Sorry posting has been light. Or invisible, really. I've been having major computer problems. I won't bore you with the details. Unless you really want to know. Then I can e-mail you the details.
Anyway, two quick links:
Geez. The trade deadline always blows my mind. So busy! I never know where to look. And this year's deadline was especially manic.
The big shock for me? Buffalo grabbing Mike Grier and Jeff Jillson.
It's funny. Yesterday I was complaining how no one wanted Grier. Then what happens? He gets moved.
Buffalo is really pushing for the playoffs. They kept Miro Satan and added some real impact players. Jillson hasn't been so hot in Boston, but I think a more fluid system, like Buffalo plays, will give him the space he needs to dish and score.
While the Caps were able to move Grier, they couldn't move goalie Olie Kolzig and defenseman Brendan Witt. GM George McPhee said they want to keep Kolzig to help rebuild the team. I think that Kolzig didn't draw enough interest. He didn't have a great season and none of the playoff teams were really goalie-deficient. Which makes sense. You don't get into the playoffs being goalie-deficient.
I predict the LA Kings (should they get into the playoffs) and Boston Bruins are going to wish they made a move for Kolzig.
But not a lot of goalies moved this week. Just Tommy Salo and Jamie McLennan. The moral of the story? Move your goalies early in the season.
Is there a team more exciting than the St. Louis Blues? They will not miss the playoffs quietly. They are determined to keep their playoff streak alive.
Last night, they beat the Islanders in overtime, picking up two critical points.
I love the juxtaposition of the Islanders, who never seem able to win in March, and the Blues, who are willing themselves into the playoffs.
Do you believe this?
Chris Pronger wants to be dealt to the Senators.
Does he feel they don't have enough good players in Ottawa?
That's just piling on the other teams now.
And seriously. St. Louis is still holding on to that last seed. At least as I type this they are. So St. Louis needs him. Even if they can't afford to qualify his almost $10 million salary this summer.
In other trade deadline news, Anson Carter was traded from Washington to LA.
With all of Washington's purging, I was sort of shocked Carter's name wasn't popping up, mostly because he's a Capital people have heard of, meaning he's a Capital they're going to trade.
Carter's a great fit in LA. Mostly because of his personality. Carter's time in New York was all about clubs and celebrities. He even did photo shoots. Now he's got another chance to hang with the truly famous. Not the CSPAN crowd he was stuck with.
I'm pretty shocked the Caps didn't move Mike Grier, though. He's a great two-way forward. I can imagine a lot of teams wouldn dig his grit and his skills. Maybe the Caps didn't want to give him up?
Ottawa rolled over the Caps last night, by the way.
Eric from OffWing Opinion was there. Check out his take on the live action.
