Canucks make play for Bouwmeester

The Canucks really believe this could be there year, and they'd love to add Jay Bouwmeester and make him part of what they hope will be a Stanley Cup run.

Sources today have told me that the Canucks have offered a 1st round pick, Michael Grabner (he's been called up to showcase, at least three teams have interest, Vancouver and Toronto are two of them) and Matthias Ohlund. The Panthers like pieces of this deal, but talks are far from over.

The Canucks also continue to talk to the Wild about Gaborik, but nothing is close on that front.

For those who havent been on the site today, the Pens dealt Ryan Whitney to Anaheim for Kunitz and Tangradi.

If Whitney is worth a top-six forward and Anaheim's 2nd best prospect, you have to wonder what Bouwmeester, Kaberle, Pronger and Niedermayer could attract.

Stay tuned to Hockeyleaks.com for all the latest.

Chat Tonight

There will be a chat tonight at 10 PM EST, don't miss it. I will start with doing a Q&A. Things are heating up, just one week until the deadline is here!

Make sure to check out Hockeyleaks.com for all the latest.

For Twitter updates, make sure to follow me, Cjohnson202

Rangers fire Renney

As first speculated in the Hockeyleaks.com chat last night, Tom Renney has been fired by the New York Rangers.

Sources tell Hockeyleaks.com that John Torterella is in the running to replace Renney.

Trade!

The Ottawa Senators have traded San Jose's 1st overall pick (acquired in the meszaros deal) and Dean McAmmond to NYI for Mike Comrie and Chris Campoli.

Introducing: The Blueprint

Hockeyleaks.com has changed a little today, you will notice some differences on our Nav Bar.

First, The Blueprint.

Yes, this is total rip-off of Eklund's chart, but it's done 100% by me, and I promise it to be more accurate than Eklund's. This is also free, which is $20 cheaper than the garbage Eklund puts out. Go to Hockeyleaks.com and click on "The Blueprint" to access it. It will be updated daily, so check back often.

Second, Chat.

The Chat returns. The chat will only be open when I hold chats, so check the forums and blog often to see when the next chat will be.

Feel free to comment on these features and let me know what you think.

Stay tuned to Hockeyleaks.com for all the latest.

The Latest

First off, I just want to say how much fun I had with you all last night in the chat. Between 10:30-2 am last night there was a constant group of about 50 that just chatted about this Habs situation. We learned about it together and it was really a lot of fun. Thanks to everyone that came out.

Hockeyleaks was one of the first on this story, and what a story it has turned out to be. By now, I'm sure you all know the details, but I will say this, I'm hearing this could just be the start. There is more to come out I've been told, and the "more" involves even higher profile Habs. We'll see what materializes, but this could just be be the begininning.

Here are the trade rumours for today:


- Bob Gainey has admitted that the Lightning have contacted him regarding Lecavalier, and that Subban, Higgins, and Gorges were players Tampa had interest in. I'm hearing the Habs are really shopping Higgins right now.

- Sean Avery is close to re-joining the New York Rangers, this is going to happen.

- The rumours that the Leafs are close to making a trade do have some substance. Chicago, Boston and Columbus are the three teams the Leafs have been talking to the most as of late.

- The Penguins have apparently made a significant offer for Ryan Smyth.

- Staying with the Avs, the Bruins are big Jordan Leopold fans and these talks are making progress.

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Stay tuned to Hockeyleaks.com today, I am going to be making my own "Chart"...take that Eklund

Habs Massacre Coming

This is a HUGE story right now...

La Presse's tomorrow edition will release a story and photos of certain Habs players with unacceptable behaviour in the Montreal night life.

Several sources are telling me that this will put the Kovalev story to the background, and this will seriously damage the Habs as a team.

One source told me, "this will make the Ryan O'Byrne purse stealing incident look like a joke"...

This information is expected to leak around midnight eastern tonight.

I will be in the chat all night till 12:30 - 1 am Eastern, so make sure to stop by to discuss this. This is going to be big....stay tuned.

You heard this scoop here first...

Hockeyleaks Timeline + Chat Now

First, chat now for awhile...http://www.hockeyleaks.com/chat.html

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Couldnt go back all the way because our original blog is blocked...but...

Oct. 28, 2005 - http://web.archive.org/web/20051028001310/http://hockey-leaks.blogspot.com/

Dec 1, 2005 - http://web.archive.org/web/20051201015459/http://hockeyleaks.com/

Jan 1, 2006 - http://web.archive.org/web/20060102182120/hockeyleaks.conforums.com/

Mar 5, 2006 - http://web.archive.org/web/20060305103809/http://www.hockeyleaks.com/

July 5, 2006 - http://web.archive.org/web/20060715113920/http://hockeyleaks.com/

Aug 15, 2006 - http://web.archive.org/web/20061107164305/www.hockeyleaks.com/forums/

Jan 1, 2007 - http://web.archive.org/web/20070104075605/http://hockeyleaks.com/

July 15, 2007 - http://web.archive.org/web/20070219094531rn_1/www.hockeyleaks.com/forum2/

July 16, 2007 - http://web.archive.org/web/20070716174147/http://hockey-leaks.blogspot.com/

Feb. 19, 2009 - http://www.hockeyleaks.com

Feb. 19, 2009 - http://hockey-leaks.blogspot.com

Feb. 19, 2009 - http://www.hockeyleaks.com/forum2/index.php


talk about progression...

Rumour Blitz

Here are your rumours for Feb. 19:

- The Ducks continue to free fall in the standings, and they've still played a few more games than everyone else. It looks very likely that Scott Niedermayer will be dealt back to the Devils. It also looks like Chris Pronger could be headed East, and that Eastern could be, wait for it...The Habs.

- Phoenix now finds themselves last in the West, meaning bodies are about to fly. Derrick Morris is a target of the Buffalo Sabres, while Olli Jokinen is the target of many. Jokinen could find himself with the Flames or Sens when all is said and done.


- The Leafs continue to shop Antropov, and a 1st round pick is what is required to bring him in. Seems steep? Consider that Antropov is on pace for more points than any other forward available in this year's deadline. Rumours like yesterday's Leafs/Pens ones (Antro for Whitney, Antro for Gogli and a 1st) are not far-fetched, this is the type of the return Burke expects.

- The Flyers and Thrashers are talking about a deal that would send Kari Lehtonen to the Flyers for James Van Riemsdyk. Honestly, I feel the Flyers would be overpaying, and I wonder if teams like Minnesota (Backstrom), Toronto (Toskala), Anaheim (Giguere) and Montreal (Halak) may get involved in this.

- Speaking of Backstrom, I'm hearing it's very likely he is traded. Minnesota is set to go with Josh Harding in net, and is pretty confident at this point that Backstrom will not re-sign with the club. The Leafs are planning on going after him on July 1, it will be interesting to see if they make a move for him at the deadline.

- Jay Bouwmeester is very available, and the shopping of him will be stepped up starting next week. The Panthers will make one final contract offer to him in the next seven days, and if he doesn't accept then he's gone. The Panthers are too far along in their rebuild to let Jay-Bo walk for free. If he's not signed, he will be traded. The Oilers are still leading this, don't count out those Flyers, who may blow the Panthers away with an offer.

- Ryan Smyth is out there for the taking, and yes, Montreal is in on him. However, at this point, I am hearing that it's a Western team that has the early (and I mean very early, this is going down to the deadline) lead. That team? Calgary.

- The Rangers are once again pushing to acquire Jovanovski.

- Nashville defenseman Ville Koistinen has requested a trade out of Nashville.

Stay tuned for Hockeyleaks.com for all the latest. Thanks to all to came out for the chat last night, it was fun. Check the blog and forums often for an update on when the next chat will be held.

Hockeyleaks.com Chat Now

I am testing out a chat-client right now, in hopes of making chats a regular thing as we head towards the deadline. Please join me right now, and ask some questions regarding the deadline. I have several rumours to discuss!

http://www.hockeyleaks.com/chat.html

Kovalev Done As A Hab?

Reports are flying right now that Alex Kovalev has played his last game as a Montreal Canadien. Gainey is heavily shopping him, though it is important to remember that Kovalev does have a no-trade in his contract. Kovalev will be a UFA at season's end, so it appears he will be dealt as a rental player. This, however, is just the start.

Losing Kovalev will hurt the Habs up front, as he was and still is expected to be a large part of their offense. We'll start with Kovalev, and where he could end up.

I'm hearing Pittsburgh has already spoken to Montreal about Kovalev, but will not include their first round pick at this point, which is what Montreal is asking. The Pens have bigger things on the go (Kovalchuk, Gaborik for starters) and are not willing to trade major assets for Kovalev.

While Pittsburgh has interest, it's unlikely as Gainey wants to move Kovalev to the West. It should be noted that Kovalev will not waive unless it's to a contender, as if not he'd rather stay in Montreal. So who in the West has interest?

The Canucks, for starters. I am hearing a deal could be in the works that sends a draft pick and a defenseman to Montreal for Kovalev.

Other teams in the early running? Minnesota, Dallas, and surprisingly, Chicago.

Expect Kovalev to be dealt sooner rather than later. Things are not on good terms, and Gainey wants this distraction dealt with ASAP.

But what could this lead to? It is no secret that Montreal still wants Vinny, and this could be a a major piece to that puzzle, just like Schnieder was. A deal was close between Montreal and TB near the deadline, but T-Bay wanted one of Markov or Komisarek, and that wasn't happening. With Schnieder a Hab, and possible d-man coming from Vancouver, the Habs suddenly have the ability to let one of Markov and Komisarek go.

It's Montreal's 100th season, and things should really turn up right about....now.

Stay tuned to Hockeyleaks.com for all the latest

Let The Games Begin!

The first deadline-ish trade has occured!

The Atlanta Thrashers have traded defenseman Mathieu Schneider to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for second and third round draft picks.

Stay tuned to Hockeyleaks.com for all the latest

Duck Sale?

Speaking to several people around the league, there is a growing consensus that the Ducks will indeed be sellers this deadline. This is a team with a lot of the right parts in place, but work needs to be done. They don't need a rebuild, simply an off-season to make things right. I am hearing contracts could be dealt at the deadline, with the replacements coming in during the off-season, younger and possibly cheaper. Here is some of what I am hearing regarding the Ducks:

J.S. Giguere could be on his way out, and yes I've been reporting this for almost a month now. The Leafs, Flyers and Capitals are the three teams I'm hearing, while Colorado is also slightly in on this. The Ducks are looking for defense in a big way, as Niedermayer and Beauchemin are both UFA's on July 1. The Leafs have Kaberle and Kubina to offer up, while the others fall short on top-quality defensemen they can afford to lose.

Scott Niedermayer is almost likely to be dealt, with New Jersey the one realistic destination for him.

Chris Pronger is iffy, as he has one year left on his deal. If the Ducks could get a top-quality guy from say the Leafs (Kaberle, Kubina) or Devils (Paul Martin), then Pronger would become a major tradeable player. But who is in on him? The Bruins are very in on this, but would struggle to make cap room available (though trading Manny Fernandez would go a long way). Aside from the Bruins, the Penguins would love Pronger and may have the tradebait to bring him in.

Todd Marchant will be looked to be dumped by the Ducks, but will not bring in that large of a return.

Here are today's other rumours from around the league...

Tomas Kaberle will be traded at the trade deadline, and has accepted this. He will submit his list of ten teams he'd be willing to go to this week. Kubina is in a similar process right now.

The Canucks are still talking to the Wild about acquiring Marian Gaborik. Pittsburgh and Ottawa are still involved in these talks as well.

The Avalanche are apparently shopping Ryan Smyth in hopes of bringing in a #1 Goaltender.

The Denver Post suggests the Avs have serious interest in Jaroslav Halak, but Hockeyleaks.com does not believe Halak will be dealt, due to the struggles of Carey Price.

The Sabres have a large interest in Phoenix's Derrick Morris.

For all the latest, make sure to check Hockeyleaks.com several times a day!

Projected Standings, Part One

It's a slow day today, so I'm going to take a stab at predicting the final standings of this season. This will be revised several times before we hit the end. Feel free to stop by the forums and comment on my predictions.

Eastern Conference


1. Boston
2. New Jersey
3. Washington
4. Philadelphia
5. New York Rangers
6. Montreal
7. Buffalo
8. Pittsburgh
9. Florida
10. Carolina
11. Tampa Bay
12. Ottawa
13. Toronto
14. Atlanta
15. New York Islanders


Western Conference

1. San Jose
2. Detroit
3. Calgary
4. Chicago
5. Vancouver
6. Dallas
7. Edmonton
8. Minnesota
9. Anaheim
10. Columbus
11. St. Louis
12. LA
13. Phoenix
14. Colorado
15. Nashville

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Rumours!

The bruins really like Jordan Leopold, who has yet to really perform up to expectations in Colorado.

The Flames and Leafs have interest in Columbus defenseman Klesla, but he's an injury hazzard and will likely not be moved until the off-season.

The Blue Jackets and Canucks both have interest in Tampa Bay's Prospal

The Sharks have discussed moving Jonathan Cheechoo, with Tampa Bay and Minnesota being possible destinations.

Despite denying trade rumours, Chris Pronger could still be dealt. Washington is really interested in him.

Things are heating up

Las Vegas Sports Betting Rules

With less than a month until the trade deadline, things around the NHL are really heating up.

The Leafs are very active on the markets right now, getting an idea of exactly what there players are worth. Poni, Antropov, Kaberle and Moore are apparently the four most-wanted Leafs, while Blake, Kubina, Toskala, and Ian White could all be moved for the right price.

Sticking with the Leafs, the team have held internal discussions involving Ray Emery. Emery is currently not in Russia, and refuses to return until they pay him, something the KHL hasn't been doing properly all season.

Final Leaf note of the day? Rumours continue that Burke will have interest in the Sedins should they hit the open market on July 1st.

Moving along, the Ducks are said to be quietly shopping their "big 3" defenseman. The Devils apparently like Niedermayer, while the Habs have interest in Francois B. As for Pronger, I'm hearing Washington is really poking around this one.

Columbus has held several discussions with the Islanders involving Witt and one of their forwards, I'm hearing Comrie.

Bouwmeester is still most-likely to Edmonton. For the Oilers to get him this season, it would cost them a package involving one of Sam Gagner or Andrew Cogliano.

Steve Mason has been placed on the IR, leaving the BJ's very shallow in goal for the next week to ten days. Reports have Columbus asking the Blues about Manny Legace.

Crosby is causing a stink in Pittsburgh, wanting a top-notch linemate to play with. No names available at this point, but Ryan Whitney could be sacrificed to bring in such a player

Rookie Madness

This year it has amazed me at how many great rookies the NHL has seen. In past years, we've always had a good idea about who would take home the Calder Trophy. First it was a toss-up between Crosby and Ovechkin, then it was Malkin, and last year it was Kane. This year, I honestly believe it's anyones game.

Steve Mason leads the pack, with seven shutouts and MVP type play for for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Should this team make the playoffs, it's his fault.

Bobby Ryan has 17 goals and has really blossomed into something special. He will get his share of votes, and will be a strong contender should he keep up his recent play.

Blake Wheeler is third in rookies in scoring with 33 points, while he leads the league with a +32. He cannot be overlooked.

Finally, Kris Versteeg has come out of nowhere and leads all rookies with 38 points. Chicago is going to be really good for many years to come.

Make sure to drop by the question of the day section to cast your vote on who should be the rookie of the year to this point.

Sports Betting odds


Rumours:

Sean Avery to the Rangers rumours are heating up again. The Rangers would love his grit, and there is no question that Avery really brought a lot to the Rangers last season.

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Toronto Maple Leafs continue to talk trade, with Columbus having serious interest in Antropov and a puck moving defenseman. The Leafs are said to be very interested in prying Filatov from Columbus.

The Calgary Flames are said to have interest in Montreal's Chris Higgins, as do the Avalanche.

LA PRESSE has indicated that Ducks d-man Francois Beauchemin is on the Habs off-season shopping list.

The Phoenix Coyotes are talking to Ottawa about Christoph Schubert.

Today's Fun Facts - HARTSBURG FIRED

I know we jumped the gun last time, but Hockeyleaks.com can confirm that the Ottawa Senator's have fired head coach Craig Hartsburg and will announce that at a 11 am news conference. Stay tuned to Hockeyleaks.com as we await a replacement being named. Pat Quinn anyone? Here are some fun facts of the day. Check the rumour mill momentarily for today's rumours

NHL Handicappers

- The Canucks are 1-5-4 in their last 10 games, while currently on an eight game losing streak. This has them in 11th place in the West, and out of a playoff spot.

- The slump nobody knows about? The Detroit Red Wings have lost five straight games, and now sit 8 points behind San Jose, while playing one more game than the Sharks.

- The streak nobody knows about? The Devils have won eight straight games, giving them a five point division lead over the Rangers.

- The once last-place Dallas Stars currently find themselves sixth in the West, just two points back of fifth, with four games in hand on the Ducks.

- five teams are currently tied with 53 points in the west. The top team is sixth, while the bottom team is tenth. Vancouver is in eleventh with 52 points. This is going to be one exciting race.

- Teemu Selanne still leads the league in Power Play Goals with 13, despite playing in only 35 games.

- Four Flyers (Carter, Richards, Gagne) lead the league in shorties, with four each.

- Ovechkin now leads Carter in goals after a big weekend. AO now has 36 on the season.

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