Happy New Year

Wow, what a year it has been. From the lockout, to the cancellation of the season, to the almost un-cancellation of the season, to the eventual end of the lockout. Following that, we had a great entry draft, and of coarse an unbelievable offseason where we witnessed UFA madness. Finally, we are almost halfway through the season, and what a season it has been. Previous playoff teams like St. Louis and Boston are struggling, while teams like Carolina and the New York Rangers are showing more promise than they have in years.

2006 is going to be a great year for hockey. We have another great UFA season ahead of us, but not before the Olympics, and what promises to be a great couple of months of playoff hockey. I'm very excited for the NHL, and all of us who enjoy hockey.

Have a safe and happy new years.

Boston Fire Sale

The Bruins are struggling, and they really don't look like they are going to improve. As long as they continue to play sub-par, inside sources are telling me that Boston is likely to have a giant fire sale towards the trade deadline. Samsonov is the most likely to go, while Raycroft is another big name player the Bruins could likely move. I am hearing Brian Leech could very well end up back with the Rangers, while Glen Murray may also be moved. With Thornton gone, the Bruins are looking to rebuild, which would mean Murray and Samsonov's time with Boston is very close to being over.

The most sought after position in the NHL is currently goaltending. Vancouver, Tampa Bay, Edmonton and Colorado are all looking to address their goaltending problems. Several teams have more than one #1 goalie, which means we may see a lot of goaltenders being traded between now and March. Buffalo has Biron and Miller, Minnesota has Fernandez and Roloson, Phoenix has Boucher and Joseph, Pittsburgh has Thibault and Fleury, and Boston has Toivonen and Raycroft. St. Louis is also shopping Lalime, while once Lehtonen is back and 100%, Atlanta may shop one of the several goalies they've used this year. It will be interesting to see how all of this works out.

As I reported in the forums yesterday, the Coyotes have signed Vladimir Orszagh to a contract. He must clear waivers before reporting to the Coyotes, and I read an article today that said Orszagh is locked in a European contract and cannot join Phoenix until next season. I talked to a source today, and as far as he knew, Orszagh can join the Coyotes this season, but he still must clear waivers. I've heard whispers that Nashville and San Jose are both thinking about claiming him.

Though reports have the Leafs searching to make a deal due to their injury problems, don't count on it. Lindros, Antropov, Steen, Allison and Colaiacovo could all be back in the next week, and the Leafs' next two games are against New Jersey and Pittsburgh, who they have beaten during their current four game winning streak.

Thats all for now, email me at cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com with any questions/comments.

We're back!

Finally, our holiday time is over, and Hockeyleaks is back in action. I have a lot to talk about, so lets get going!

First, Colorado's goalie situation is getting ugly. At this point, it doesn't look like either goalie can stop a beach ball! I am hearing from a good source that Colorado is having very serious talks with Buffalo about Biron, while another source says Colorado may be interested in Sean Burke. Finally, Brian Boucher is another name going around. No word on who Colorado is shopping, but you have to assume one of Aebisher and Budaj would be traded if another goalie was brought in. Don't believe the Theodore to Colorado rumours for a second...they are not accurate at all.

Speaking of goaltending, Kari Lehtonen is back for the Thrashers, which is great news for this hockey club. He has yet to start, but he is off the IR, and will play very soon. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Lehtonen is one of the NHL's top goalies. I really expect Atlanta to make a strong push starting in the next couple of weeks.

San Jose, who was doing very well after the Thornton trade, has started to collapse. They are in the market for a d-man, and I have heard a name that surprised me. Aucoin has been linked to the Islanders as of late, however, the Sharks definitely have the cap room, and apparently are very interested in Aucoin. We'll see where that goes...

I really liked the Coyotes picking up Pavel Brendl yesterday. I think this kid has a lot of talent, and it's been wasted over the past few years. I think Brendl will finally be in a place where he may get used, and Phoenix may finally discover some of this guy's potential.

The Leafs have hit some major injury problems over the last few weeks, and they are looking to add a body or two. I've even heard Ed Belfour is being shopped, however, at his age, he's a tough sell. The Leafs would love to add a scoring winger with speed, as this team really lacks in that position. However, even with the injuries, they've won three straight.

Ted Nolan has asked about the Devil's job, however, I have heard Paul Maurice may be the front runner. I don't believe this, as I honestly believe Maurice is happy with the Marlies, and is the eventual next coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Owen Nolan is getting closer to returning with each day that passes. I have heard Calgary and Ottawa, but I do not believe either of those. Ottawa would be interesting, as it would be Nolan's way of getting back at the Leafs. The most likely destination for Nolan would be San Jose, while Edmonton and Phoenix are two other teams that apparently have inquired about the UFA winger.

The Bruins are apparently trying to deal both Murray and Samsonov. Murray has been linked to the Flyers, Leafs and Predators, while Samsonov has been linked to the Kings and the Avalanche. It'll be interesting to see if either player moves. Samsonov is very likely to be dealt sometime this season, as the Bruins are going nowhere, and Samsonov is a UFA at season's end.

The site is still not fixed yet, so it will be another few days before regular updates are back on the site. Daily updates will resume on the blog though, and check hockeyleaks.com at least once a day, just to check if things are back up and running. Cdog will be helping us to update the site once it is back, which means you can expect more updates! cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com if you have any questions or comments. Also, I have been invited to Sportsnet to speak with several people and get a full tour, and this will take place in January. Expect a full report from that visit once it takes place. Enjoy your day, and I hope your enjoying your holidays.

Happy Holidays To Everyone

First off, I must apologize for this blog/site not being updated over the last few days. A combination of A LOT of shopping, and a few problems with both myself and Yick's computers, do not equal a lot of work getting done around here. A few new articles written by our writers are posted in the forums, so please check that out.

As for rumours, there isn't much out there, as this is the holiday season, and the rosters are frozen. Chicago is apparently looking at a few players on the Islanders, but it is not known who they are looking at. The Leafs are apparently trying to see what they could get for Belfour if they did decide to trade him.

Thats really all I have to say today. Everyone please have a safe and happy holidays. I will be away for the next few days, but once this whole holiday craze has died down, daily updates will return, and we're working on a few great surprises for the site for the start of 06'. I'll see you in a few days, and email me at cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com with any comments or questions. Holiday wishes are always welcome ;). Enjoy the time with your families, and the few days off work!

Todd Bertuzzi

Nobody has been involved in more rumours this season than Todd Bertuzzi. Florida, LA and Anaheim have been teams apparently interested, but now you can add a pair of Canadian teams ot that list. According to sources, both Toronto and Montreal may be interested in the power forward. One rumour has Belfour going to Vancouver in exchange for Bertuzzi. Bertuzzi is a UFA after this season, while Belfour has a club option for next year, which the Leafs are almost sure to decline. The salaries are similar, and Vancouver needs the goaltending help. At this point, if the Leafs can trade the veteran goalie, they should.

Montreal, who is looking for a scoring winger, has apparently made calls regarding Petr Sykora and Todd Bertuzzi. Souray is one player who the Habs are apparently shopping, while they also have a surplus of youth that could be dealt. Speaking of the Habs, former Hab Donald Audette will be announcing his retirement soon. He had been talking to Boston and Toronto about a possible contract, but both fell through.

Scott Gomez is being shopped by the Devils. Calgary, Phoenix and Tampa Bay are three teams I have heard rumoured. Speaking of Tampa Bay, Brad Richards could be had for a high price. The Lightning may not have to part with him afterall, thanks to a rising salary cap.

A few days ago I asked what everyone thought of Crosby being named an assistant captain. The responses were all very similar, saying it was the wrong move. My favourite response? - "Why not make him co-owner while they're at it".

Sunday Rumours

With the roster freeze coming into effect tomorrow, things are very quiet on the rumour front. Here are a few things that I am hearing...

- After last nights 8-2 loss, things are not looking great in Toronto. Scouts have been following the Leafs as of late, and there may be a major trade in the works. Any trade made by the Leafs would address their defense, as the team currently has 7 defenseman that want to play everyday.

- Petr Sykora is still being shopped, with Montreal and New York being the two biggest threats to land him. Tom Poti and Steve Rucchin could be part of the New York deal.

- Olli Jokinen's name is floating around a lot, and so it should be, with Florida's stuggles. According to Eklund, he could be off to Calgary after the roster freeze ends.

- With Biron having won 13 straight games for Buffalo, something will have to give in Buffalo. When Ryan Miller returns, Buffalo will have two goalies who feel they are the #1 guy. One of them could be on the move. Remember, Vancouver could always use another goalie...

I always like posting readers comments on the blog, so here is today's question of the day. What do you think of Crosby being made an assistant captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins? Please email me at cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com and let me know your opinion of it.

We have a few new writers, so please check out hockeyleaks.com to read some new articles. We are always looking for new writers, so please email me if you are interested. Also, the PPFL standings have finally been updated, so go take a look ASAP! Have a good day everyone.

Once Again, The Russians Lose

During the World Cup, we saw a lot of Russia's best players decline to play for their country. The team was not even represented by an NHL goalie. That trend looks to be continuing, as two major Russian forwards have declined invitations to play for Russia in Turin. Sergei Federov and Alexander Mogilny are the first of what could be many of NHLers who decide against playing for Russia. It will be interesting to see what Russian goalies decide to suit up for Russia. With Khabibulin's play as of late, you have to wonder whether he will take the time off to figure out what is wrong with his game...

The Pens fired Eddie Olczyk, and they should have. That being said, I don't think Michel Therrien is a good replacement. I think they should have found someone with more NHL experience. I don't really know who would have been a good replacement, but I don't see Therrien being any improvement over Olczyk. We'll see if he can prove me wrong...for the city of Pittsburgh's sake, I hope he does.

A lot of goaltender rumours are floating around. First of all, Biron has won 11 straight, which means he is not going anywhere. Noronen is the only goalie being shopped by the Sabres. Luongo, Aebisher, and Denis are the three best goalies on the market. All three could easily find new homes by the trade deadline.

Speaking of the trade deadline, the increased cap for next year should increase the amount of trade talk around the league. A team like Toronto or Detroit can now take on a player with a longer contract now, because they have more money to work with. If the Cap reaches 45 million, watch the big teams approach it.

Here are tonight's NHL Scores :

Vancouver 5 Philadephia 4
Columbus 1 Carolina 2
Dallas 2 Ottawa 0
Atlanta 3 New Jersey 2 (F/OT)
Detroit 2 Florida 3 (F/OT)
Chicago 3 Nashville 5
Boston 3 Minnesota 2
Montreal 3 Edmonton 2 (After 2 Periods)
Tampa Bay 2 Phoenix 0 (After 2 Periods)

I finally bought an Ipod today, and I must say I'm pretty impressed. It also brought me back to the idea of the Hockeyleaks crew doing a radio broadcast once a week, something in the form of an audio download/podcast. I'd love to hear feedback on this idea, so if it something you'd be interested in listening to, contact me at cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com.

Thats all for now, have a good night.

Cloutier Out...Is Auld Ready?

Dan Cloutier is out for the rest of the season, as he will undergo knee surgery on Thursday. There is a chance he will make it back for the playoffs, but nothing is certain. This leaves Alex Auld as the number one goalie in Vancouver, with Ouellet as his backup. Apparently Vancouver is not looking to upgrade their goaltending at the moment, but if Auld starts to struggle, Vancouver will be forced to pick up someone, and quick. Thibault, Caron, Lalime and Prusek would be the easiest goalies to pick up, while Denis, Luongo and even Brodeur are other names that have been thrown around in the past couple of weeks.

On to tonight's games...Gaborik scored twice, and Daigle added three assists as the Wild beat the Islanders 4-3. In what was a wild finish, Chouinard scored the game winning goal with only three seconds remaining. The Islanders outshot the Wild 35-22 in the loss.

Matt Cooke returned to the lineup, and scored the game winning goal as Vancouver beat the New York Rangers 3-2. Ohlund added two assists for Vancouver, while Beruzzi and D. Sedin had the other Vancouver goals. Auld got the win for the Canucks, who will now be relying on him quite a lot.

Matt Cullen and Craig Adams each scored twice, as the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-3. Gerber picked up the win for Carolina, while Khabibulin continues to struggle in net for Chicago.

Atlanta beat Detrout tonight in an all out scoring war, winning 7-6. Stefan scored twice for Atlanta, including the game winner, while Vigier, Kozlov and Holik all had a goal and an assist for the Thrashers. Datsyuk led Detroit with two goals and an assist, while Shanahan added four assists.

Florida finally found the back of the net, as they hammered Nashville 7-3. Horton scored a hat trick for the Panthers, while Roberts added a pair. Perrault had a good night for the Preds, notching two assists. The Preds started third string goalie Finley in this one, as Vokoun is injured and will miss the next 7-14 days.

The Flyers continue to win dispite being bit seriously with the injury bug. Forsberg, Carter and Kapanen scored to give the Flyers a 3-1 win over the Blue Jackets. Esche got the win for the Flyers, while Hrdina scored Columbus' lone goal.

Montreal beat the red-hot Coyotes tonight, winning 5-2. Plekanec led the Canadiens with a goal and an assist. Montreal remains without captain Saku Koivu, as he is currently battling the flu.

Kozlov scored the shootout winner, as the Devils beat the Oilers 2-1. Matvichuk also scored for the Devils, while Cross had the lone Oiler goal. Ty Conklin looked good in his first game back with the Oilers, stopping 27 shots before the shootout.

With Lalime sent down to the minors, Sanford is the number one guy in St. Louis, and he looked good tonight, picking up a shutout in St. Louis' 3-0 win over Pittsburgh. Weight had a goal and an assist for the Blues, who are apparently trying to deal Lalime to anyone who will take him. After this loss, one must wonder how much longer Pittsburgh will wait before making a coaching change.

Player of the Night goes to Nathan Horton, who's three goals lifted the Panthers to a rare win over the Preds. Others considered were Shanahan(4A), Daigle(3A), Datsyuk(2G,1A) and Sanford(Shutout).

I am hearing a strong rumour that Brian Leetch could find himself back in New York. The longer the Bruins struggle, the more likely it is that Leetch could go back to the Rangers. The Rangers have the cap room, and are apparently very interested in bringing the veteran blueliner back for a good playoff run. Not sure what the Rangers would give up, but it probably wouldn't be too expensive.

Do not be shocked if the Leafs make a move this week. They don't play again until Saturday, and when Kronwall returns, the Leafs will have to make some sort of move, as they plan on keeping both Colaiacovo and Kronwall with the team. This likely means Czercawksi being placed on waivers, or Aki Berg being dealt. Apparently, according to a source close the Leafs, JFJ claims he's had offers of a 2nd round pick for Berg. If thats the case, pull the trigger now, as Berg isn't worth half that.

Thats all for now! Power Play Fantasy League standings will be updated tomorrow, so watch out for those! My Power Rankings will be up sometime tomorow was well. Check hockeyleaks.com for all of that. Have a good night everyone.

Predictions

I get a lot of emails where a reader will ask me how I think they're favourite team will finish. Though I am tempted to predict where I think each team will finish, I will save that for another. Here is a few of the teams I am most asked about.

Phoenix - After a rough start, the Coyotes are playing good hockey, and they should play themselves into the playoffs. They won't finish higher than 6th, but they will make the playoffs, and they will do well in them. Phoenix is one of the NHLs most dangerous teams, you don't expect that, but its true.

Boston - Boston will not make the playoffs, especially after dealing Joe Thornton. They will come close, but they won't make it.

Buffalo - The Sabres are red hot right now, and these wins now will prove to be huge in April. The Sabres will get back into the playoffs, in the seven or eight spot.

San Jose - They'll make the playoffs, and they'll be a top five seed.

Toronto - Somewhere between 4th-6th in the East...this is a team that will do well in the playoffs, as long as they somehow upgrade their D without loosing Allison or Lindros

Ottawa - This team is very good, and as long as they don't play Toronto in the playoffs, they could go all the way. Even if they do meet Toronto in the playoffs, the Sens are the team to beat

Detroit - After a quick start, they will cool down. They won't win the west, but they'll be top three.

Columbus - At some point this season, the Blue Jackets will go on a tear. Nash - Federov - Zherdev will light up the entire league. Wait till 06-07, and the Jackets will be in the playoff race.

Vancouver - Another strong season will be let down by poor goaltending...

Calgary - Ottawa/Calgary final is something I strongly believe in...

Edmonton - Will battle for the playoffs, will finish between 7-9 in the West.


Anyways, if you want an explanation on why I feel the way I do, or want to know how I think your team will finish, email me at cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com

Scores from tonight :

Blackhawks 5 Thrashers 4 - Final (SO)
Coyotes 2 Bruins 1 Final (OT)
Devils 2 Blue Jackets 3 (OT)
Sabres 3 Wild 2 Final

Player Of The Night goes to Tyler Arnason who had three assists for Chicago today. Other's considered were Kovalchuk (2G), Savard (2A), Zherdev(2G) and Nagy (1G,1A).

One section of Hockeyleaks.com that has not been getting updated has been the fantasy page. None of us have had time to do it, and we are looking for someone to write a weekly hot and cold section for us. If you are interested, please contact me at cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com. Expect some good rumours tomorrow.

Sharks Win Fourth Straight

When San Jose had lost ten straight, they made a deal to forever change their team, as they added Joe Thornton to their lineup. So far, it's paid off. Thornton added two assists, and Marleau had a three point night as the Sharks won their fourth straight game, beating Florida 6-2. Luongo remains in the doghouse in Florida, has he was sat tonight in favor of Mclennan, who replaced him midway through Wednesday nights game. Smith and Langfeld also had two point nights for the Sharks, who don't appear to be missing Sturm or Stuart too much.

J.S. Giguere returned to the net for Anaheim, but it wasn't enough as Buffalo beat Anaheim 3-2 in overtime. Afinogenov scored the OT winner 2:11 into overtime to get the win, while Vanek scored on a penalty shot earlier in the game for the Sabres. Lupol had two points for the Ducks.

Moreau scored twice as the Edmonton Oilers slid by the Flyers 3-2. Morrison got the win in net for the Oilers, as he faced a Philly team with a depleted defense. The Flyers have lost both Pitkanen (4-6 weeks) and Desjardins (8-10 weeks). Kapanen scored the Flyers second goal, it was his first since returning from knee surgery.

Columbus got a rare win last night, beating the Islanders 4-3 in a shootout. Federov scored his first goal as a Blue Jacket (Finally!) and Adam Foote scored in his first game as the Blue Jackets captain. Leclaire gets the win in net for Columbus.

Manny Fernandez adds a shutout to his stats sheet as the Minnesota Wild blanked the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-0 last night. Daigle had two goals, while Gaborik, Walz and Rolston also had goals for the Wild. Rolston, Gaborik, Daigle and Zyuzin all had two point nights. Thibault was in net for all five Minnesota goals.

Mike Sillinger and Keith Tkachuk scored twice each, but it wasn't enough as Tampa Bay beat St. Louis 5-4. Fedotenko scored twice for Tampa, while St.Louis, Taylor, and Modin also had goals for Tampa Bay. Sillinger and Tkachuk each had three point nights.

Prucha looks like the new Jagr, as the kid is on fire! Prucha and Rucchin scored twice, while Jagr had a goal and two assists as the Rangers beat up the Nashville Predators 5-1. Lundqvist got the win for the Rangers, while Vokoun takes the loss for the Preds. Mason replaced him in the second after Vokoun gave up two goals on eight shots.

Gerber stopped 35 of 37 shots, as Carolina beat the LA Kings 3-2. Erik Cole scored twice for Carolina, while Justin Williams added the other Carolina goal. Cowan and Belanger scored for the Kings.

Petr Sykora was held out of last night's game, possibly signaling a trade is about to happen in Anaheim. The Rangers, Devils, Bruins and Habs are all teams apparently interested in the veteran winger.

With Havlat gone for the rest of the season, and maybe the playoffs, rumour has Ottawa shopping for some scoring. I don't see it, as Bochenski seems to be fitting in just fine in Ottawa.

The Leafs may be looking to move Aki Berg and Mariusz Czercawksi. I heard a rumour of the latter going back to NYI, maybe even in a deal for a defenseman. Both players would be hard sells, and I don't expect to see either traded soon.

Thats all for now, still looking for writers, so if you want a chance to write for a hockey website, email me at cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com. Have a good day everyone

Something Is About To Go Down...

I am hearing a loud rumbling this morning that something big is about to go down involving Colorado. Colorado has called up goaltender Vitaly Kolesnik for tonight's game, which is odd because neither Aebisher or Budaj are injured. Could Luongo be on his way to Colorado? Something is up and I will try to stay on top of it.

CBS Sportsline is now the second source saying Glen Murray to Toronto for Antropov and Klee. If that happened, Murray would only add an extra 1.1 million to Toronto's salary, which would keep them under the cap.

There was a rumour late last night that Richards or Carter and Philly goalie could be off to Florida for Roberto Luongo, but don't believe this one. The Flyers really like the youth they have, and after dealing Sharp, they don't plan on dealing another young center.

I know my email service that sends the blog out has not been working, and I cannot seem to fix it. I am working on getting a new mailing list set up, so look for that in the next few days. You will have to re-sign up for this one, as the last one just doesn't want to work.

We added a few writers to our team yesterday, and I look forward to reading all of their stuff. Keep checking back for their articles! Email me at cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com if you wish to write for us, or you want to leave me a comment or question. Have a great Wednesday everyone. The Bruins visit the Avalanche in tonight's game of the night...it could be interesting, especially if the Avs swing a deal...

Nothing Can Go Wrong For Ottawa...

Martin Havlat separates his shoulder, and it finally appears that Ottawa may be brought back down a notch. Not the case, instead, they may be even better. No Havlat means Bochenski gets another chance, and it looks like he plans to take advantage of it. Bochenski scored three times, and added one assist as the Sens doubled up the Panthers 6-3. Varada added a goal and an assist, as the Sens continue to dominate the NHL. Luongo allowed all six goals, and looked everything but spectacular. I can hear the trade rumours already...

Martin Prucha scored twice, while Jagr added two assists as the Rangers beat the Wild 3-1. Rucinsky led the Rangers point-wise with three assists, as the Rangers have now won seven of their last eight games. Dupuis scored the only Wild goal...maybe that will help his trade value, as the Wild are apparently trying to move him.

Finally, in the third period, Atlanta leads Phoenix 2-1. Kozlov and Hossa have the Atlanta goals, while Johnson has scored for Phoenix. Garnett and Joseph are the goalies in this one. I will predict a late goal by Phoenix, with Phoenix winning in overtime. I'm probably wrong, but I really like the Coyotes.

With Thornton now in San Jose, it pretty much guarantees Owen Nolan will end up back in San Jose. AHA! Mara has just scored, 2-2 in Phoenix...

Speaking of Phoenix, the Coyotes tried to land Joe Thornton before the Sharks. I heard Nagy was offered, but I cannot confirm this yet...I will try. Mike Johnson has just scored, 3-2 Phoenix. Comrie now has three assists on the night...

Getting away from Phoenix for a second, according to Eklund, the talk between Toronto and Boston has heated up. Glen Murray to Toronto for Antropov and Pogge is what we heard yesterday...now we are hearing Ken Klee as part of the deal as well. Obviously this would leave Toronto weak on defense, so I would assume if this deal went through, Toronto would get some sort of d-man in return.

Patrick Marleau's six points this week earned him the NHL's offensive player of the week award, while Tomas Vokoun won the defensive award. Hockeyleaks Player Of The Night? Well unless Mike Johnson scores several more goals, Brandon Bochenski is the clear winner, after scoring his first NHL hat trick, and adding an assist.

Thats all for now...Yicks power rankings are up, mine will be up on Thursday. We are looking for new writers as well, so please email me at cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com if you are interested. Have a good night!

Oh, and before I leave you, Michalek scores to make it 4-2 Phoenix...gotta love those desert dogs!

Sunday Morning Rumours

Trade rumours? I have plenty today for all you who love to read them! Lets start with Boston, who may be looking to deal Glen Murray. Murray signed with Boston in the offseason to play with Thornton, and with the big centre gone, Murray may be next. According to Eklund, Toronto could be where he ends up, with Antropov and a good pick/prospect going to Boston. Justin Pogge (Goalie Prospect) could end up in Boston as part of the deal.

With the acquisition of Joe Thornton, San Jose now has two #1 centres. This has led to speculation that Patrick Marleau could be traded for some defensive help. Calgary is one team that could be interested, as they need a #1 centre, and have a lot of defensive depth to work with. How about Van Ryn or Bouwmeister to San Jose for Marleau? You never know.

Tyler Arnason is apparently available. I don't see why the Blackhawks would try dealing him as he has a lot of promise, but desperate times call for desperate measures. No word yet on where Arnason may end up.

David Aebischer is apparently being shopped, though apparently there hasn't been much interest. Edmonton is one possibility, as they have had a lot of goaltending issues thus far. Vancouver is another possibility, as both Colorado and Vancouver would be open to a deal to shake things up.

If the Bruins do continue to struggle, Samsonov would likely be shipped out pretty quickly. With him becoming a UFA this summer, the longer the Bruins keep him, the less they'll get for him.

Roberto Luongo to Philly? Thats a rumour from the Boston Globe, saying the Panthers would love to get Gagne, Carter or Richards in return. I don't see any of those three leaving Philly any time soon...


Vladimir Orszagh, does anyone remember him? He wasn't signed as a UFA due to the serious knee surgery he had over the lockout, but his 12 points in 12 games in the Swedish Elite League mean he will be back in the NHL soon. The Preds are one of several teams talking to him.

Final rumour of the morning : Vaclav Varada to Phoenix. The Coyotes' tough guy Tyson Nash is out with an abdominal injury, which means Phoenix is looking to add some toughness to replace him.

Cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com with any questions, comments or rumours you'd like to add. Enjoy your day.

The New Guys Are Getting It Done

There have been several trades this season, some have worked, while others haven't had much of an impact. Tonight, several teams saw their new players lead them to victory, lets take a look shall we?

In his first game as a Flame, Huselius looked very strong, as he assisted on all three Calgary goals. Langkow added two goals for the Flames, and Reghyr notched two assists as they edged the Penguins 3-2. Crosby scored for the Penguins, who continue to struggle. Fleury was in net and takes the loss, while Kiprusoff gets the win for the Flames.

The Bruins picked up Tanabe recently in a trade with Phoenix, and he is really paying off. Tanabe scored the OT winner, and added an assist as the Bruins beat the Oilers 5-4 in OT. Brad Boyes had a good game for the Bruins, scoring twice and adding an assist, while Bergeron had a two point night. Pisani led the Oilers with two goals and an assist. Toivonen got his second straight win for the Bruins, who are 2-0 since trading Joe Thornton.

Joe Thornton has brought a winning attitude to San Jose, as the Sharks are 2-0 since picking him up. San Jose came back from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Maple Leafs 5-4. McCauley scored twice for the Sharks, while Patrick Marleau had a goal and two assists. Steen led the Leafs with two assist. Toskala got the win for San Jose, who is replacing the injured Nabokov. With the loss, Belfour failed to move into second place all-time on the wins list.

Other Scores From Tonight...

Rangers 1 Capitals 5 / Final
Wild 2 New Jersey 3 /Final (SO)
Kings 2 Canadiens 3 / Final
Blackhawks 3 Panthers 4 / Final (SO)
Flyers 3 Predators 4 / Final (SO)
Hurricanes 4 Coyotes 8 / Final
Thrashers 1 Ducks 2 / Final

Player of the Night?? Ladislav Nagy is the clear winner, as he scored three times and added two assists for a total of five points. His Coyotes doubled up the Hurricanes 8-4. Ovechkin is the runner up, as he scored once and added four assists in the Caps 5-1 win over the Rangers. That loss snapped the Rangers 6 game win streak.

Sebastian Caron was put on, and cleared waivers, in the last 24 hours. He will be sent to the AHL, leaving Fleury and Thibault as the two Penguin's goalies. The Vancouver Canucks acquired goaltender Maxime Ouellet from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2006 draft. Ouellet has a lot of promise, but has struggled in the Caps organization. Then again, other than Ovechkin, who hasn't?

As the Penguins continue to struggle, the rumour wire will heat up. Pittsburgh could have a huge fire sale at some point this season, with players like Palffy and Gonchar finding themselves being shopped around the league. Teams cannot afford to make mistakes with the new salary cap, and teams like Boston, Florida, Pittsburgh and Atlanta are teams that could shed a lot of salary if things do not go well. Another team who will have to shed some salary at some point? Tampa Bay...I'd be surprised if Brad Richards stays in Tampa past the trade deadline.

Brian Burke has his heart set on signing Bertuzzi this offseason, but he needs shed some salary in order to afford him. Keith Carney, Sandis Ozolinsh and Petr Sykora are all players he'd like to deal before the deadline. Toronto has shown interest in Carney, while Toronto could send Colaiacovo to Anaheim. Obviously there would be more to this deal, maybe an Antropov or Chistov involved. The Leafs are no longer shopping Ponikarovsky, but will still listen to offers.

The Panthers have played a little better over the past week, but that doesn't mean Keenan won't pull another deal. He got rid of Huselius (who looks great as a Flame), and another move should be made soon. The Islanders are looking to move a defenseman, while Carolina would like to add one. That being said, they won't deal with each other.

The Young Goalies Rule The Night.

In his first season as the full time back-up for the Toronto Maple Leafs Tellqvist has looked very sharp, and last night he looked like the future. Tellqvist stopped all 28 shots he faced as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Atlanta Thrashers 4-0. It was Telly's first NHL shutout. Tucker scored twice for Toronto, while Steen and Ponikarovsky also scored for Toronto. In three games this year, Toronto has outscored Atlanta 18-2.

Marco Sturm, welcome to Boston! Sturm scored a goal and an assist, and Hannu Toivonen stopped all 26 shots he faced as Boston beat the Ottawa Senators 3-0. Heatley was held without a point for the first time this season, ending his point streak at 22 games. Brad Stuart had one assist in his Boston debut.


Kondratiev scored his first NHL goal, and Marek Malik scored his first goal of the season as the Rangers beat the Penguins 2-1. Ryan Whitney scored Pittsburgh's only goal, while Henrik Lundqvist, another rookie goalie, was sharp stopping 35 of 36 shots. The Rangers are on fire, now having won six straight.

Florida got a rare win last night, beating the lowly Caps 3-2. Van Ryn had two assists for the Panthers, while Weiss, Horton and Jokinen scored the Florida goals. Muir and Cassels scored for Washigton, but Luongo made 37 saves to keep the Panthers in the lead. Brent Johnson gets the loss.

After falling behind 2-0, Tim Connolly led charge, and the Sabres faught back to beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in OT. Connolly had a goal and two assists, Drury and Campbell also scored for Buffalo. Martin Biron continues to show Buffalo that he's a #1 goalie, as he got another win. Buffalo has now won five straight.

Calgary fell down 2-0 early in the game, but they came back to beat Detroit 3-2. Langkow, Kobasew and Amonte scored for the Flames, while Langkow and Kobasew also added an assist each. Detroit's Jason Williams continued his great season, getting two assists in the loss.

In the battle of the NHL's basement, the St.Louis Blues beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1. Tkachuk is back and playing well, as he gave the Blues a little hope tonight, scoring once and adding two assists. Another bright spot for the Blues is that Patrick Lalime stopped 25 of 26 shots, and St. Louis had a total of 44 shots on goal. St.Louis about to make a comeback? Don't bet on it, as it was Columbus who they played...

Sullivan and Kariya were limited to a combined one assist, but Hall and Smithson's goals were all Nashville needed, as they doubled up Minnesota 2-1. Kurtis Foster scored his fourth of the season for the Wild, who started Dwayne Roloson in net. Vokoun picks up the win, and continues to play strong.

Finally, in an all Canadian battle, the Edmonton Oilers beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-3. Stoll score twice for Edmonton, while Ohlund assisted on all three Vancouver goals. Torres continued to have a solid season, scoring once and adding as assist. Markkanen won his first start in two weeks, as Morrison got the night off.

On the rumour front? There isnt much, as everyone I talk to seems to only want to talk about the Thornton trade. Apparently the Sharks are not looking for a replacement for Stuart right away, and they plan on giving their young guys a shot before making any moves.

Huselius and Thibault may both be sent to the minors, and then placed on re-entry waivers. If this happens, I'd be surprised if both were not claimed. Thibault would be a bargain at half price, as would Huselius.

Other than that, I got nothing. Hopefully more happens throughout the day, and I can post an update later in the day. Power Rankings will be up today, so check hockeyleaks.com for the latest.

Reactions To Thornton Trade

First, Power Rankings for Dec.1st will be up tomorrow! Expect a full re-cap of tonight's games in the morning, complete with a Player Of The Night. Tonight I want to share with you two of the many emails I got with opinions about last night's trade. Enjoy, and feel free to continue sending your opinions and comments to cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com


Overtimegoal writes : I sit here stunned. I will say the Bruins get the advantage short term, however long term San Jose wins. It is easier to find a speedy left wing and a decent young defenseman than it is to get a point (at least) a game big man who can dominate in the playoffs.

while Josh writes : To be honest I have no idea what Boston was thinking when they pulled this deal off. Brad Stuart is a decent defenceman in the NHL but under the new rules he has struggled, Marco Sturm is a good player that will probably score his share of goals and Wayne Primeau is nothing just a throw in. But the thing that I find most unbelievable is how Boston thinks they are a better team after the trade. How can a team trade their #1 center and franchise player without getting one back. San Jose defiantly got the better of this deal and Boston well they should consider firing GM Mike O’Connell and Mr. Jacobs should sell the team to someone who wants to put a winning team on the ice because by the looks of things he doesn’t want to and I am not even a Bruins fan and I am saying this imagine what those fans are saying. Just to put things in a Leafs fans perspective which I am a huge Leaf fan. The Leafs trade Mats Sundin to the Calgary Flames for Jordan Leopold, Tony Amonte and Stephene Yelle now no disrespect to those guys but that is about the same trade as what Boston did last night and you can imagine how well that would go over in Toronto.

So obviously both of these readers (and most of the opinions I got agreed with them) that Boston lost this deal. I know it's two early to start saying who won this deal, but didn't Boston look great tonight? Sturm really played well, as did Primeau and Stuart. That being said, I expect Thornton to come out flying and score a hat-trick in his first game.

Full report on tonight's games will be up in the morning. Any questions or comments should be sent to cjohnson202@hockeyleaks.com. Enjoy your night.