few days.
Things aren’t slowing down in the CPHL and with the free agent frenzy about to hit…lots of rumors out there.
Here’s some of what we are hearing:
- One of the remaining free agent netminders has agreed to a sign and trade deal which will be announced in the next few days. So if you are counting on addressing your starting goaltending needs by signing a free agent – time to start looking at other options.
- Phoenix is actively shopping Dany Heatley. Pittsburgh is the leading candidate so far…could Ilya be heading to the Desert?
- Dallas is already looking to move Martin Skoula and has offered him to many teams. Calgary would have been a great fit but they have now addressed their defense needs.
- Many teams are knocking on the Thrasher’s doors for Maxim Afinogenov but Cheese is looking for two good young players in return for the skilled winger. He will be moved, but not until the offers improve.
- John Madden and Jason Arnott will both be traded from Chicago in a big deal with a team from the other conference.
- Washington is trying to add a big time playmaker to play with Martin Havlat. It might cost them a lot – specifically Nathan Horton and/or Ladislav Nagy AND a top prospect.
- Toronto is trying to shore up their top 2 lines and are offering Peter Schaeffer and Darcy Tucker around the league. Tucker is very close to being moved.
- The Wings have taken a couple serious offers for Simon Gagne and a top NHL goalie seems to be at the top of there wish list.
- The St Louis Blues are looking to add a young sniper. A comrie/Sturm type player. What are they willing to use as trade bait. Lindros packaged with a d-man like Sopel. No takers so far
Finally, a coach WILL be fired before the regular season even starts. We even have the name but out of respect for the coach we will not release it at this time.
That’s it for this week. Enjoy your long weekend up there...and good luck with UFA season.
- Eklunde
Happy Dad's day out there to all the CPHL fathers.
Busy week in the CPHL and Ovechkin already gone from Florida...that didn't take long.
Tons of buzz out there right now regarding some possible deals. Here's what I'm hearing:
- The Habs have one of the most impressive lineups right now in the league, but they need to get a better #1 goalie. Ideally they would like to move Esche + something to do that, but they may be forced to part with Cam Ward to get a guy that can take them to CPHL glory
- Atlanta is going to try to package up some of the guys they selected in the draft to rebuild the CPHL team...the Kessel deal was the first of many to come. The next guy to be moved? Jonathan Toews
- The Sabres are close to moving Brendan Morrison. We hear Pittsburgh or Minnesota.
- David Legwand is not long for the big apple and will be dealt for an older...but better centre...and soon.
- Big deal brewing in Vancouver...Dvorak and Campbell could be gone.
- A new GM from the SJ Sharks...again. Oilboy has a big task ahead of him but our sources at CPHL HQ tell us that leage officials believe that he is the right guy to finally turn the franchise around.
Also, some general CPHL stuff that I've noticed:
- The perception is that there is a ton of money to toss around come UFA season. And this is true. But some teams are not properly estimating how much they will have to allocated to their own RFAs, and also must remember that they have to pay their coaches. Expect some teams to encounter a serious cash crunch soon...some good deals to be had for some teams with cap space.
- Some teams are also going to be surprised when a couple of their core players announce their retirement. A couple players are virtually assured of hanging them up and those announcements could come once the NHL finals are completed.
- Youth is overvalued in the CPHL right now, as it is most off-seasons. It has been proven that you need a veteran presence to win consistently. Some teams, stacked with youth, would be well served to give up some of it in order to bring in some vets.
Hello CPHLers,
Welcome to another round of CPHL rumors…lots going on in the league right now so let’s get to it.
-The Nik Lidstrom sweepstakes came down to the wire and the Predators (as predicted here) were indeed in the mix, along with a third team unknown to us…however the Panthers offer was just too good to match.
-The Carolina Hurricanes are going to be a real push for the championship this season as evidenced by GM Doug Whalen’s off season moves including the trading of Ovechkin. Look for the Canes to continue to add more vets in the off-season and as the season progresses. Will they also look for a different #1 goalie? We hear yes and that Nabokov could be that guy. That deal will take some time to work itself out but before the season starts Nabokov will be in Carolina.
-Don’t believe the Blues when they say Eric Staal is not available. The trade offer would have to be a good one, but we hear that Staal was offered to at least one team. We are not saying he will be traded…but he is not untouchable. Crosby though is.
-Why hasn’t Markus Naslund signed an extension in Chicago yet? Word out of the windy city is that Becky has offered max dollars to the player yet a deal remains incomplete…interesting.
-The Thrashers have purged themselves of almost all their vets from last year’s cup team yet their goalie…Patrick Lalime remains. With many teams needing help in net, it would seem likely that he is traded. And he will be…before the month is up.
-The Washington Capitals and Detroit Red Wings are talking about a major deal that could involve Simon Gagne heading to the nation’s capital for a package of young players/prospects.
-The Calgary Flames latest effort to acquire a #1 centre has seen them trade for the rights to Craig Conroy. But the center seems intent on testing the free agent waters and Calgary’s quest will have to continue. Look for the Flames to take a run at Buffalo’s Brendan Morrison who can be had. The Flames woes at center could compound should Steve Yzerman retire.
-The Ottawa Senators still need help on the wings and will look to move on of their quality defensemen to make it happen. Nick Boyton specifically.
Thanks for reading!
Eklunde
Hello and welcome to the first every CPHL Blog...this blog will be your source for the "Inside Scoop" on what is going on in the CPHL.
I cannot reveal my identity but I have numerous contacts in the league including GMs, agents and players.....more than that i am just a CPHL fan that has always loved the game.
You can read this blog to hear about all sorts of rumors from the CPHL including who's looking to move what players, possible trades, signings and what coaches might be on thin ice.
On to today's rumors:
- Boston has made it widely known that Lidstrom is available. But we hear that Kevan Guy doesn't what to trade him to a rival conference team so look for him to head out west. Our prediction....Lidstrom ends up in Nasvhille for a deal involving Dan Boyle and other players.
- What is going on in Florida? The always active Panther GM loaded up on picks and now appears to be dealing all those picks away. Are the Panthers really better now then when they started all of this? Perhaps. But we don't think the dealing is done and next up for Florida will be a deal involving a swap of #1 goalies. This blogger also wonders how long AO will last in Florida...if he starts the season there we will be surprised.
- The Minnesota Wild have been shopping Steve Sullivan to numerous teams around the league but so far Farhall's asking price has been far too high. None the less, don't expect Sullivan to last the off-season in Minnesota. We hear the Habs, Leafs, and Panthers have interest.
- The Oilers are close to adding another young super-star to their already impressive lineup.
- Expect at least two significant RFAs to be given offer sheets during this off-season with very high salaries and possibly NTCs attached. We have heard specific names....but are not comfortable providing them here. Stay tuned...
- Jochen Hecht will be one of the most hotly sought UFAs in the off-season...but will shock everyone and re-sign in St. Louis.
- The first order of business for the new Coyotes GM should be to address the goaltending issue in Phoenix. Kevin Weekes would be an excellent fit for this season and from what we hear could be had for a reasonable price.
- The Ducks have an excellent group of young players but need to add some veterans to the lineup. Expect them to try to address this via UFA, but it remains to be seen if that's possible.
That's it for now, talk to you soon.
Eklunde
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