So in what seems to be an awfully quick consummation to
where we are now in this shortened 2013 NHL season, we have reached the final
quarter and it’s time to dissect what I have seen thusfar.
Feeling the Blues?
In an earlier entry, I opinionated that the St.Louis Blues
were on a steady incline, instantly becoming serious Western Conference
contenders. The young nucleus that the Blues possess with the likes of Alex
Pietrangelo, who in my estimation in the early going was a Norris candidate,
Jaden Schwartz and the reincarnation of Alex Mogilny , that being Vladimir
Tarasensko, have teetered off to a point that it has forced general manager
Doug Armstrong to acquire veterans like Jordin Leopold to handle the load that
the young kids have dropped in the past month. From cup threats to perhaps
being on the outside looking in come early May, what can be done to save this
sinking ship? On a completely personal note, because I’m a huge Oilers fan and
am hoping that they surpass St.Louis, I hope they don’t. However, the impartial
blogger in me says the way to save St.Louis is oddly enough to give MORE of the
reigns to the youngens. Kevin Shattenkirk, who was one of the key cogs in the
trade that sent away the former first overall pick Erik Johnson to St.Louis,
prior to the game on the 28th of March, went eight games without a
point. Aside from the aforementioned Pietrangelo, the backend lacks serious
punch. That’s why Shattenkirk’s lack of offence is becoming increasingly paramount
because the Blues need goals, that is the ONLY way the Blues will slide their
way out of this funk and stay in the playoff race. There’s all of this
unprofounded talk that the Blues need more defense, and I suppose the
acquisition of Leopold proved the pundants right, but the Blues true weakness
is a lack of scoring depth. It’s either trade for a Derek Roy/Ryan Clowe or
pray to the gods that the likes of David Perron and Jaden Schwartz start to
step up and become contributing factors. 2.79 goals per game just isn’t going
to cut it.
Detroit’s defense
needs an instant “Bouw-flex”
The Calgary Flames have obviously started what could be
deemed as a fire-sale. Earlier in the week, the Calgary Flames dealt one of the
greatest players of their organization`s history in Jarome Iginla, paving the
way for other Flames with some true asset potential to find their way on the
trade block. The name I wanted to focus on is that of Jay Bouwmeester. Detroit
has been a mess defensively the entire shortened season, and have been getting
sub par performances from Ian White and Jakub Kindl. Everyone kind of knew that
the loss of Niklas Lidstrom would be
difficult to deal with but no one could`ve possibly envisioned the impact it
has had. General Manager Ken Holland is not one to give up on a season and
expect him to be a player on Wednesday`s trade deadline. The player that would
be available at the right price would be the former Medicine Hat Tiger
Bouwmeester. Without knowing what is going through the mind of Jay Feaster, and
based on the recent value that he was able to cash in on with the Iginla trade,
expect a fifth rounder back(just jokes),
I`d have to venture to say that fair value in return for Jay would be a
prospect like Thomas Tatar and a first round pick. Lost in the fact that
Bouwmeester is an unproven playoff performer is the fact that he a former 2006
Olympian and still has good years ahead of him. He`s not going to mistake
himself with a top two defenceman anymore but he`s an excellent skater and is
potent offensively. For a team like Detroit who needs a calm puck mover on the back
end, he may be the quintessential piece needed to turn around the Wings season.
Vancouver/Buffalo
trade re-examined
At the 2011-2012 trade deadline, much was criticized when it
came to the trade involving the Vancouver Canucks and Buffalo Sabres. Heralded
junior star Cody Hodgson had reportedly requested a trade and Mike Gillis ended
up flipping him to Buffalo in exchange for Zack Kassian. Anyone that knows
anything about Hodgson and Kassian know that the two are completely different
players. Hodgson is the definition of skill while in comparison Kassian is a
hard nosed role player who isn’t afraid to get his nose dirty. The trade was
criticized at the time because Canuck penchants felt that the biggest block
that was in the way of championship success was a lack of goal scoring behind
the Sedin twins, which ended up being proof in the pudding due to the fact that
they went ice cold in their first round series with the eventual Stanley Cup
Champions Los Angeles Kings. Fast forward to the 2013 and Hodgson is on pace
for a pro rated thirty goal year and Zack Kassian has been demoted to the
America Hockey League. Where I sit, the Canucks were in a no-win position. You
had an unhappy player in the lineup who wanted greater opportunity elsewhere so
what were you supposed to do? Some would argue acquire multiple high round
picks but that would’ve been contradictory to what the Canucks ultimate
objective was. They were and they are in a win now mentality, so anything less would
have been cheating the fans of the lower mainland who just the year before
experienced a trip to a Stanley Cup final. Surely fans in British Columbia haven’t
yet forgotten the infamous post game seven riot. Zack Kassian is a 22 year old kid, so it’s
time for fans of the Canuck to take a step back and smell the roses and realize
the best of this former Canadian World Junior representative are yet to come.
