OK. I think this is it for trade deadline stuff. I've just been slow going through all of it.
Much like the rest of the hockey world, Caps goalie Olie Kolzig's agent is a little confused as to why the Caps traded for Montreal's Cristobal Huet, who's supposed to start tomorrow.
Obviously, Kolzig's people see Huet as a threat. Me? I don't get the whole deal. I don't get why Montreal traded him away and I don't get why Washington traded for him. It's like buying something you don't need just because it's on sale. Honestly, that's how I came to own three copies of AFTER THE FALL by Suzanne Somers.
Also, I'm sure this has been pointed out before, but I never noticed it: Vinny Prospal seems to leave teams right before they win the Cup (login info.). He left Tampa the season before they won theirs, and then left Anaheim three seasons before their Cup. Maybe that's why Tampa traded him to Philadelphia. They figure maybe they'll tap into that Prospal-Just-Left magic.
Marie Also, Stiles also has a nice LA-centric trade roundup on SportsHubLA.

Not to beat a dead horse, as I'm kind of fond of doing, but could Buffalo have less of an idea of how to retain talent? Bucky Gleason has a nice, brief summary of the Brian Campbell debacle.
Also, Minnesota doesn't seem too psyched to have Chris Simon in town. I guess they have to run these columns now, before he's in town. You don't want to make him mad.

Is it me or is trade deadline day exhausting?
And I didn't have to pack, unlike a lot of NHLers.
Apparently my 2001-Avs-Reunion-Is-Not-Happening theory was a bit off. In addition to Peter Forsberg, Colorado also re-acquired defenseman Adam Foote.
I don't quite understand how Montreal gave up goalie Cristobal Huet and somehow didn't end up with Marian Hossa.
Brad Richards to Tampa for Mike Smith, Jussi Jokinen and Jeff Halpern seemed a bit steep to me, given what a great goalie Smith is (login info.). But with starting goalie Marty Turco's no-trade clause, the Stars realized Smith was a luxury. The Dallas fans who constantly beg for Smith to become the starter are probably pretty bummed, though.
Sergei Fedorov to Washington is huge. I can't wait to see Fedorov and Ovechkin playing together, although right now Fedorov is projected to be on the second line. But why wouldn't you put the two together to see what might happen?
My fantasy trade deadline roundup is here.

You know Cliff Fletcher has to be sitting there, watching the surprise return of Peter Forsberg, hoping, probably praying, Mats "Go Down with the Ship" Sundin will have a similar change of heart.
The Avs could be getting ready to sizzle, of course assuming everyone stays healthy. Joe Sakic was back for Sunday's dud of a game against the Oilers. It looks like Colorado GM Francois Giguere might be trying to re-assemble the 2001 Cup-winning team. Too bad Alex Tanguay isn't available from Calgary, Adam Foote might be re-signed in Columbus, and Rob Blake wants to stay in LA. Of course, there's still hope Ray Bourque can be lured out of retirement. He's not even 50 yet.
Seriously, though. How crazy is Forsberg? Was he just messing with everyone? Can he really be that indecisive? I'm half-expecting him to call Giguere tomorrow, saying that now that he had the chance to sleep on it, he really wanted to be a Denver Bronco.

Things sure are looking up for the Avalanche. Paul Stastny scored in his first game back from an appendectomy, and the team won a crazy long shootout against the Coyotes. For a struggling team like the Avs of late, this was a huge win. Colorado was watching that number eight slot get smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror.
The Coyotes are certainly contending for a playoff spot, while firmly outside of the playoff bubble. Jim Gintonio says despite that, Phoenix GM Don Maloney isn't about to make any blockbuster trades that are going to compromise the team's youth movement. Having seen Maloney develop a fantastic farm system for the Rangers, I kind of assumed that's where his head was at.
Speaking of the Rangers, GM Glen Sather told the Edmonton Sun (NOTE: Not the local papers) not only is he not interested in trading Jaromir Jagr, but he wants him back next season. Which kind of runs contrary to every rumor I've heard in the past few weeks, so I don't know. Sather might be trying reverse psychology. Or he might have Jagr confused with another player. Perhaps Jari Kurri.
Speaking of rumors, I love how The Press of Montreal is standing by its story that Marian Hossa has already ordered his Canadiens gloves. As has his brother, Marcel, currently a New York Ranger. Didn't the Habs gladly trade Marcel because he was nothing like his brother? Is it possible the two brothers just like maroon? Honestly, the last time I heard this much glove talk, I was a juror on the OJ trial.
Blah blah blah. Giant goaltenders (login info.). Why does the NHL pretend to care? It's just not that hard a problem to solve. Unlike steroids, it's pretty obvious when a goalie is wearing giant pads.
And how is Calgary's Miikka Kiprusoff getting his first shutout almost 60 games into the season? Not that it matters. Calgary is still leading the Northwest division. But still. He obviously needs bigger pads.