In a controversial move that has many scratching their heads, the Calgary Flames have traded away Olli Jokinen and Brandon Prust for Ales Kotalik and Christopher Higgins. Higgins and Kotalik, former Rangers, will join a Calgary team that finds itself in the middle of a significant shake-up as the Sutters make a bid for the post-season.

The trade was sitting around in the rumour mills for quite a while as it seemed that Kotalik was holding out on the deal. After Calgary’s 3-0 loss to the Flyers, however, the trade was announced as official and the move was on.

The makeover in Calgary builds on the trades made with the Leafs over the weekend. The Flames swapped defensive stalwart Dion Phaneuf, Keith Aulie and Fredrik Sjostrom for a pile of Leafs including Ian White, Jamal Mayers, Niklas Hagman, and Matt Stajan.

A lot of Flames fans are currently wondering just what the Sutters are thinking, as these trades appear to downgrade the Flames in terms of size and grit. It seems management is gearing up for a smaller, quicker team to help feed Jarome Iginla the puck and boost power play production, but whether Brent Sutter can actually coach such a team remains to be seen.

The Jokinen deal makes even less sense from a Calgary perspective, as Kotalik is far from an ideal player for the Flames system. He’s an inconsistent, unimpressive forward and he lacks the grit and personality of Jokinen. Adding Higgins to the mix, a slick and quick forward good on the kill, doesn’t particularly sweeten the pot when one considers that Sutter also tossed in Brandon Prust.

Flames fans are still scratching their heads about the way the deal went down, too, as both Jokinen and Prust were seemingly asked to take the ice in the Philly loss all while knowing that they were being shipped off to New York as soon as the game ended. In any event, a lot of people are of the opinion that Calgary’s 3-0 was exactly what Sutter’s club deserved after such a classless display.

Objectively, the deal seems to benefit the Rangers the most. Calgary takes on Kotalik’s absurd three-year $9 million salary, while the Rangers get Jokinen’s $5.5 million salary with an expiry date set for season’s end. In other words, the Blueshirts are taking little risk with Olli. Prust, too, represents a big step up in the size department and will help flesh out a Rangers checking line.

If for no other reason than for cap savings, the Rangers come out on top here. It’s hard to say whether Jokinen will benefit them offensively, although his goal total does help boost the Rangers in scoring. Kotalik and Higgins, on the other hand, will be pretty big risks in Calgary. The Flames will hope Higgins regains some of his game in Calgary, of course, but this Kotalik angle still remains really, really perplexing.

Posted by Jordan Richardson.

It’s a good day to be a Leafs fan as the mastermind proved again why he is one of the best in the business. In my last article someone called me a Burke booster and I am a fan. Like him or hate him, you have to admire Burke’s ability to do the unthinkable.

Burke promised change and yesterday delivered on it. Did he ever….

I cannot believe the chatter out there in the world today. Many Leafs fans are upset (can you believe it) about these deals. These are the same fans that only days ago wanted Blake and Toskala’s ran out of town. The same fans that all agreed Stajan and Hagman are not top 6 material.

Burke has first brought in Jean-Sebastien Giguere to settle the goaltending issue. I firmly believe he will become our number one short term and for the 2010/2011 season, with Gustavsson taking over mid early 2011. Just like Felix Potvin did, when Grant Fuhr was traded a while back. If Gustavsson chooses another path, then I believe Giguere could sign long term and become the next in line of Potvin, Joseph, and Belfour.

Burke has second brought in Dion Phaneuf to bolster a defence in a big way. I am not about to explain what Phaneuf can do for us as that is evident. His deal means more defence to be dealt, in other words more deals coming soon.

The only loss in my opinion is Ian White. He is a solid reliable defenceman that played well his time here. I wish him well in Calgary.

I have to laugh when I see Leaf fans, complaining about the fact we dealt two top scorers for Toronto. Wait a minute, we are 29th in the league and there for a reason. Who cares what players will score this year as this season looks to be a wash. Do you really think Burke will enter 2010/2011 season opening night with no more changes?

Phaneuf is 23 and has his best years ahead of him. Giguere is 32 and should have a couple more winning seasons ahead of him. This clean house type deals are just what we asked of Burke. People wake up and rejoice, no more Blake and Toskala.

The biggest gem might not be seen for a little while – Keith Aulie is a 6’6” defenceman with a lot of promise. I can see him at his age and size stepping into the line-up this fall. We can all pretend this is our 2010 draft pick. I had to think of the lost Leaf fans, who are in dire need of Burke to land a 2010 pick.

In a season with disappointment, some true excitement is happening. So put that Leafs jersey back on with pride!!!!!

GO LEAFS GO!

Posted by Trevor Fuchs.

When you think of Theo Fleury, what comes to mind? It’s probably one of two images;

1. Theo Fleury sliding across the ice in Calgary on his knees after scoring a big playoff goal, waiving his arms…the little guy with the big heart!
2. Theo Fleury arguing emphatically with a coach or referee, in either a Rangers or Blackhawks uniform…the loose cannon, wondering what antics we will witness next (no, not Sean Avery…we’re talking about Theo Fleury).

…whichever image you just saw in your head, you can’t argue that he put up some very good numbers over what some would call a tarnished career.

So is Theoren Fleury worthy of being inducted into our sacred Hockey Hall of Fame? Let’s take a closer look at some of his numbers in comparison to some other Hall of Fame players.

Fleury played 1084 games totaling 455 (53rd all time) goals and 633 assists (64th all time) for 1088 points (56 all time). His points per game were 1.004 which puts him at 49th career all time… not exactly a slouch. If based on points per game, certainly better than some other Hall members (forwards). Cam Neely (the epitome of power forwards…respectfully), Glenn Anderson (although he has more cups), Joe Mullen, Maurice Richard, Bill Cowley, Jean Ratelle, Jaques Lemaire, Frank Mahovlich, Lanny McDonald…shall I continue? There are many more.

You could argue that many of these players brought more than simply “numbers” with their game, but you could also argue that Fleury played with one of the biggest hearts we ever witnessed.

Continuing with some other facts about his career;
• He played in 7 all-star games
• Was a 50 goal scorer in 90-91 (51)
• Was a 40 goal scorer 4 times in his career
• 39th all time in game winning goals (67)
• Had 35 career short handed goals (9th all time)

Oh yeah, and he was only 5 foot 6, 182 pounds!

Now we come to the issue of how he left the NHL after his brief stint in Chicago. Yes, he was unstable. Some might even call him a detriment to the league, an embarrassment or a liability. I can’t argue with some of those viewpoints, but knowing what we do now about his past, about the anguish he went through, can’t we call it a wash for his behavior we were witness to? I think it’s the least we could do!

Fleury hasn’t been the only player with substance abuse issues over his career (Fuhr…Hall of Fame member) and he made amends with the NHL and retired on good terms. He may not have been the greatest ambassador for the game toward the end, but should we let that ruin a stellar career? A career that gives hope to the little guy, especially in today’s NHL, where you can thrive even if you’re small in stature?

In my opinion, let the numbers speak for themselves. Fleury was a spirited hockey player. A blue collar, hard working player that came to work with his metal lunch box and left filthy from his efforts. Nobody questioned his work ethic and he succeeded in spite of everyone telling him that he was too small for the big game.

…I will always see image number 1

Posted By Pat Lynch

After last week’s ruling that awarded Nikolai Zherdev $3.9 million through arbitration, the New York Rangers have elected to allow the forward to become an unrestricted free agent.

“With the additions we’ve been able to make this summer, we feel we’ve been able to add scoring and offense from the wing position,” Rangers general manager Glen Sather said. “Following the arbitration process and subsequent award given, we feel it is in our best interest to walk away and continue to explore all available options to improve our roster.”

In other words, the Rangers disagree with the arbitration decision and think Zherdev to be not worth the money. I’m inclined to agree, as he’s still a relatively unproven forward with one strong season under his belt and nothing but disappointment ever sense. Zherdev had just four goals and four assists in the last 16 regular-season games and went pointless in seven playoff games.

Zherdev has scored 99 goals and 140 assists in 365 NHL games over five seasons. Despite having considerable top-end skill, he’s only shown flashes of brilliance since being drafted by the Blue Jackets in 2003.

In terms of the more immediate future, Zherdev might have an opportunity on another NHL team or he might be able to find employment in the KHL in Russia.

Posted by Jordan Richardson.

Replacing departing superstar Marion Gaborik didn’t take long in Minnesota, as another superstar forward stepped in to fill the gap. Martin Havlat is now a member of the Wild, having signed a six year contract.

Havlat replaces Gaborik, who was signed by the New York Rangers on Wednesday.

“We are excited to add the speed and scoring of Martin Havlat to our lineup,” Wild GM Chuck Fletcher said in a statement. “He is a terrific two-way player.”

Gaborik was locked down by the New York Rangers after the team was able to get out from under Scott Gomez’s significant contract. While the Rangers still lack a solid top-line centreman, the addition of Gaborik helps fill the Jagr void and will provide some offensive support after the retirement of Markus Naslund.

“He is an exciting guy to watch play,” Rangers general manager Glen Sather said Wednesday night. “He can skate and does a lot of great things. He’s a great player and he’s young. I certainly think he’s in the top 10 in this league.”

Gaborik, 27, signed with the Rangers on a five year contract worth $37.5 million. He was the last original member of the Minnesota Wild.

Posted by Jordan Richardson.

In a case of ultimate irony, New York Rangers bench boss John Tortorella has been suspended one game for his part in an incident involving a fan.

The altercation occurred in Game 5 of the Rangers’ playoff series against the Washington Capitals. Tortorella and a fan allegedly got into a verbal altercation at around the six-minute mark of the third period. Tortorella squirted a fan with water and threw a green water bottle into the crowd. He also grabbed a stick and waved it in the fan’s direction.

In a lengthy statement, Colin Campbell addressed the suspension:

“While it is a difficult decision to suspend a coach at this point in a playoff series, it has been made clear to all of our players, coaches and other bench personnel that the National Hockey League cannot and will not tolerate any physical contact with fans. We do not take this action lightly. It is the result of an entire day of investigation and evaluation that included the retrieval and review of videotape of the incident and discussions with Mr. Tortorella, other Rangers’ bench personnel and a number of other people, including the security personnel at the Verizon Center. That investigation revealed that Mr. Tortorella squirted a fan with water before Mr. Tortorella was doused with a beverage. While, in these circumstances, it always is easy to allege mitigating circumstances, the fact is we do not tolerate contact with our fans in this manner. That is communicated before each season in a memo that is issued by the League to all of the management, coaches and players of every team.”

There is a clear code of conduct in the NHL rulebook regarding interactions with the fans. Essentially, as a player, coach, or any related member of the National Hockey League in any capacity there is one phrase that covers how such interactions may occur: don’t do it. This really is an open-and-shut case for the NHL.

Any case for Tortorella really closes with the September 2008 memo on discipline sent out to the teams:

“Accordingly, please be on notice that all Club personnel (management, coaches, trainers, and/or players) who engage in any form of physical contact with fans, including the squirting of water, will, on a going forward basis, be subject to discipline in the form of a suspension. The Club involved will also be subject to a fine.”

This suspension comes on the heels of Tortorella’s decision to sit Sean Avery for a game for going overboard. Surely Tortorella can’t expect to be let off the hook on this one, especially considering the irony of the entire situation. Avery’s benching, clearly the result of his pest act, is almost hilarious in the context of Tortorella’s actions in Game 5. How can the coach expect to discipline his players when he himself is incredibly undisciplined?

Perhaps this hubbub will work in the favour of the Capitals. Or perhaps the Rangers will rally behind their suspended coach and attempt to win one for Torts. Regardless, Game 6 is sure to be interesting as Avery will be back in the line-up and the coach will not. Now who saw that coming?

Posted by Jordan Richardson.

It seems that Sean Avery has rescued himself and his career from certain doom by simply focusing on the basics of the game and using his unquestionable talents to the best of his ability.

Now any regular reader of this blog knows that I certainly don’t hold Avery in very much esteem. I have not typically had much respect for him in the past, as he has chosen to define himself less as a hockey player and more as a “personality” off the ice. His focus has, unfortunately, been on creating a stir and he makes no bones about playing in markets that he does not like.

But it seems that Mr. Avery is most at home on the New York Rangers. If that’s the case, that’s where he should stay for the balance of his career. There’s no question that he does his best work with the Blueshirts, a team more than equipped to handle his personality.

It helps that Sean’s been on his best behaviour since arriving in New York. After the Dallas Stars tossed the pest out on the street because he didn’t fit their system, the Rangers were almost anxious and giddy to pick him up. Avery’s second stint on the Rangers has featured no fireworks with volatile coach John Tortorella and has even included a three-game goal streak (four goals in three games).

“Sean is showing what he can do as a player,” Tortorella said. “If he just keeps that concentration and continues to just worry about playing and not the other stuff, he can do the things he has been doing for the hockey club. He has been outstanding in trying to keep that concentration, but it has to be all of the time. We don’t want any cracks.”

The truth is that the Rangers were the only team in the National Hockey League to actually WANT Sean Avery. And now that they have him, it appears that things are going relatively well. It may be too early to start singing his praises on Broadway, but something tells me this latest instalment of the Sean Avery Saga will feature a better climax than the previous versions.

Posted by Jordan Richardson.

With the New York Rangers in a 2-7-3 funk, GM Glen Sather decided that Tom Renney’s tenure as coach of the squad needed to come to an end.

Interestingly, Renney is actually the sixth coach to get the boot in the National Hockey League so far this season. He joins Denis Savard (Chicago), Barry Melrose (Tampa Bay), Peter Laviolette (Carolina), Craig Hartsburg (Ottawa) and Michel Therrien (Pittsburgh). That’s a pretty impressive crew, isn’t it? That could mean that there’s a lot of talent to go around.

And get this: Melrose, Therrien, Hartsburg and Renney all began this season with their teams playing in Europe. Renney went 2-0 against Melrose in games in Prague, while Therrien faced Hartsburg and the Senators in Stockholm. Coincidence? Well, yeah.

In terms of a replacement, one name is already being floated around: John Tortorella. In fact, TSN has already reported that he’s agreed to a deal. They would know, too, as Tortorella worked with them as an analyst for a while after he was released from Tampa. Of course, Sather and the Rangers would need to get permission from the Lightning first, as Tortorella is still under contract with the club.

Nevertheless, the season continues and the firings do too. Maybe it’s time to start up a pool as to who goes next?

UPDATE: The New York Rangers have just announced the hiring of John Tortorella as head coach. “Torts is certainly a lot more fiery and a lot different in his approach to the game and to the players,” said GM Glen Sather. “I think he’s going to bring that fiery attitude, and in a lot of the games, we’ve seemed to be missing it. It’s certainly not a slight against Tom. It’s [just] two entirely different styles.”

Posted by Jordan Richardson.

Looks like all of the pieces are in place for Sean Avery to head on over to the New York Rangers. The forward passed through NHL waivers Monday, allowing for the Rangers to pick him up on the other side.

Avery has spent the last two months in a league-mandated counselling situation after his famed “sloppy seconds” comments in December regarding Dion Phaneuf’s girlfriend. After clearing waivers, the Dallas Stars will have to find a place for him to play as they don’t have an AHL team. Having said that there are no possibilities of him playing for the squad again, it it certainly up to the Stars to find a way to proceed here.

That means that Avery’s route back to the NHL means a stop in an AHL market, perhaps Hartford, and then through re-entry waivers, at which point any NHL team will have the opportunity to pick him up.

Enter the New York Rangers, who have essentially expressed their intentions already.

Interestingly, the Dallas Stars haven’t just done better since Avery’s departure, they’ve downright thrived. The team has gone 18-8-3 since he left the team, sparking a move from last place in the West to fifth and in the comfortable position of a playoff spot again. Now that’s more like it.

Posted by Jordan Richardson.

It’s days like yesterday that I really feel for Tom Renney. Not only did the New York Rangers coach have to sit through his team’s embarrassing 10-2 loss to the Dallas Stars, but he had to go through the speculation of the reporters as the future of one Sean Avery.

First of all, the game was ugly for the Rangers and terrific for the Stars. Dallas went 4 for 10 on the power play and scored on 6 of 9 third period shots on poor Steve Valiquette. This madness added up to a milestone for the club, as they netted their first 10-goal performance ever since the move to Dallas. That’s good news for a team that wasn’t looking too sharp just a few months ago.

On top of it all, the New York Post reported Friday that Rangers GM Glen Sather was expected to speak to Les Jackson about a timetable under which Dallas would place Sean Avery on waivers.

Pat Morris, Avery’s agent, told the Dallas Morning News that his client is close to completing the requirements of his anger management therapy and could petition the NHL for reinstatement as soon as Monday. Avery played a season and a half with the Rangers. Interestingly, the team had a 50-23-13 when he played and 24-35-9 when he was out of the lineup.

Word around the league is that the Rangers are somehow the only organization in the National Hockey League with the cajones to handle the loudmouthed player. Hmm.

New York would love to scoop Avery off of waivers so that they don’t have to pay for his full salary.

As far as coach Renney is concerned, he’d be a nice addition to the club. “Sean is a good hockey player,” he said. “He can help anybody he plays for, there’s no question about that. This is a guy who can play and is a great teammate. He was always there for his teammates and laid it on the line every night. How can you not admire that? We had him in a good situation and we used him, I think, appropriately. The entire organization benefits by that.”

Time will tell, but it certainly looks like Sean Avery will be back on Broadway soon enough.

Posted by Jordan Richardson.