Around the league – Feb 11, 2010

Ice women of the week

Random thoughts

• Interesting move by the Stars to acquire Kari Lehtonen. It is clear they aren’t bringing Marty Turco back, but doesn’t that lessen his trade value now that Lehtonen is in the picture? When the Stars were in town Turco admitted his game wasn’t as consistent as it should be, but he didn’t feel worn down or tired. He won’t come close to the $5.7 million cap hit on his next contract, but you have to think a lot of teams would take him for $3 million for a year or two. He’ll be 35 next season, but he’s only been a starter for seven years and doesn’t have a history of injuries. He was a late-bloomer with not much wear and tear on his body.
• The Canucks are 2-3 on their 14-game road trip and have stops in Florida, Columbus and Minnesota before the Olympic break. The Canucks need to make some hay against these non-playoff teams or they’ll be in a dog fight when they return in March.
• Ilya Kovalchuk has no goals on 23 shots in four games with the Devils. He’ll score eventually, but you do wonder how he’ll get along with Jacques Lemaire. Marian Gaborik despised Lemaire when they were in Minnesota, and Kovalchuk is even more of a free-spirit on the ice. It will be interesting to see how those two work together.
• An Ethan Moreau sighting last night. I think it’s been three months since anyone has seen the no-teeth grin from Moreau. I’m not surprised his best game in two months came in Anaheim, and a few more games like that will make Steve Tambellini’s job of moving his captain much easier.
• The Coyotes just keep winning. I can’t explain it, but it is great to see. What happens if in late March and early April the Coyotes are selling out and the Oilers are playing in front of 2,000 empty seats?
• The Sabres are reeling. They’ve lost five straight, but it’s who they are losing to that should be a concern. Losses to Boston, Carolina and Columbus this week has to make Darcy Regier a bit nervous. The Sabres had more shots in every game, but they can’t score. Regier needs to bring in a goal-scorer, because Ryan Miller can’t win every game by himself.
• Bob Gainey steps down as GM and is now an advisor in Montreal. Kevin Lowe has a better title, but he is basically an advisor for Tambellini. Lowe’s primary focus is the running of the Oilers, Oil Kings and now Oklahoma City. I wonder if he was given the advisor title if that would have appeased frustrated Oiler fans? I think until Steve Tambellini makes this roster HIS players people will still think Lowe is involved. The ball
• Steve Ott will be an UFA this summer, and some feel he might get between $2.5- $3 million a season. If he is recovered from his appendectomy surgery by March 1st, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Stars deal him. He is one of the best agitators in the game, and one of the best quotes in the league. The Oilers can’t afford him, but he is the exact type of player they need.
• The Capitals could become the first team since 1992/1993 to have five 30-goal scorers. Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin and Nicklas Backstrom are slam dunks. Mike Knuble has 21 in 48 games, while Brooks Laich will be hard-pressed to do it. He’ll need 10 goals down the stretch to do it. Vancouver and Tampa Bay have three guys with twenty goals.
• The 1975 Sabres, Rick Martin (52), Rene Robert (40), Gilbert Perrault (39), Don Luce (33), Rick Dudley (31) and Danny Gare (31), the 1978 Islanders, Mike Bossy (53), Bryan Trottier (46), Clark Gillies (35), Denis Potvin, Bob Nystrom and Bob Bourne (30) and the 1985 Jets, Dale Hawerchuk (53), Paul Mclean (41), Laurie Boschman (32), Brian Mullen (32), Doug Small (31) and Thomas Steen (30) had six 30-goal men to share the league record.
• Good to see some of you have been paying attention to the stats. I’ve noticed how some are just realizing now that Shawn Horcoff is in the lead for the Green jacket with a gaudy -31 ranking. I’ve been updating that every week in the stats part of this piece. Horcoff and Brind’Amour have been battling for the past six weeks, but Horcoff has jumped ahead. But Patrick O’Sullivan is giving him a run now at -28. Brind’Amour sits at -26 while Robert Nilsson at -21 and Richard Park at -20 round out the leader board.

Leaders through the season

Final Word