Welcome to Miami Herald Hockey Central where all we're talking about today is the trade deadline.
And where one can get harmonica lessons somewhere in the Greater Sunrise area at a decent price.
We're also talking about spring training, Don La Greca's pimp suit and anything else you want to talk about. And Manny Ramirez signing with the Trolley Dodgers.
On a side note: I don't fly Delta much, but they have been very nice to me every time I have over the past year. So kudos to them. Used to hate flying Delta. But I don't anymore. So there's that.
Got NHL Network going on at Casa de Jorge; also have TSN's Trade Centre humming along on the laptop. Here's what we have so far. As of 12:03 MT (Miami Time), there have been four trades.
Nothing huge, although Toronto just picked up Martin Gerber off waivers so you have to figure Vesa Toskala may be done for the year. Again, nothing huge since Toronto is out of it. But Gerber? Maybe this will get him on track. Hope so. Good dude.
Here are the deals we gots:
-- Ottawa sends Antoine Vermette to Columbus for Pascal Leclaire and a second round pick;
-- Calgary gets Jordan Leopold from Colorado for Lawrence Nycholat, Ryan Wilson and a second;
-- Pittsburgh gets Andy Wozniewski from St. Louis for Danny Richmond;
-- Buffalo gets some goalie help with Ryan Miller hurt by acquiring Mikael Tellqvist from Phoenix for a fourth round pick.
Right now that's all we've got. I'm hearing the talks between a number of teams and JM are heating up, but nothing so far.
-- As expected, Gary Roberts clears waivers (it's a money issue as much as anything else) but TSN is saying Brendan Morrison is claimed off waivers by Dallas.
-- Buffalo signs Tim Connolly to a two-year contract extension. Filip Kuba also signs with Ottawa for three years.
-- Love how TSN lures me into a curling commercial by playing the 'Always Sunny in Philadelphia' theme. That show cracks me up. Even the song makes me laugh.
-- ESPN's E.J. Hradek says Olli Jokinen is very close to joining the Calgary Keenans. No real surprise there. Good for Olli. If that happens, his playoff streak ends. He's the record holder right now at 780 games and counting, although if he goes to Calgary, that goes back to good friend Guy Charron.
Olli's numbers this year: 21 goals, 21 assists in 57 games this year; minus-5. Since Feb. 12 (eight games): four goals, four assists, minus-5.
-- UPDATE: Coyotes get a first round pick, Matthew Lombardi and Brandon Prust for Olli.
What do you think? I think it's a good deal for the Flames although there is going to be quite a bit of pressure on Olli now.
And I don't think his family is going to like Calgary all that much (no offense to Calgary, but it isn't Florida or Arizona).
-- Also, Steve Montador headed from Anaheim to Boston.
-- Stephen: I have talked to a few people inside the organization and nothing going with Boynton right now. But that could change at any time.
-- Holy: I know there is less pressure because there are veteran guys there, but he's coming in with a lot of expectations. And he's going to a hockey crazed market for the first time in his pro career. I wish him the best, always liked Olli. But there is pressure here, no doubt about it.
-- Digging the TSN music. Think they stole it from Monty Python....
-- OK, heading out to grab some lunch then off to the arena; if anything happens will update on cellphone...
-- LIVE! from the Billboard...Mark Recchi headed to Boston.
-- Bill Guerin is traded to the Penguins, who play here tomorrow. Penguins practiced at the Billboard today, but alas, they are gone now.
-- UPDATE (2:12 p.m. MT): Jay Bouwmeester is still with the Panthers....
-- UPDATE (2:13 p.m. MT): Brian Y is here today...
-- Big day for On Frozen Pond yesterday; cracked the Miami Herald top 5 for views in the day. Not too shabby...thanks kids....
-- Chris Neil coming to the Panthers? That's the newest rumor (E -4)....
Neil is a UFA after this season, so if Florida did pick him up it's probably for a low level draft pick. Neil is a physical presence but doesn't add a whole lot of scoring.
He's making $1.2 million this season and wants to double that. Ottawa doesn't want to go there obviously. Neil's been out since the beginning of Feb. with a calf injury and probably couldn't join the Panthers for a week anyway because of visa concerns.
Neil has two goals and four assists in 44 games this season. He's also a minus-12.
-- Apparently a couple of places are reporting this, although I'm watching TSN and haven't heard it there yet.
-- TSN saying second round picks offered to Toronto for Antropov and Moore...have to think the Panthers are one of those teams offering at least that...
-- Antropov to the Rangers...
-- It's 3 p.m. and Jay Bouwmeester has not been traded...will be talking to JM in about 15-30 minutes and see what went down, why things didn't go down.
-- Panthers trade Noah Welch (three shifts for 2:21 last night) to Tampa Bay for Steve Eminger. Florida also sends a third round to Tampa for the honor. Eminger has four goals and 21 assists in 62 games this season with the Bolts and Flyers.
Eminger, a former Capital, makes $1.2 million and is a restricted free agent after this season.
I think this is a pretty good move. Adds defensive depth and now you're going to see Steve and Nick splitting time I would bet. Noah is a good guy but for some reason it didn't work out for him here even though both sides wanted it to. Look at Cory Murphy; he's getting good time in Tampa and is really contributing there. I'm sure Noah hopes to get that same chance and runs with it.
-- Eminger played for DeBoer with the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL earlier this decade. Gregory Campbell was on that team as well.
-- David Booth on the team staying together:
''I think it's awesome. All the talk was about whether Bo was going to stay with us and I'm really glad he is. He is such a big part of our team. We need a guy like that for our run to the playoffs. Before today, I don't how much we spoke about the trade deadline. We have no control over such things.
''But now we know this is our team. This is the group that's going to the end. It's good. We're pretty close, and we know our coaches and staff believe in us. Believe in us enough to let us do what we can. What we're doing is working. We just have to keep bringing it the best we can each and every night.''
ON FROZEN POLL
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