Daily News & Rumors

The Oilers are no longer undefeated in February, maybe they will be in March?

I was attending an OHL game last night and had no connection to the internet so I could not post the trade.

Devils send:

F Patrice Cormier
F Niclas Bergfors
D Johnny Oduya
1st round pick (this year)
2nd round pick (this year)

Thrashers send:

F Ilya Kovalchuk
D Anssi Salmela
2nd round pick (this year)

According to Darren Dreger of TSN, Sheldon Souray has submitted list of teams he would waive his NTC to go to. The teams on the list are the Ducks, Kings, Stars, Rangers, Capitals, and Flyers.

The Nashville Predators have re-signed Forward Jordan Tootoo to a 2 year deal worth $1.25 million per year.

According to John Kincade of The Fan 680, Kari Lehtonen will most likely be traded. He said the Stars and Blues seem to be leading the way.

Daily News & Rumors

Congratulations to the Oilers for winning 2 in a row, hopefully you can make it 3 tonight.

Kovalchuk is officially on the trading block as Thrashers GM Don Waddell offered 101 million dollars for 12 years and Ilya declinded.

It looks like the 3 remaining teams in on Kovalchuk are the Kings, Rangers and the Devils.

This from Larry Brooks of the NY Post "Source: price of NYR rental of Ilya is Staal or Del Zotto + Callahan or Dubinsky + Kreider or Stepan or Grachev + first rounder = No deal."

Ryan Whitney and Tim Gleason will fill in for Mike Komisarek and Paul Martin on the USA Olympic team.

This from Chip Alexander "Jim Rutherford said a deal is pending that will send Nic Wallin to another team. Rutherford not saying which team."

Daily News & Rumors

According to Darren Dreger of TSN the Oilers may be closing in on a deal that would send Ethan Moreau and a prospect/pick in exchange for Garnett Exelby or Lee Stempniak.

According to Bob Mckenzie of TSN Ilya Kovalchuk has been told that he will be dealt in the next few days "RDS reports that Don Waddell met Ilya Kovalchuk today and told him to expect a trade in the coming days. Now it's on."

The New York Islanders have placed Defenseman Brendan Witt on waivers. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets have fired Head Coach Ken Hitchcock.

Hurricanes Defenseman Nic Wallin has waived his NTC and will not be in the Hurricanes lineup tonight, he is likely heading to San Jose.

Daily Rumors and Oilers talk

First off, I would like to wish the Oilers luck tonight against the Hurricanes, it should be a good game. As Oilers fans, do you want to win or lose tonight?

 

Kotalik 

According to CBC's Elliotte Friedman there was a trade in place (Prust and Jokinen for Kotalik and Higgins) but it caved in...more to come.  

*Update* - It may still happen but likely after Calgary's game tonight. Via Bob McKenzie

Bruins looking for depth

Also Jimmy Murphy of NESN.com suggests the Bruins are taking a good look at Matt Cullen and former Oiler Ray Whitney. 

Kovy to the Kings

Mark Everson of the NY Post is reporting that Atlanta Thrashers GM Don Waddell was at the Kings/Devils game yesterday and suggests Don was scouting players that he would want in return for Ilya Kovalchuk.

Fantasy team of the week 

W - Alex Ovechkin (2G, 4A, 6P, 25 shots)
C  - Anze Kopitar (3G, 3A, 6P, 12 shots)
W - Jarome Iginla (3G, 4A, 7P, 13 shots)
D  - Nicklas Lidstrom (3G, 3A, 6P, 8 shots)
D  - Drew Doughty (2G, 2A, 4P, 4 shots)
G  - Jon Quick (4W, 8GA, 111SV, 0 SO)

Habs suffer big blow

According to Bob McKenzie of TSN Canadiens Forward Mike Cammalleri will be out 6 to 8 weeks with a knee injury.

Ducks place Boynton on waivers

The Anaheim Ducks have placed D Nick Boynton on waivers.

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Daily Dose (Rumors and Oilers talk)

 

Quick question Oiler nation, who is your favourite Oiler? Please comment your answer.

Oilers notes: Oilers fans, guess what? Your next game is against the Calgary Flames, so someone will pick up 2 points. Just imagine what the Flames would feel like if they continued their losing streak with a loss against the Oilers. You know, the team that hasn't won a game in 2010? Maybe Lubomir will pull off something like this again Goal against the Flames.

Lubomir Visnovsky - According to Graig Woodburn of Weei.com sports radio network the Boston Bruins are not willing to give the Thrashers what they want for Kovalchuk so they will pursue players like Alexei Ponikarovsky, Ray Whitney, Matt Cullen, and Lubomir Visnovsky instead.

Ilya Kovalchuk - According to Bob Mckenzie of TSN, he stated the the LA Kings are the front runners for Ilya Kovalchuk. Also, NHL Analyst Steve Kouleas was having a chat with Puck Daddy on the score television network and Steve suggested that if the Kings were to acquire Kovalchuk they would have to give up something like Alex Frolov, Jack Johnson, a young roster player/prospect and a 1st round draft choice like I suggested yesterday.

Ray Whitney - According to Darren Dreger of TSN, Ray Whitney may be the most sought after player in the NHL. If what Darren said is true, up to 10 teams have interest. He suggested the LA Kings, Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators all have interest just to name a few.

Ethan Moreau - Whoever stated that 5 to 10 teams are interested in Ethan Moreau is full of crap.  Maybe a team or 2, but based on how he has played as of late, I can see why not many teams are interested.

Update on Moreau - I have seen rumors on various sites that the Ducks like Souray...well now it seems they are one of the few teams that like Moreau as well. We will have to wait and see how this all pans out. Moreau is currently a team worse -29 on beers and jeers points done by Smokin' Ray.

As always all comments are welcome!

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Updates on Kovalchuk, Visnovsky, Souray, Phaneuf and Whitney

Kovalchuk - I still believe he will end up in a Kings uniform. Like I said yesterday, it would take something like Frolov, Johnson a top prospect/1st round pick. However, the Boston Bruins may be willing to make a push as long as it does not involve the Leafs 1st round draft pick and Tuuka Rask.

Visnovsky - This guy would be a great add for anyone. He plays solid Defense, but his real upside is Offense, this guy is so talented. When Lubomir wants to score he is going to score and he can make the players look foolish doing it. I personally would love to see Lubomir in a Devils uniform as long as we don't give up to much. Other possible suitors are the Sabres, Coyotes, and Avalanche.

Souray - He is another guy who can just bomb it from the point. His Defense is average, but like Lubomir, his real upside is Offense. This guy has one of the hardest shots in the league and instantly adds another demension to your Powerplay. Some possible suitors are the Sabres, Devils, Coyotes, Avalanche, Ducks, Sharks, and Kings.

Dion Phaneuf  - According to one of our Flames bloggers the New Jersey Devils are leading the way for Dion Phaneuf, we have no names on who may be sent the other way but I would guess a top 6 Forward, a Defenseman and a 1st/2nd round draft choice would be going to Calgary.

Ray Whitney - 8 to 10 teams are interested in Ray Whitney's services, he is a good top 6 Forward at a reasonable salary, I have heard the Senators, Bruins, Kings, Flames, Ducks, Canadiens, and Devils all have interest.

According to Tarik El-Bashir  "Braden Holtby has been sent back to Hershey. So that means Jose Theodore is ready to return (at least as a backup) tomorrow."

As always all comments are welcome.

Follow me on twitter @ ToddNHLTALK2