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anything could happen. It's also not a rental deal, they get Yandle next year and at a bargain price. Obviously if things go well, they could re-sign him beyond that, too, he is still in his prime unlike the Timonens and Jagrs of the world, and a better player than Sekera, Vermette, et al.
To me the Rangers' issues last year were that they played their top pairing too many minutes and that while they had depth scoring, they didn't have star power up front. Well they got St Louis, then Boyle, now Yandle, and they have Nash playing as well as he has ever played. They are scoring and winning and Hank is not there. For the second year in a row, I would not want to play them in them 'offs (not that the Flyers have to worry about that this year!).
>Philly ripped off Tampa for Coburn.
Yup and I thought they got good return for Timonen also. If Tampa re-signs Coburn, I don't know if it makes the deal better or worse. For now he plugs a hole for them and if I were Yzerman I'd prefer cutting my losses than overpaying for a guy who is just a guy. He is a good skater and eats minutes but that's about all I could say for him. Not physical for his size, no offensive production, just OK moving the puck. So to get a useful defenseman and two pretty good picks, that was a hosing. Timonen is just a high-risk rental, so again a couple picks (with the potential for one to get better) is nice. I thought Philly and the Leafs managed their deadline very well, and they were both overdue to manage something well.
>I don't think Cole is going to do much in DET.
He seems to be in pretty good physical condition (always a question mark with him) and I think he feels a need for them, especially with Franzen out. Like how much quality ice time can they give to Helm, Abdelkader, etc? They need a net front guy and a guy with size/speed. Cole was available and at a fair price. I wouldn't be surprised to see him just blend into the background, a lot of rentals do, but at the same time I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him make an impact just because they are a good team with a clear need that he fills.
>Caps didn't do much. There weren't the right players out >there, the trade market was steep. It's a bit of a transition >year for them. I think there are going to be bottom 6 changes >in the off season, plus seeking a winger to play opposite Ovi, >plus presumably the development of Kuznetsov so that the 2nd >line isn't quite so much of a black hole of possession.
I liked the Glencross acquisition. He is a good player to have. Very good penalty killer, pushes the pace in transition, can finish, play in various situations/positions. He is like a good utility infielder in baseball, maybe not quite a Swiss army knife guy (the ultimate being Joe Pavelski) but close. I thought they might make a big move but I think Kane's injury pulled Sharp out of play ultimately. No big-scoring forwards moved at the deadline, unless you count Evander Kane who obviously was not of interest to a playoff team.
I like what I have seen from them this year and it's a shame they weren't in a spot to make an aggressive acquisition. They are young (Kuznetsov, Burakovsky, et al) but the way Ovie is playing I wouldn't want to have any what-ifs about squandering his campaign. This is the best I have seen him play in a long time.
>Some of the vets will probably move on. I won't be heartbroken >to see Brouwer go. Jason Chimera fell off a cliff. Ward is >probably gone too. I love him, but he's finally showing his >age. > >Glad they kept Mike Green but he's a UFA and they might not be >able to afford him. Hell of a luxury to have him as a third D >pairing though and let him be fresh on the PP. > >EDIT: The Caps actually already DO have the winger who should >play opposite Ovi (Eric Fehr) but for some reason Trotz thinks >it's more important to keep the 3rd line (!) together.
Yeah I think some team will overpay Green and it's a shame because he's playing a more complete game and settling well into this role. Now he will go back to being overextended elsewhere probably.
Their bottom six is just a bunch of guys from what I saw, and that's probably something they could have addressed a little more at the deadline. I do like the Glencross addition though. And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
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