Just when it seemed like the introduction of the salary cap had strangled all of the fun out of the NHL trade deadline, we got hit by raft of interesting deals, perhaps none more interesting than the swap of goaltenders between Montreal and Colorado that saw Jose Theodore exchanged for David Aebischer.
While Aebischer will probably move straight into the starting lineup in Montreal, Theodore will have to do some healing, both mentally and physically, before he comes back to the ice. Off the ice since a freak injury over the Olympic break, the Montreal press was all over Theodore, who ought to enjoy a change now that he's been shipped out of his hometown.
The whole thing has our buddy Lyle Richardson shaking his head.
After clearing some roster space by waiving Mike Morrison early in the day, the Oilers acquired Dwayne Roloson from Minnesota for a first round pick in the 2006 draft and a conditional third round pick. With Roloson in town, he'll be expected to be the solution in goal, replacing the three headed monster that was Morrisson, Ty Conklin and Jussi Markannen.
Outside of those two deals, the biggest deal of the day came between the Islanders and the Kings, as New York sent winger Mark Parrish and defenseman Brent Sopel to the Kings for a pair of former first round draft picks: forward Jeff Tambellini and defenseman Dennis Grebeshkov, both currently in the AHL with Manchester.
While the trade gives the injury-depleted Kings some depth, the move also signals the start of another rebuilding effort by the Islanders. Credit GM Mike Milbury and owner Charles Wang for recognizing that keeping the team together just to get smashed by Carolina, Ottawa or the Rangers in the first round simply wasn't worth it. The deal also gives the Isles some cap room next season, as it seems pretty clear that the team is going to need it if, as anticipated, it buys mega-bust Alexi Yashin out of his contract.
Tambellini is the son of former New York Islander player and current Canucks assistant GM, Steve Tambellini. As it turns out, the elder Tambellini was on Long Island last week for a pre-game ceremony marking the team's first Stanley Cup win in 1980, and is a leading candidate to become the team's new general manager.
In Toronto, the Leafs made a pair of deals, sending the solid, if unspectacular Ken Klee to New Jersey for a prospect (New Jersey acquring another U.S. college player -- a shock, I know) on one hand, and then acquiring Luke Richardson from Columbus for a conditional draft pick on the other.
I'm not sure what the plan is here. Toronto is fighting for its playoff life, but doesn't seem to have the sort of team that could do much damage at all in the tournament. And while they have a good core of younger players (Coliacovo, Steen, Wellwood, Stajan) to complement the higher priced players, the farm system is barren. Then again, with the cap, moving those high price players is all the more difficult.
I think they're screwed, and for more than a few seasons.
Last but not least, my favorite wise ass, Ville Nieminen, was shipped to San Jose from the Rangers for a third round pick.
What's it like to have to accomodate a veteran who wants to be traded? Ask Caps owner Ted Leonsis.
There are plenty of big names still left on the board, Olli Jokinen most prominent of all, so stick around through the 3:00 p.m. U.S. EST deadline.
UPDATE: Brad Luckowich goes from Long Island to New Jersey for a third round pick.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Todd Simpson from Chicago to Montreal for a sixth round pick and a lace hook. Sean Brown from New Jersey to Vancouver for a fourth round pick. Sean O'Donnell from Phoenix to Anaheim. Mike Morrison to Ottawa, Rico Fata to Washington and Andy Hilbert to Pittsburgh all via the waiver wire.
I think Fata will fit right in here in Washington. Something tells me that means Jeff Freisen is probably headed out of town. Stay tuned.
UPDATE: Mika Noronen from Buffalo to Vancouver for a 2nd round pick. Jeff Friesen from Washington to Anaheim for a 2nd round pick (a 2nd round pick for Friesen? I know he always works hard, but did Brian Burke owe George McPhee a favor?). Dennis Gauthier from Phoenix to Philly for Josh Gratton and two second round picks.
Spector reporting Brendan Witt is headed for Nashville. But might team captain Jeff Halpern be available too? Also says Panthers have re-signed Olli Jokinen and Chris Gratton. Guess Keenan thinks he can still make the playoffs. He better. If not, I think he'll be gone.
UPDATE: USA Today says Mark Recchi is going to Carolina. Niklas Nordgren, Krystofer Kolanos and a second-round pick in 2007 go back to Pittsburgh. Other items: Kevin Allen says Brendan Witt is still a Cap because neither Atlanta nor Nashville will pony up McPhee's asking price of a first rounder and a prospect.
UPDATE: Keith Carney from Anaheim to Vancouver.
UPDATE: Sandis Ozilinsh from Anaheim to the Rangers for a third round pick. One of the best deals of the day. The Rangers needed someone to handle the point on the power play, and they got him. And Brendan Witt goes from Washington to Nashville for Kris Beech and a first round pick. And yes, that's the same Kris Beech who was shipped as part of a package to Pittsburgh a couple of seasons back to acquire Jaromir Jagr.
That's two trade deadlines in a row where Caps GM McPhee gets an "A". More thoughts later.
HOME STRETCH UPDATE: Cory Cross from Pittsburgh to Detroit for a 4th round pick. Steve McCarthy from Vancouver to Atlanta for a conditional pick. Tyler Arnason from Chicago to Ottawa for Brandon Bochenski and a 2nd rounder. Eric Weinrich from St. Louis to Vancouver for a prospect and a pick. Willie Mitchell and a 2nd round pick from Minnesota to Dallas for Martin Skoula and and Shawn Belle. And finally, Sergei Samsonov from Boston to Edmonton for Marty Reasoner and a 2nd round pick. All from USA Today's deadline blog.
The best reporting on today’s trade deadline is being done at tsn.ca, by Jay Onrait. It’s good because he’s funny, which you need on the slowest trade deadline day I can remember in a looong time.
At 2:52, tsn.ca reported Witt going to Nashville for Kris Beech and a first round pick. The pick alone is a plus for the Caps. As fo 3:15, there’s nothing on the Caps website about it, tho.