From The Rink

FTR Roundtable: Rumors, Lightning Ownership, & More

2010-02-09T21:00:20Z

Every Monday (except this week, when news and posts bumped this to Tuesday), the FTR crew will review the biggest hockey news from the past week.

-The Kovalchuk situation fired off a frenzy of a Twitter and blog frenzy, including a post here at FTR. What sources can fans trust?
Mike: In this day and age, it seems like new flies from Twitter to blog to mainstream site almost instantly. That leaves a lot of people claiming to have "sources" when they're really just repeating what else they find. We caused a bit of a stir with our Kovalchuk-to-LA post, but the source was trusted among SBN, so we decided to run it, even though you won't find too many rumors on SBN. In general, the Twitter accounts of the TSN folks and USA Today's Kevin Allen are probably the most reliable sources. If there's a site or a board you visit with a juicy rumor and you trust the source, the rumor may be valid -- but keep in mind that GMs talk to each other all the time, and there are plenty of deals that fall apart at the last minute due to a hangup or two. Chatroom fodder and rumor websites will get you educated guesses and speculation. For me, I always read Lyle "Spector" Richardson every day, as he rounds up rumors with cited sources.

FrankD: It's fun to follow breaking stories and rumors on Twitter. Some are a bit ridiculous, while others more likely. I think educated hockey fans know how to differentiate between something that is far fetched and something that is a possible, but at the same time speculation and hypothetical posts of "Player X may go to Team Y" make for some fun, interesting and at times even very intense discussions. Why not give people a place to discuss the possibilities? Why not give fans a chance to breakdown the potential players or picks that may be involved in the moves? I don't expect people to be right 100% of the time and I don't hold it against anyone for being wrong either. "Wrong," in and of itself, is a loose term anyway because you can never really say how close a speculated rumor came to being completed before another team swept in from out of nowhere and changed the playing field. Even afterward, if a team admits they weren't in on the trade rumors, do you really think they'd want the locker room to think a few heads were on the chopping block? I highly doubt it. So they'll go ahead and say, "We were never interested." I think too many people bank far too much on who said what, when, where and why. An educated fan who trusts his analysts, sites or blogs will know when to open up a rumor or dismiss it as garbage.

Bob: What sources can fans trust? None, unless the deal is announced as being completed. The simple fact of the matter is that until a deal is 100% completed, things can happen to alter it. General managers change their minds. A new party can become involved. Sometimes a source will intentionally use the media to publish information that is not be true. Even the mainstream media can not be sure about a trade rumor until the trade is officially approved by the league's head office. So trust no one. (Am I being too cynical?)

Cory Lavalette: It seems that you can't be sure of anything until a guy is in a new sweater. Between physicals, cap clearance by the league and other factors, trades aren't done until they are truly done. I don't know that there's harm in reporting what you hear if you feel it's legitimate. We learned a lesson about how reporting "close" can be turned to "imminent" and then "done deal" in a game of Internet telephone. Even Darren Dreger's report of the Nic Wallin trade being "close" last week almost didn't come true.

Joe F: At the end of the day you almost can't trust anyone. If you look at the days before the Kovalchuk deal you would see that everyone was reporting something different, because everyone was hearting something different. That's not to say that some sites don't have actual trustworthy sources but it does mean that trades in the NHL have a life of their own and can change on a dime.

-The NHL (and NBC) scheduled Pens/Caps on the morning of the Super Bowl. Smart or stupid programming? (Discussed prior to the release of the 1.3 overnight rating)
Mike: Um, I know plenty of hockey fans and most of them have some sort of non-TV watching plans on Super Bowl morning. It's an interesting ploy, though, and I suppose it explores a new method. Sports fans will certainly have their TVs on during the day, and I've never met a single person who actually likes the umpteen hours of Super Bowl pre-game. Still, you have to remember that people are out buying beer or BBQ or running errands for Super Bowl parties during this time, so it's an interesting experiment.

FrankD: I really didn't plan on sitting in front of the TV for a combined 7 hours on Sunday but I guess I don't have much of a choice at this point. I want to watch that matchup and I also want to watch the Super Bowl, so I guess I'll try and run some errands or do some chores during intermission or between games. But again, that's coming from the perspective of a hockey fan. I think if the NHL planned this game with the hopes of pulling in a few new fans then it's going to fall short. Too many people will be focused on six hours of pregame Super Bowl coverage or shopping last minute at stores for food and drinks to consider sitting in front of the TV to watch a game they know little about.

Bob: I don't know about this. I'll be watching the game, but will most sports fans have the television on? It's worth a try I guess, we'll see what the ratings are afterward.

Cory Lavalette: It can't hurt, in my opinion. The people who are dying to watch it will watch anyway, and perhaps you'll draw more people in that don't want 10 hours of Super Bowl pregame analysis.

Joe F: I don't mind it too much. There is so much prep for the Super Bowl that they might have the ability to nab a few viewers who don't want to see the game looked over for the ump-teenth time. Some hockey thrown in might h a few eyes.

-Rosters are frozen during the Olympic Break. Does that act as the de facto trade deadline or will teams wait to see the injury situation following the Olympics?

Mike: I think it's a game of chicken. Teams may want to wait until after the Olympics (there was word that one team in the Kovalchuk sweepstakes was concerned about this), but GMs tend to be reactive to each other. It becomes an arms race of one-upping each other, and I think that's why you'll see a few more moves before the Olympics, and that will make the actual trade deadline a little less exciting. I'd think that the smart thing to do would be to wait past the Olympics for injury concerns, but we all know that GMs aren't exactly the most patient folks out there.

FrankD: I think we've seen by now that teams are kinda handling that point as a trade deadline of sorts. There's been a lot of moves from team to team and I don't think it'll let off entirely before the break. If I were running a front office though I'd likely wait till after the Olympic break, just to be sure everyone is healthy and ready to go rather than walk away the loser in a trade.

Bob: Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford has gone on record as saying that he would prefer to trade sooner, rather than later. But even though he said that, sometimes a GM will need to wait until the very last minute to make sure they are maximizing the value of their asset. That's why you always see a lot of activity on the very last day. I don't think this year will be any different, some GM's will wait until they are positive that they are getting the most they can and you will see the typical trade deadline day frenzy this season.

Cory Lavalette: Just because there is a freeze doesn't mean team can't talk. I think the GMs from around the league will have a lot of time on their hands during the shutdown and a lot of trades will be negotiated during that time — they just won't be finalized until after the Olympic break.

Joe F: On a personal note I feel as though the Olympics will allow general managers to talk out some deals, maybe work them out in their heads and then have an opportunity to wait and see (if the players they are trading for are in the Olympics). Although it should be noted that most of the top-flight players preforming in the Olympics probably wont be swapping sides, but we will see thats what makes the trade deadline fun.

-Will Olli Jokinen regain his form or will he be an overpaid second-line center for the rest of his career?

Mike: I don't know if he'll regain his form, but I'd say this is his last chance for a big payday. If he can finish the season strong and contribute during the postseason, he may get another $5 - $6 million contract (which will lead to further disappointment). Otherwise, I can't imagine he'll get more than $4 million in the off-season. Still, GMs have done dumber things (Wade Redden), and it really is up to Jokinen at this point. He'll be given every chance to succeed by playing with Marian Gaborik and Vaclav Prospal on the Rangers' top line, and he'll see significant power play time.Let's see if money can motivate him more than Brent Sutter or Wayne Gretzky could have.

FrankD: It seems like he has to prove himself again. The guy's worn three jerseys in the span of 1 1/2 seasons, so respect isn't going to come easy right now. Not to mention he had little impact overall on any of the first two teams, with the Rangers still pending. Of all three, the Rangers offer up the best chance for him to regain that confidence. They'd love to see him tally some more goals. I mean, outside of Marian Gaborik they don't have much a threat on offense. There's no denying that he's trending downward since his days in Florida. If Jokinen can somehow bring a little more depth and threat to an otherwise lackluster offense, I think his stock, reputation and confidence goes up significantly.

Bob: This is a player fans love to hate, seemingly because of his attitude. But not only do fans dislike him, he seems to rub some of his teammates the wrong way as well. Until he develops a little humility and tries to be the ultimate team player, he will continue to be an "overpaid second-line center". It's hard to see him turning anything around in NY.

Cory Lavalette: Jokinen will likely go down as a player who does well on bad teams. He can be your team's best player, just not if you want to be a contender. The problem is he doesn't seem to fit into a complementary role well. In his defense, he was miscast in Calgary — they didn't need a scorer to center Jarome Iginla, they needed a setup man — and may be a better fit in New York. There's no denying his physical tools, but he needs to find a way to mesh with teammates instead of, for whatever reason, repelling them.

Joe F: The misunderstanding with the Jokinen deal was that it was not meant to save the Rangers season. What the Jokinen deal really did was clear 3 million dollars worth of cap space for the end of the year. With Jokinen chip in a few goals and help the Rangers scoring problems? Probably a little. Will his contributions alone help the Rangers regain the form they have been lacking since the first 8 games of the season? No. And if you look around the league (in Florida and Phoenix) you hear a ton of good things about Jokinen, it was only Calgary where he had problems, which is a problem within itself because the Calgary market if bigger than the Florida and Phoenix market combined.

-Tampa Bay's finally under new ownership. Can it be any worse than the Koules/Barrie era?

Mike: No, it can't get any worse. Those guys were short-sighted, undisciplined, unstructured, and tampering. Remember early on when they said that they were basically acting as GMs? There has to be a chain of command, and one of the best things that new owner Jeff Vinik has already said is that he will be an owner in that he will provide resources and hire professionals to do their jobs. If Vinik presents a budget and lets Brian Lawton do his thing, then he's already taken a major step forward to undoing all of the damage that Koules/Barrie did.

FrankD: I have no idea how things are going to pan out in TB, for good or bad, but at least we can agree that if this brings an end to the series of Saw movies then we all walk away winners. (Unfortunately Saw VII is in pre-production as I type though sigh).

Bob: Never say it can't get any worse.. :-) But seriously, it's hard to imagine that things could get worse in Tampa, unless new ownership wants to trade Vinny Lecavalier for spare parts like some rumors suggest. (Trust no one, see above). If it was me, I would get rid of Lawton as well and hire a new GM.

Joe F: I don't think it can get any worse, but again, you really never know. The biggest issues to start with will be the budget and from there it will be who allows who to run on-ice operations. For now though everything seems calm on the surface.

Cory Lavalette: Nope, it can't get worse, therefore this is good for the franchise. It's one thing to have multiple owners, but it's another to have two who think they know what's best when it comes to the on-ice operations. Hopefully Vinik steps in and lets Brian Lawton or his replacement worry about the hockey operations and he worries about how he's going to make money and rebuild a fan base that was once thriving.

Carolina, Minnesota, Columbus, San Jose, Boston & Phoenix To Open 2010-11 Overseas

2010-02-09T18:50:12Z

Carolina, Minnesota, Columbus, San Jose, Boston & Phoenix To Open 2010-11 Overseas

The NHL announced that six teams will kick off the 2010-11 season overseas. Carolina and Minnesota will play Oct. 7 and 8 in Helsinki, Finland; Columbus and San Jose have a pair in Stockholm, Sweden, Oct. 8 and 9; and Boston and Phoenix will close things out in Prague, Czech Republic, Oct. 9 and 10.

Carolina Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos, whose company Compuware sponsors the overseas events, is set to hold a press conference at 2 p.m. You can watch the live feed at 2 p.m. on the Hurricanes home page.

SBN Gameday: Snakes on the Ladder

2010-02-09T17:53:30Z

Tonight's soundtrack: Snakes on the Ladder by Handsome Furs -- because just about every team playing tonight has the playoff traction of a snake trying to climb up rungs.

Game of the Night
Calgary Flames at Ottawa Senators, 7:30 PM EST
Jarome Iginla is struggling, and Brent Sutter is adjusting assignments to accommodate. The Senators don't want their sluggish 5-0 loss to Toronto to become a habit.

Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres, 7 PM EST
The Bruins are optimistic that their victory over Montreal ended their woes while the Sabres miss the momentum-change shifts of Patrick Kaleta.

Florida Panthers at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 PM EST
With the Hurricanes saying farewell to Niclas Wallin, who else might be leaving soon? Florida's buy/sell status isn't quite as clear.

Nashville Predators at NY Islanders, 7 PM EST
Matt Martin, welcome to the NHL. Perhaps you'll stick around like Cal O'Reilly, who's finally a Nashville regular.

Vancouver Canucks at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7:30 PM EST

Pavol Demitra will not be joining the Canucks as they continue on their massive road trip. Journeyman-with-upside Mark Parrish is on his way to Tampa Bay.

Detroit Red Wings at St. Louis Blues, 8 PM EST

The Red Wings have some game-time decisions facing their battered roster as they head into St. Louis for a Central Division match-up.

Dallas Stars at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 PM EST

Second City Hockey ponders the latest trade rumors involving the Hawks. Their opponent tonight, the Dallas Stars, have bigger issues to ponder involving team ownership

Ryan Getzlaf, the team's leading scorer, sprained his left ankle during the second period and left...

2010-02-09T17:38:54Z

Ryan Getzlaf, the team's leading scorer, sprained his left ankle during the second period and left the arena wearing a boot and on crutches. X-rays were negative, but an MRI exam is scheduled for Tuesday.

"That will give us a better indication of the severity of the sprain," Coach Randy Carlyle said.

-This cracks the door open a bit for a possible Team Canada replacement. Do you go with Steven Stamkos (32 goals, 29 assists) as a potential replacement? Or do you gamble with a hot hand like the revitalized Jason Spezza?

-Update: Check out Kevin's FanPost breaking down potential replacements.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-kings-ducks-fyi9-2010feb09,0,4251866.story

An interview with Tampa Bay Lightning Head Athletic Trainer Tommy Mulligan

2010-02-09T12:00:18Z

Personal trainer. Athletic trainer. There is a difference. As a regular gym rat of sorts, I've worked with personal trainers in the past. Athletic trainers? Not so much. I didn't know the exact differences for a while, but then again, I never really had anyone working in either field willing to explain it to me.

Enter Tommy Mulligan, head athletic trainer for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tommy was kind enough to lend a few minutes of his time to explain the differences between a personal trainer and athletic trainer (and why the term "trainer" doesn't specify any difference), inform me of the education behind the occupation, as well as lend a few examples of work he's done in the past with players on the Lightning.

Take the jump for a quick Q&A session with Lightning athletic trainer Tommy Mulligan. Hopefully you'll walk away a bit more en"Light"ened.

Man, that was bad. I'll show myself out...

Is there a discrepancy between athletic trainers and personal trainers that a lot of people get confused with?

Tommy Mulligan: Well I don't necessarily know if it's a discrepancy between the two as much as it is – you know, in our profession people will refer to us simply as "trainer" and that can be taken in a lot of different contexts. A lot of people in hockey refer to our equipment managers as "equipment trainers," whereas we have a specialized field of athletic training with specific requirements – a bachelor's degree, a program, a national certification that everyone has to pass as well as, I want to say 47 states now, have licensing so we also have to pass a state licensing process in order to practice in that state. So it's a little more structured and a little more educationally advanced. Not to take anything away from personal trainers; I mean, I know quite a few people in that field. It's more to differentiate between the two. A lot of it stems from the national level. Our profession has been striving for recognition and credibility as it deals with insurance reimbursement like clinic sites and things like that. That's kinda where this stems from.

What is it that athletic trainers have to do to kind of cut their teeth a bit? Do you start in the minors like a player would and work your way up through the system?

TM: In the profession itself, a lot of it is being in the right place at the right time. I know for me personally I did an internship out of college with the Boston Bruins. I was fortunate enough to get placed there and gained some experience and then started off in the minor leagues, the American Hockey League, for a number of years before getting a position here at the NHL. Obviously there is a whole scope of athletic training. There's very few jobs. When you look at percentage wise of athletic trainers in pro hockey or even more so in pro sports, the college level, the number of colleges, the number of staff members and then you can even go down to the high school level and the clinic level, there's a lot of different fields where the athletic trainers can work in. It's a pretty varied background and history for everybody.

When you're on the road with the Lightning, how do you associate with the players? Do they come to you if they need something done or does the coach ask you to work with a guy?

TM: As far as athletic trainers, we deal with injury prevention, injury recognition and treat with the rehab of injuries. So we're basically first responders for our team. We're on the bench during practices. We're on the bench for games. If an injury occurs during a game we will be the first to tend to it and then depending on the situation, if it's something minor we treat, handle and evaluate, and then from there if they need to be referred to a physician we'll do that. If it's something that requires therapy we'll either do therapy in house or we can refer to a clinic. But as far as interaction with the players on a day-to-day basis, we have our training room within every locker room. Players obviously know if there's something from an injury standpoint or on the medical side that they need help with they'll come to us. Personal trainers are more likely to deal with the healthy population – someone who wants to lose weight, get stronger, etc - that's the side to it as opposed to athletic training that deals more with the injured population.

Obviously there's a big emphasis on trying to prevent injury, but in the event of one you'll also help rehabilitate then?

TM: Absolutely. As far as preventing there's a lot of pre activity, whether it's game or practice. Warm up, stretching – we'll spend time doing treatments of injuries prior to the activity and then following whatever activity it is, say a game for instance, we'll evaluate what comes out of that game as far as new injuries and work with it from there to try and keep everybody in the lineup. We are out to get them back in as quick as we can.

Do you work with these guys in the offseason as well to try and build up some sort of strength in an area they may have been injured before or keep them on some sort of schedule?

TM: We have a strength and conditioning coach on staff and we'll work in conjunction with them, with the coaching staff and myself, to kind of determine areas of improvement whether it was due to injury or just an area that needs improvement we'll formulate plans in the offseason. My specific hands-on time in the offseason is usually limited to rehabbing injuries. If it's just to work on speed, quickness, agility, that type of thing, a player will spend a lot of time with our strength and conditioning coach.

Without imposing on the sanctity of the locker room, can you point out any players and ways in which you worked with them?

TM: One of our projects last year was Vinny Lecavalier. It was documented that he had shoulder surgery at the end of the 07/08 season, so it was a pretty extensive recovery from that. So myself, my assistant athletic trainer, our strength coach all spent quite a bit of time rehabbing him and getting him to a point where he's physically able to play and then from there trying to address whatever strength deficits he would have on the shoulder that was operated on. It's a process from the time of injury through the surgery and then strengthening it, then once you get clearance to play it's still an ongoing process to try and maintain and continue to advance the strength in that body part.

For some of these guys, how hard is it for them to be patient with the natural recovery of the body?

TM: Yeah, at this level the guys want to be out there. They don't want to miss a day of anything. We find that may be different from the general population, where somebody might take a longer period of time and not push their recovery, these guys don't want to miss any time and they are doing everything that they can. Even if you are doing all you can they're still asking, "What more can I do?" So a lot of times you have to pull the reigns back. The motto that we tend to use sometimes, is "there's days where less is more." You have to allow the body to recover. You can't continue to stress a body because it doesn't get that opportunity to recover. It is tough that it tests their patience but hopefully they understand the big picture, and most of the times they do, and they can trust us with what we're doing in respect to our backgrounds and experiences.

Thanks again to Tommy Mulligan and the Tampa Bay Lightning for helping me set this up.

Rink Side Radio Tonight from 9-10!

2010-02-08T21:00:22Z

Rink Side Radio

View full size photo »

(Mike's note: I'm bumping this to the top but in case you missed it, scroll down for more on Bob Gainey's resignation as Montreal GM.)

Hey guys, it's Monday again and you know what that means; Rink Side Radio! You don't want to miss tonight's show since we have a plethora of guests coming on.

Julian Sanchez from Pension Plan Puppets will be on at the top of the hour to talk about the tragic deal of Bendan Burke and a little about the fundraiser they are doing (yet again) to help all of those who are dealing with homosexual discrimination.

John Fischer (In Lou we Trust) and Matt Gunning (Bird Watchers Anonymous) will be joining us right after that to chat about the Thrashers Devils swap that saw Ilya Kovalchuk move to New Jersey.

Then my editing manager Jim Schmiedeberg (Blueshirt Banter) will be joining us to talk about the Olli Jokinen deal and what that means for the Rangers and the Flames!

And finally Rob L (Habs Eyes on the Prize) will be joining us to chat about Bob Gainey stepping down as the general manager of Montreal.

We're booked solid guys so make sure to give us a listen. You can listen live and download the archived version at this link here. You can also listen live at the bottom of this post but remember you can't access the chat unless you are listening at the actual Blog Talk Radio show page.

Remember the number to call is in (646) 595-2440, we love taking your calls so make sure to call in early and often. Hope to see you all tonight!

Bob Gainey Steps Down As Habs GM

2010-02-08T22:09:16Z

"I've done my best and now it's time for me to pass the torch," Gainey said on Monday. "I believe that the general manager position requires a long-term vision and a long-term commitment. At this point, I'm not prepared to make a commitment of four or five or six more years in this position."

This timing seems awfully strange to me, and perhaps the idea is to let the Olympic break act as a mid-season transition. Since Gainey is staying on in an advisory role, he probably worked in tandem with Pierre Gauthier for at least the past few months while they worked up to this public announcement. At least, that's what common sense tells me, but we all know that common sense doesn't necessarily apply in pro sports.

If that's what is happening behind the scenes, then I don't quite understand why the announcement is made public now as opposed to after the season ends. Perhaps they want Gauthier to step forward and take the team's identity during the trade deadline, or maybe we can take his words at face value and Gainey just figured it was time for personal reasons.

Whatever the case, Gainey's legacy as a GM isn't particularly strong. TSN has a poll up regarding Gainey's best move, and you get to pick from Alex Kovalev, Cristobal Huet/Radek Bonk, Josh Gorges, Mike Cammalleri, Carey Price, or hiring Guy Carbonneau. If that's the best you have to pick from over 6+ years, it's not exactly gangbusters.

For more, check out Habs Eyes On The Prize review of Gainey's GM career.

SBN Gameday: Fox in the Snow

2010-02-08T20:00:29Z

More photos » Tom Mihalek - AP

"The snow was this high!" (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

Browse more photos »

Every weekday, FTR will look at the day's games with a preview blurbs from around the SBN hockey network.

Tonight's soundtrack: Fox in the Snow by Belle & Sebastian -- a quiet tune to sooth Danny Briere and co. as they recovered their cars from the recent snow storm.

Game of the Night
New Jersey Devils at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 PM EST
Ilya Kovalchuk spent his first night as a Devil with Patrick Elias and put up eight shots on net; that combo will remain against Philly. Don't forget, the Flyers were interested in Kovalchuk too, as they need something to ignite their invisible offense.

San Jose Sharks at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 PM EST
The Niclas Wallin-to-San Jose deal is official and Wallin will play tonight. Is Toronto's Phil Kessel better than Evgeni Malkin?

St. Louis Blues at Colorado Avalanche, 9:30 PM EST
The Blues are trying to take some positives out of recent losses while the Avalanche have officially suprassed last season's point total.

Edmonton Oilers at Phoenix Coyotes, 9:30 PM EST
Is anyone actually awake in the Edmonton Oilers' front office? For Phoenix, their goal is to not come out as flat as they did against Dallas.

Los Angeles Kings at Anaheim Ducks, 10 PM EST
Anaheim might start selling off pieces such as James Wisniewski before they find new and creative ways to lose to their cross-town rivals.

"According to various reports, Bob Gainey will step down of GM of the Montreal Canadiens with...

2010-02-08T18:02:19Z

"According to various reports, Bob Gainey will step down of GM of the Montreal Canadiens with assistant GM Pierre Gauthier taking over the reins."

-The Hockey News

More after this afternoon's press conference.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/31400-Bob-Gainey-to-step-down-as-GM-of-the-Montreal-Canadiens.html

50,000 Snookies or 1 Kovalchuk?

2010-02-08T17:00:23Z

"So guys, what do you think of Snookie? Classy girl, huh?

View full size photo »

Ilya Kovalchuk turned down $101 million dollars (said in my best Dr. Evil voice) from the Atlanta Thrashers. That's a whole lot of bucks, no matter how you cut it up. I mean, really, could any sane person turn down more $75 or $100 million to do something they loved?

Ah well, what's done is done. In the meantime, the Thrashers suddenly have $101 million dollars in their wallet. What could they do with it? Well, let's see. They could buy...

-202 million Jack in the Box tacos: Jack in the Box offers two scrumptious tacos for a dollar. Just think, the Thrashers could fill Philips Arena with 202 million tacos -- not just any tacos, but the delicious deep-fried goodness of Jack in the Box tacos (seriously, I love these things). With 202 million tacos, the Thrashers could feed the entire post-frat party community of a college town for two whole weeks before needing to restock.

-1.01 billion packages of Top Ramen: Jack in the Box tacos too expensive for you? Try Top Ramen -- just add boiling water and the high-sodium seasoning and you are good to go! Remember to wait for Safeway's 10-for-$1 club special before you purchase your billion or so Ramen packs.

-50,500 Snookie appearances: At $2,000 a pop, you get a lot for a Snookie (you know, the overtanned horror from Jersey Shore) appearances -- in fact, that would basically make Snookie your entertainment slave for the rest of her natural life (138 straight years of Snookie showing up for an evening). Maybe she can be an Ice Girl at Thrashers games from now on. Oh, but remember -- you have to pay for transportation.

-5,400 Edmonton Oilers team dinners: Of course, if there's going to be free-agent wooing going on, why not take out the entire Edmonton Oilers team? They eat for a thrifty $17,000, which means that the Thrashers could take them but about 5400 times (give or take the tip).

-8,080 remakes of Manos: The Hands of Fate: What's that? You've never heard of the worst movie ever made? Get ye to Netflix right away and get the brilliant Mystery Science Theater 3000 version of Manos: The Hands of Fate (or watch it on Google Video, but for the love of Monty Burns, don't watch the original without the MST3K commentary -- it's much too awful). Made for the equivalent of $125,000, the Atlanta Thrashers could spend their Kovy money on remaking something that could be uglier than their forward lineup. Maybe they could even put Torgo in net -- his bum leg couldn't be any worse than Kari Lehtonen's oft-injured body.

-About 674,000 trips to the Hockey Hall of Fame: At $15 a pop (less for students and children!), the entire Thrashers organization could go to the Hall of Fame over and over to check out the Stanley Cup. It'll be a few years until they get a crack at it in real life, so hey, get some inspiration.

-20,200 Real Dolls: Hey, it's lonely being a GM, right? Everyone criticizes you, you're always traveling, and when you trade your franchise player, attendance drops. Here's one way to at least make it look like Philips Arena is filled. At $5,000 a pop, these fans won't boo, get up while the puck is in play, or ask, "What's icing again?"

-10% of Ed Belfour: Ed Belfour once offered the police 1 BILLION dollars to stay out of trouble. Well, if that's what Belfour has, then perhaps 10% of that will get him going for 10% of the season. How about a good eight starts (plus playoffs -- remember, they don't get paid during those games) for $101 million?

-38 Super Bowl ads: Or, 17 minutes of paid programming during the biggest North American viewing day of the year. You gotta sell your team do free agents somehow, right?

-20 movies starring Steven Seagal: Seagal's former rival Jean-Claude Van Damme once played a goalie in the movie Sudden Death, so maybe it's time to commission some hockey films with the ponytailed one. He only commands $5 million per straight-to-DVD movie.

-10 overhauls of Star Wars: Episode 4 -- A New Hope: George Lucas spent $10 million to create the 1997 re-release of the original Star Wars. With the ability to do that ten times over, Don Waddell can digitally insert himself as every major character -- and he can make Ilya Kovalchuk-agent Jay Grossman anything from Darth Vader to the stormtrooper that bumps his head on the door.

-14,428 Ric Flair robes: Ric Flair's rhinestone-studded robes cost about $7,000 each. What would you do with 14,428 Ric Flair robes? I smell a special giveaway for the first 14,000 fans when the Carolina Hurricanes are in town!

-71% of the Tampa Bay Lightning: The Bolts just sold for $140 million, and that includes the team, operations, arena, and the land around it. If the Thrashers owned 71% of the Bolts, Don Waddell could easily find some new players to work with. How about the Bolts keep Vincent Lecavalier and the Thrashers took everyone else?

-500,000 photos with Patrick Stewart at the San Francisco Star Trek Convention: $200 for a photo with Captain Picard? Seriously? Who would be dumb enough to do that? I don't know anyone that would do that once, let alone 500,000 times. By the way, don't look at the photos on my Facebook wall.

Final parting note: Thrashers fans, I hope you didn't take too much offense at my chiding of your dilemma, it's all meant for a good laugh during dark times. Trust me, I wouldn't wish a lifetime of Snookie on anyone, though I understand if you would like that to happen to Jay Grossman. All of this was written in jest...well, except for the Patrick Stewart thing. Yeah, my wife and I really did pay that, and you know what? It was totally worth it! Engage!

Rumors From The Rink - Tim Thomas On The Block?

2010-02-08T15:00:29Z

More photos » Charles Krupa - AP

Could last year's Vezina Trophy winner be on the trading block?

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The Ilya Kovalchuk sweepstakes are over but there are still plenty of teams out there who need help and who will be looking to add a piece or two before the deadline. Most in need right now are the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, and Nashville Predators.

Each of these teams have losing records over their last 10 games, some worse than others. (The Flyers are 5-5.) If they want to stay in their respective playoff races, they should be looking seriously at the market.

One surprising rumor which just hit the wire is that the Boston Bruins are shopping last year's Vezina Trophy winner, Tim Thomas. If this is true, is it too early for the Bruins to give up on their down-to-earth goalie, a player they have a very heavy financial commitment to? (5 Million USD per year).

Does Chicago have faith in Cristobal Huet to take them to the promised land? It is possible that these two teams are disappointed enough in their respective goalies to try a switcheroo. But of course, that's easier said than done.

_____

Carolina Hurricanes winger Ray Whitney is still available and is probably the top billing on the market now that Kovy has been moved to the Devils. If teammate Niclas Wallin can garner a second rounder from the Sharks, (the Canes threw in a fifth), Whitney should be worth a first and more.

Speaking of the Devils, give some credit to Lou Lamoriello. Whether he paid too much or not enough, the cagey old GM pulled a surprising move. I don't recall anyone mentioning New Jersey as a likely location for Kovalchuk a week ago.

For two weeks straight, I called for Kovy to stay in Atlanta. And that's why I don't bet anymore.

_____

The Chicago Daily Herald is reporting that the Blackhawks are interested in bringing back James Wisniewski from the Ducks. Would the Ducks be interested in Cam Barker?

This one is worth watching.

_____

Lyle Richardson from Spector's Hockey posted information from a CBC video stating that the Blue Jackets have not asked Fredrik Modin to waive his no-trade clause.....yet. But they might try to move Modin and Raffi Torres after the Olympic break if there is a good enough return. According to the report, they have no interest in trading R. J. Umberger although they have gotten offers.

Everyone wrote the obituary of hockey in Atlanta during the lockout--and here we are 5 years later....

2010-02-08T02:10:56Z

Everyone wrote the obituary of hockey in Atlanta during the lockout--and here we are 5 years later. We are committed to building a team here. This is one of the largest markets in the USA, I'd rather own a team here than a number of other NHL cities. We wouldn't have made a $101 million offer to Kovalchuk if we planned on bailing on hockey. I live in DC and I remember a game when the Thrashers traveled up to play the Caps. We beat them in their building and Kovy had two goals that night...It was a Monday night and there was nobody in the building--just a few thousand people. And now the Caps are the hottest ticket in DC. That's what winning can do.

-Thrashers part-owner Bruce Levenson at a season ticket holder event. Complete coverage of the Q&A at Bird Watchers Anonymous.

http://www.birdwatchersanonymous.com/2010/2/7/1299185/thrashers-travel-travails-team#storyjump

The Week in Hockey Blogging

2010-02-07T14:00:18Z

More photos » Frank Franklin II - AP

"I had DEVILed eggs this morning. Get it?" (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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Every Sunday, FTR will go back and visit some of the best posts across the hockey blogosphere from the previous week.

-Catch the archive of Rink Side Radio's debut. New show on Monday night!

-Travis Hughes from Broad Street Hockey wrote a touching piece on the tragic loss of Brendan Burke, son of Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke.

-Did you hear Ilya Kovalchuk got traded this week? Bird Watchers Anonymous examines the absurdity before the trade went down, including where Kovy had for breakfast and how that might have affected things.

-Olli Jokinen's wife doesn't like Puck Daddy one bit and advises Greg Wyshynski to change his job.

-Patrick Marleau Facts: Chuck Norris once tried to smile like Patrick Marleau but it broke his face.

-Hockey history blogger Joe Pelletier has been profiling every Olympic hockey tournament in history. Did you know hockey started in the Summer Olympics? Or that Vancouver almost hosted the 1976 Games? Or that the Olympics were open to NHL players in 1988?

-You have to be pretty bad to be a team's worst draft pick of the decade. Congrats, Marek Zagrapan.

-Florida Panther fans are so over Olli Jokinen.

-Yes, there's life outside of hockey...and some guys are much braver than others. Former St. Louis goalie Ed Staniowski is a perfect example of this.

-And finally, Versus is planning a nightly news and entertainment show. Don't worry, no signs of Jay Leno around.

Weekend Preview: Super Puck

2010-02-06T12:00:25Z

Gene J. Puskar - AP

"Please, please, please watch us on Sunday. Please." (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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(In case you missed it this morning, scroll down past this post to check out Frank's report from The Rock as he attended Ilya Kovalchuk's first game for New Jersey.)

Every Saturday, FTR will pick the five games to watch over the upcoming weekend.

1. Pittsburgh at Washington, Sunday @ 12 PM EST. Did you hear that there's some big sporting event taking place on Sunday? No, not the one down in Miami, but the Penguins and the Capitals in the next round of their rivalry -- the rivalry that, though once media created, now lives up to the hype. It's hockey's version of Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair, Kirk vs. Picard, Beatles vs. Stones...and yet, will anyone watch? On one hand, this is a great way to counter-program in an effort to get all those sports fans who hate watching the Super Bowl pre-game. On the other hand, how many sports fans will be out buying beer and chips and meat or, like me, playing in a game of annual flag football with their college buddies? They've pulled their biggest guns out for this experiment, and if it succeeds, it could make everyone re-think what to do before the Super Bowl. If it fails, well...if Sidney Crosby plays Alexander Ovechkin and no one watches, does it happen?

2. Detroit at Los Angeles, Saturday @ 4 PM EST. Ottawa and Washington may be all the talk, but a similar hot streak is happening out west with the Kings winning eight straight. A game like this has major implications for the Western Conference playoff standings, and LA is looking to put some heat in the battle for home ice -- and perhaps the Pacific Division -- while Detroit is hoping to get some consistency. The Red Wings looked like the Detroit of old against San Jose, as they controlled the puck for most of the game against the Sharks. Jonas Hiller shut the Wings down with 46 saves, but there were still plenty of positive things to look at. Will LA keep rolling or will the Wings build on their play from the two games -- or will the game go to OT to further mess up the playoff races?

3. New Jersey at NY Rangers, Saturday @ 7 PM EST. For years, we saw Ilya Kovalchuk take on Olli Jokinen in Southeast Division battles. Now we've got these two guys as part of the storied Rangers/Devils rivalry, though both are more guns for hire rather than players of lore. The difference here is that the Devils are looking to contend for the Stanley Cup while the Rangers are just trying to right their ship. Both franchises have made drastic moves in an attempt to bolster their offense (and in the Rangers' case, shed a dead salary). And for sub-plots, at what point does each team's respective coach get frustrated with their new player's attitude?

4. Boston at Montreal, Sunday @ 3 PM EST. These two bubble teams are bitter rivals separated only by a few points, though Boston has played fewer games. Montreal is riding Jaroslav Halak in net while the Bruins, well, they're just hoping for anything to come out of their recent tail spin -- which included a recent 3-2 overtime loss to these same Habs. How hot is Halak? During that game, he made 48 saves to stifle the Bruins, and much of the Boston media is now grumbling about how to save the season.As this game should finish up right before the Super Bowl begins, a traditional Habs/B's rivalry game is a great way to rev up for...all those expensive commercials everyone wants to watch on Sunday.

5. Florida at Atlanta, Saturday @ 7 PM EST. Atlanta loses Ilya Kovlachuk and Florida gets David Booth back from injury. This can only mean good things for the Panthers as they battle to return to the playoffs. For Atlanta? Well...one has to hope that it provides a rallying cry for those that remain. The Thrashers future isn't forsaken, not with Tobias Enstrom and Zach Bogosian to build the blueline around. Up front, it's a new journey, though this game could mark the beginning of the end for this bubble team -- or perhaps they put together a Cinderalla turnaround to face New Jersey in the playoffs? Wouldn't that be something?

By speaking to kids that unknowingly made life so difficult for him he was helping to change...

2010-02-06T06:26:18Z

By speaking to kids that unknowingly made life so difficult for him he was helping to change attitudes. He could have easily chosen to keep his revelation a family secret but he decided that his story would do more good by being shared. It is for this reason that you'll read a lot in the coming days about Brendan Burke. Hopefully, the spotlight that is being shined once again on his life and his decision can help reach and touch those that Brendan sought to comfort over the final few months of his young life.

Mike's update: SBN has a front page post on this tragedy.

- Pension Plan Puppets

View from the seats: Ilya Kovalchuk's first game as a Devil

2010-02-06T04:32:40Z

Photo cred: Zaheed Bardai

In a perfect world, likely set in some sort of back lot in Hollywood, New Jersey fans would've had Ilya Kovalchuk's first game as a Devil go something like this: Tie score. Third period. 10 seconds on the clock as Kovalchuk breaks free for a one-on-one with Leafs goalie Jonas Gustavsson. A nifty move. Red light on. Time expired.

Or something like that.

In reality, Kovalchuk's role was somewhat relegated to that of a set-up man more than the sniper as he picked up two assists in his NJ debut. But this post isn't so much about the game as it is about the fan reaction and overall vibe inside the Prudential Center. If you want game coverage and a Devils perspective I suggest heading over to John Fischer's account over at In Lou We Trust. Of course he'll likely be singing a different tune than that expressed after the second period when he and I met up on the Prudential concourse. Not that you can blame him, seeing as how the Devils just gave up a 1-0 lead and were looking at a 3-1 start to the third. When NJ buried the final goal to take the 4-3 win, he promptly sent a indecipherable text message with multiple exclamation points. I take it he was excited.

From where I sat heading into this game, I was curious to see what fans would have to say about Kovalchuk coming on board. So I did what anyone in that position would do and roamed the concourse a bit to chat it up with a few NJ faithful. As you can imagine, not a single fan had anything bad to say about the move. Some had produced their own homemade Kovy jerseys that ranged in creativity (duct taped numbers and name), while others simply took the easier route and taped "Kovalchuk" over "Rupp" on an old #17 jersey.

Once the game started and Kovy jumped over the boards for his first shift, there was a healthy buzz of cheers resonating through the arena. I don't recall any "Kovy" chants, but when he charged in on Gustavson during the first period with a power move to the net everyone rose to their feet. The more impatient NJ fans jeered Kovy by the second period, yelling things like "Why did we trade for you?" when a puck jumped over his stick, or "Oduya would've had that one," when he missed on a centering pass in front of the net. It was obvious sarcasm though in typical New Jersey fashion, and not a single one jeering him earlier withheld from clapping or outright screaming at the sound of the final horn.

To be honest, I came across a good number of fans sporting Thrashers jerseys of the former star of ATL. Amazingly a number of them were Thrashers fans who came to continue their support for Kovy. One guy standing in line at the concession stand went into a rant about how it was "better for him (Kovy) that it ended like this." Others in the circle of blue chimed in with how they genuinely were interested in what was "best for Kovalchuk," but ultimately remained a bit concerned with regards to Atlanta's future. Overall it was a bit surreal to not hear fans shooting barbs and throwing jabs. (Hossa anyone?)

To make matters more interesting, I went to this game accompanied by a Devils fan, Leafs fan and Thrashers fan. So really I remained the odd one out in the equation, but still found myself scanning the ice constantly for number 17 in red.

If there's one thing to really take from this whole experience it's that NJ fans seem pretty committed to the notion that Kovalchuk is a rental and will most definitely test the market during the offseason for outstanding offers. During one of the intermissions, a guy two rows up from me, in an old Scott Stevens "Christmas" jersey, kept referencing the Alexander Mogilny rental of 1999-2000 (even if he did play the following year with NJ) that ultimately led to a Stanley Cup. After a quick wikipedia stat hit on the mobile (hey, I can't pretend to know it all), I asked him how comfortable he'd be if Kovalchuk, much like Mogilny, tossed up only seven points over two dozen games in the postseason.

"It doesn't matter," he said. "Just bring the (expletive) Cup home."

SBN Gameday: Love Will Tear Us Apart

2010-02-05T21:00:28Z

More photos » Frank Gunn - AP

"Why isn't everyone talking about me anymore?" (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)

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Every weekday, FTR will look at the day's games with a preview blurbs from around the SBN hockey network.

Tonight's soundtrack: Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division -- "love", in Ilya Kovalchuk's eyes, obviously means more than $10 million a year.

Game of the Night
Toronto at New Jersey, 7 PM EST
Just in case you haven't heard, Ilya Kovalchuk debuts for New Jersey tonight against Toronto. You know, Toronto -- the team that made the OTHER big recent trade(s). One of those involved is still getting used to his new pads.

Atlanta at Washington, 7 PM EST
Atlanta is still reeling from the Kovalchuk trade, but they've gotta prepare for a game against the hottest team in the league tonight.

Calgary at Florida, 7:30 PM EST
Calgary hopes to build off a strong effort against Carolina -- oh, and they're bringing some guy named Bouw-something-something. Panthers fans may care about that guy, but not so much about the departed Olli Jokinen.

Carolina at Buffalo, 7:30 PM EST
Canes Country has the latest on the Niclas Wallin-to-San Jose situation. The Sabres are looking to take their frustrations out on the Canes, with or without Nic Wallin.

Phoenix at Chicago, 8:30 PM EST
Chicago is recovering from a sloppy game against St. Louis with the Phoenix Coyotes in town. The Yotes are no slouches, and the market is starting to take notice with increased TV ratings.

Tampa Bay Lightning Sold

2010-02-05T17:48:53Z

More photos » Graham Hughes - AP

"Our damage is done." (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Graham Hughes)

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Finally, Len Barrie and Oren Koules (and Barry "Stamkos isn't ready" Melrose) will become a distant memory for Tampa Bay Lightning fans.

TAMPA BAY - Tampa Bay Sports & Entertainment LLC, which is owned by Jeff Vinik and a related family entity, has executed an agreement to purchase the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League from its current owners, the club announced today. The sale includes the Lightning hockey team, the company which operates the St. Pete Times Forum, and two parcels of adjacent land. Vinik will be the Chairman and sole person controlling Tampa Bay Sports & Entertainment. The ownership transfer of the Lightning is subject to approval by the National Hockey League Board of Governors.

"Buying the Lightning and joining the Tampa Bay community is a dream come true," Vinik said. "I’ve been an avid hockey fan my whole life and I pledge to our fans that I will work my hardest to build the Lightning into a world class organization both on and off the ice. I hope to bring a high level of excitement and intensity back to Lightning hockey, with a goal of having the team consistently compete for the Stanley Cup. I have a passion for the game and will do my best to restore a winning culture at the St. Pete Times Forum that all of our fans and partners can be proud of."

Will Jeff Vinik be any better? Only time will tell, but it's difficult to think how it could be worse than Koules/Barrie. The biggest issue in the Koules/Barrie regime (outside of that whole money issue) is that the two owners wanted to also be coaches and GMs, like they were involved in some sort fantasy league. They treated their team with a sort of boys-with-toys mentality, which ultimately disrespected the process of rebuilding a Stanley Cup contender -- and during that time, they destroyed what was a model example of how to grow a non-traditional market. GM Brian Lawton had talked about how there was no structure and no stability when he took over, and that's something he tried to bring through the entire ownership mess.

Say what you will about the Lightning or hockey in the Sun Belt, but this team has received more than its share of market acceptance and validation. Heck, Vincent Lecavalier was voted the area's favorite athlete not too long ago; think about it -- if you told a Tampa Bay resident in 1990 that in 20 years the area's favorite athlete would be a French-Canadian hockey player, they wouldn't believe you.

Here's to the end of Lightning fans long nightmare and the return of stability to their franchise.

For more on this, visit Raw Charge.

Friday Spotlight: How does the Kovalchuk deal affect you?

2010-02-05T15:45:08Z

More photos » Gregory Smith - ASSOCIATED PRESS

5 days ago: Atlanta Thrashers left wing Ilya Kovalchuk (17), of Russia, waits during a face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period of an NHL hockey game at Philips Arena, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Gregory Smith)

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Christmas in hockey isn't December 25th, it's actually March 3rd. That's the date of the trade deadline, the time when every single NHL general manager brings his team to the edge of the cliff and has to make the decision if his can handle the fall to the Stanley Cup.

Looking down that cliff brings up questions that a general manager has to answer. Does his team has what it takes to make it to the cup, or is he kidding himself. Does he risk trading away the future with prospects and picks to get a high priced rental to help for the fall? Can he not risk trading away the future to help for the fall? Or does he simply remove dead weight, get rid of his vets and try again next year.

Not to harp on the Ilya Kovalchuk deal, since Mike gave you such good analysis already, but it has different repercussions than just a rental for the playoffs. Lou Lamorillo has officially put this season into the "win the Stanley Cup or this season is a failure" category, and for many people that's a scary place to be.

And while most of you will cite the fact that the Devils didn't give up much for him, realize that they are getting him as purely a rental. If Kovalchuk wasn't happy in Atlanta, I doubt he would be re-signing in New Jersey; it's just an opinion, but it makes a lot of sense.

Join me after the jump for more.

What the Devils can take solitude in, is that they are going to get the best Ilya Kovalchuk they could ever hope for. Kovalchuk knows what is being said about him, he knows his defense is flimsy (at best), and he knows that if he can change for even just the rest of the season it will earn him a bigger pay-day come July 1st.

This particular situation would also allow Kovalchuk to give himself some real playoff experience, since the four games he played against the Rangers (when they were good) weren't a good litmus test. If Kovalchuk can play good defense, score some goals, and put up around a point per game in the playoffs I can guarentee you he gets close to the contract he turned down from Atlanta.

But now that Kovalchuk is off the market it will send serious ripples across the NHL. The big name is officially gone so other general managers who think their team can make it (LA, Chicago, Calgary,Pittsburgh, etc) are going to have to look elsewhere. Names that have fluttered around the market, and will continue to through the Olympics, will now be in higher demand thus making them more expensive.

This move also affects other teams as well. The first team to jump off the page are the Calgary Flames who, with their aquisition of a massive amount of forwards, were supposedly going to be in on getting Kovalchuk. There were whispers floating around that the main reason why they took Ales Kotalik from the Rangers was to flip him in a deal for Kovalchuk. That obviously didn't happen, it will be interesting to see where Daryl Sutter goes from here.

Regardless, the biggest name on the market dropping a few weeks before the trade deadline is only a good thing. It gives general managers a better idea of who is availabe and who isn't. And since I can guarentee you that there will be more moves before the season is over (a risky prediction I know) things are sure to be heating up.

Make sure you come to From the Rink for all of your NHL breaking news and analysis.

Breaking Down the Kovalchuk Deal

2010-02-05T01:53:50Z

More photos » Gregory Smith - ASSOCIATED PRESS

"I hear that I'll get along great with that Lemaire guy!" (AP Photo/Gregory Smith)

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The New Jersey Devils won the Ilya Kovalchuk sweepstakes, but the return seems to be smaller than what most people expected, especially when the scuttlebutt had a bidding war that would eclipse the Marian Hossa deal (if you recall, that trade included hard working Colby Armstrong, hit-and-miss Erik Christensen, former first founder Angelo Esposito before he blew out his knee, and a 1st round pick).

In this case, the Devils gave up Johnny Oduya -- a reliable defenseman who could munch 18-20 minutes a night but would never be a 40-point guy -- along with rookie Niclas Bergfors, who is having a good, though not spectacular, campaign, prospect Patrice Cormier, and a first round pick..

The a key component to the deal, outside of the 1st-rounder pick, is Patrice Cormier. Even if you don't know prospects, you've probably heard of Cormier as he was involved with an elbow play that led him to a season-long suspension. Outside of that, Cormier was captain of the 2010 Canadian World Junior squad. Gritty and physical, Cormier isn't the most gifted when it comes to his hands, but he can still put the puck in the net. Here's what Hockey's Future had to say about him:

While Cormier may not be the most naturally gifted player, he's about as well-rounded a prospect as the Devils have coming up right now. He possesses both the offensive skill set and defensive acumen to eventually be a two-way force at the next level. Having just signed his first pro contract this summer, Cormier will look to make an impact in training camp, and unless he finds his way onto the Devils roster, he will return to Rimouski for the 2009-10 season, with an eye towards turning pro in 2010-11.

(Hat tip to our SBN brethren Pension Plan Puppets, who Tweeted at 7:53 EST that it was Cormier, not the other names bandied about.)

Bergfors started out stronger, but his play tailed off after the new year -- sorry, Winter Classic day -- but that's to be expected. As an AHL player, Bergfors scored 22 goals in 66 games last season. The former first rounder has 25-goal potential, and it remains to be seen what Bergfors can do outside of Jacques Lemaire's system (and his doghouse, which he'd taken up a part-time residence).

Ah, Jacques Lemaire, or as Marian Gaborik likes to call him, Mr. No Fun. While the Devils could use help outside of Zach Parise and Travis Zajac, I wouldn't think Kovalchuk would fit into the prototypical New Jersey Devil mold. I think Gaborik's time with the Wild will be a good analogy, as Gaborik was constantly frustrated with the lack of creativity, and Kovalchuk hasn't exactly been known for the greatest work ethic or attention to defense.

Because of Kovalchuk's on-again/off-again attitude and Lemaire's demands, I'm somewhat cautious about how this will all work out. The Devils got what they needed, but will the part fit the engine? That remains to be seen.

From Atlanta's side, this seems comparable to the Hossa deal: a roster player (Oduya/Armstrong), a good-but-not-superstar prospect (Cormier/Esposito), and a first rounder with the only difference being Bergfors offering more upside than Erik Christensen. Perhaps the news about Kovalchuk's future salary demands lessened the bidding, even for teams seeking just a rental.

In the meantime, that noise you hear is noted Devils fan (and Mrs. Olli Jokinen nemesis) Greg "Puck Daddy" Wyshynski shouting from the rooftops.

Update: Reaction from Bird Watchers Anonymous.

Update 2: Reaction from In Lou We Trust.