Bucket of Pucks

LOOSE PUCKS: Flyers Waive 2 for Briere, Sen's Gerber on Re-Call Waivers, Rangers Claim Bell.

With just a little over 5 days left before the trade deadline, there have been a few maneuvers involving the waiver wire that bear mentioning.  Surely just the tip of the iceberg, all of these moves have fantasy implications.

First up, to make room for the impending return of Danny Briere, the Flyers have waived two seasoned vets: Defenseman Ossi Vaananen and Center Glen Metropolit . Both players have $1M contracts; Metropolit has a year left on his deal while Vaananen is an Unrestricted Free Agent.  More moves will likely be needed to fit Briere's $6.5M contract under the salary cap and Flyers G.M. Paul Holmgren says a trade is possible.

UPDATE 2.27.09: In a debacle for the Flyers, they have lost both players:  the Vancouver Canucks have claimed Ossi Vaananen off waivers, and the Montreal Canadiens snagged Glen Metropolit. While this relieves the Flyers of their salaries, both were strong role players for the club. To make matters worse, Flyers Defenseman Kimmo Timonen is sick with the flu, forcing Philly to play blue liner Lasse Kukkonen to have 6 healthy Defenseman in the lineup.  Unfortunately, that means that Philadelphia cannot demote Kukkonen to the AHL to clear the remaining cap space needed to re-instate Briere to the active roster, meaning Briere sits out another game.  Also, by losing two roster players and not being able to add Briere, the Flyers had to recall Center Jared Ross from the AHL to fill out their roster.  So, in a nutshell, The Flyers lost two veterans on waivers to make room for a guy that now isn't going to play until at least Sunday. Isn't the Salary Cap grand?

Penguins Trade D-man Ryan Whitney to Anaheim for Forward Chris Kunitz + Prospect Eric Tangradi

Photo by ztil301.

The Penguins have decided to address the logjam of offensive defensemen on their blue line while at the same time addressing Sidney Crosby's lack of a scoring winger to pass to, by trading defender Ryan Whitney to the Anaheim Ducks for LW Chris Kunitz and forward prospect Eric Tangradi thursday morning. 

Anaheim also solved a problem, as their defense corps has been decimated this year and only Chis Pronger was under contract for next season.  Acquiring the puck moving 26 year old Whitney, who is in the 2nd year of a 6-year deal at a friendly $4M cap hit, solidifies their blue line for years to come. There have been rumors flying that Chris Pronger is available and this deal will only turn up the volume on those whispers.  

Whitney missed 31 games this season due to foot surgery but never seemed to get back in the Penguins' good graces upon his return. Whitney has 2 goals and 22 assists in 28 games so far this year, but had 59 points in 81 games just two seasons ago.

Kunitz, 29, was made expendable by the emergence of several young Ducks players, including C Andrew Ebbet and Wing Bobby Ryan, who's 39 points in 44 games have him in contention for the Calder trophy.  In the first year of a four year, $3.725M cap hit deal, Kunitz is a goal scorer that's tallied 62 goals over the last 3 seasons, including 16 so far this campaign. 

It's Official: Martin Brodeur WILL START tomorrow (2.26.09) vs. Colorado, Clemmensen Demoted to AHL

Photo by C.P. Storm

He's back. Finally. After taking part in wednesday's practice, NJ Devil's Goaltender Martin Brodeur said it succinctly: "I'll be in tomorrow."  Back on November 1st, Brodeur went down with a torn distal biceps and had targeted the Avs game as soon as his surgery was completed.

While Brodeur was being informed of the team's decision to re-instate him, Goalie Scott Clemmensen, who held down the fort in Brodeur's absence, was returned to the Devil's AHL affiliate in Lowell.  Not because of his play, however. 

It turns out Clemmy was recalled from the Minors on an emergency basis when Brodeur went down.  If the Devils had chosen to keep him on the roster when Brodeur was re-instated, Clemmensen would have had to pass through waivers. By returning him to the minors, the Devils can recall Clemmensen after the March 4 trade deadline and not have to pass him through recall waivers nor waive him to demote him.  

On The Verge: The injured return.

Superstars galore have missed some major time this year and crippled fantasy rosters everywhere. Here's a Trifecta of Talent who are just about to get back into their respective lineups - and you should make sure they get back into your fantasy lineups as well.

Paul Stastny - C - Colorado Avalanche

After missing 26 games with a fractured forearm, Avalanche's #1 Center will play tonight vs. Atlanta. Stastny has been practicing with the team for about a week and should be close to game shape tonight against the Thrashers.  Start him if you have daily transactions, get him in your lineup, or make room so you can start him on Thursday against New Jersey. Speaking of which...

Martin Brodeur - G - New Jersey Devils

Here at Bucket Of Pucks, We've been documenting every aspect of Marty's progress ever since he went down with the torn distal biceps.  Well, Brodeur has declared himself ready to play and targets Thursday's tilt vs. Colorado.  However, he also defers and says he understands if the team wants him to wait until the weekend, saying, "If it's not the next game, it'll be the one after or whatever. But I'm working toward getting back and playing". 

Coach Sutter was his usual helpful self and refused to commit to Thursday again, being quoted as saying "Can it be Thursday? Possibly. Can it be Saturday? Possibly." 

Rangers Fire Tom Renney - John Tortorella named Head Coach

Photo by vipeldo.

The ax finally fell in New York City today, as the Broadway Blueshirts fired Head Coach Tom Renney and Assistant Coach Perry Pearn.  TSN is reporting that John Tortorella is in line to become the next Bench Boss for the Rangers and will run his first practice tomorrow, pending permission from Tampa Bay.

UPDATE: Tortorella is officially the new Head Coach and had his first practice with the squad today.  From most accounts, it was like starting over.

There had been rumblings for awhile that Renney's job was on the line, and regular serenading of "Fire Renney"  from the crowd didn't help either, I'm sure. Heck, even out of town reporters noticed it.  After their 10th loss in 12 games and with the Rangers off until Wednesday, this was as good a time as any to make a change.

The Rangers need a shakeup and for awhile I've been telling anyone who would listen that Torts was a good direction for the Rangers to look if Renney got canned.  I may not be allowed to eat at Howard Johnson's anymore as a result, but today I am vindicated. 

Renney was 164-121-42 with the Rangers over 4 plus seasons, making the playoffs 3 of the 4 seasons, (one was lost to the lockout.) With the firing of Renney, none of the four coaches whose teams started overseas this year still have jobs; Tampa's Barry Melrose, Pittsburgh's Michel Therrien and Ottawa's Craig Hartsburg have all been sacked by their respective clubs already.

Jaw Fracture silences Alfredsson, Senators make a statement and reacquire Comrie

TSN is reporting, that RW Daniel Alfredsson out with a small fracture to his jaw.  The Senators are not standing pat,  reacquiring center Mike Comrieand defensemen Chris Campoli for center Dean McAmmond and San Jose's 1st round draft pick for 2009 (previously acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay).

Even before Alfredsson went down, the Senators were looking for some way to give their offense a boost with their limited trade options.  Comrie should be a good fit in Ottawa, as he played for the team in 2007 during their run to the Stanley Cup Finals.

"We haven't been a very good offensive team and we're getting 2 guys with that ability, " Senators GM Bryan Murray.

BucketofPucks:  The recent events of the last few days should open up a few intriguing FA opportunities in Ottawa;

Martin Brodeur WILL Return on the 26th...or Not? Coach Sutter Non-Committal.

Photo by rubyswoon @ Flicker

Well, isn't that interesting. Since reporting two weeks ago that the New Jersey Devils'  Martin Brodeur was targeting February 26th vs. the Avs to return form his torn biceps injury, there has been much hemming and hawing about when he'd actually start his first game back from injury.

Well, now Coach Brent Sutter has chimed in to make it even more confusing.  The NY Post is reporting their sources say Brodeur is more likely to return on Saturday the 28th vs. the Panthers or Sunday's tilt against the Flyers.  

The Post's Larry Brooks quotes Coach Sutter as saying "I'm not going to say it's going to be this date or that. I don't even know myself." 

Fantasy Wise, this changes little from what I posted here. Basically, Sutter won't rush Brodeur, even though Marty has publicly stated he has no intention of playing in a platoon.  At best, Scott Clemmensen who has performed amazingly in his abscence, will be relegated to an alternateing rotation with Brodeur for a week or two until Marty gets back to form. If Brodeur steps on the ice like he never left, (which I expect he will)  Clemmy could be dealt before the deadline as Kevin Weekes has proven he is a capable backup playing once every 5 games, and currently is riding a 5 game win streak. 

Either way, get ready to activate Brodeur if he's on your IR, and make sure you have him available for the 26th, just in case.  If you have Clemmensen, your window to deal him is almost closed.

Dallas Stars' Brad Richards out for Season with Broken Wrist? - UPDATE: Yep, out 6-8 Weeks

UPDATE 2PM PST: The Dallas Morning News has confirmed the broken right wrist diagnosis and notes the Stars say Richards is gone 6-8 weeks, the remainder of the regular season, but will not need surgery. Richards and Dallas hope he returns in the playoffs...should Dallas make it in.  Advice below still stands.

.....

Dallas Stars Center Brad Richards left  last night's 3-2 Shootout win over Columbus with what the team is calling an "upper body injury" and TSN is reporting the injury is a broken wrist.

Fantasy Wise, this could not have come at a worse time. Dallas had finally rounded into shape and gotten their game together, winning 9 of their last 12 contests. Richards, across that span had tallied 4 Goals, 6 Assists, a plus 4, 5PP points and a Short Handed helper as well.  Richards had actually scored 27 seconds in against Columbus, the quickest tally by a Stars player this season.

If Richards has a Broken Wrist, he's done for the regular season. If he has a severe sprain, maybe he could gut it out and play a few weeks down the road, provided can stand the pain.  Either way, he won't be of much use. Get ready to drop him in standard leagues.

Atlanta Thrashers Trade Mathieu Schneider to the Montreal Canadiens for 2 Draft Picks!

Photo Courtesy of the Unofficial Mathieu Schneider Homepage.

TSN is reporting the Atlanta Thrashers, fresh off their 8-4 pounding of the Ducks last night in Anaheim, traded Defenseman Mathieu Schneider to The Montreal Canadiens for a 2nd round pick in 2009 and a 3rd rounder in 2010.  The Habs will also get a conditional pick from Atlanta, depending how deep Montreal goes in the Playoffs.

Montreal has been slumping as of late, losing 4 of their last 5 games and 10 of their last 13, have been rumored to be seeking a puck moving defender to put opposite Markov on the PP.  Schneider, 39, returns to the club that drafted him and where he was part of their last Stanley Cup winning team in 1993.  Ironically, both current Canadiens Head Coach Guy Carbonneau and Assistant Coach Kirk Muller were Schneider's teammates in '93.

Doug Weight out 6 Weeks with Sprained MCL - is he Done for the Season?

 

The NY Islanders have been dealing with adversity all season, with All Star Goalie Rick DiPietro undergoing various surgeries and the team having to rely on a smattering of overachieving backups that have them sitting in last place in the standings.

Well, with the announcement that Doug Weight will miss 6 weeks with a sprained MCL practically solidifies the Islanders' chances of scoring the #1 pick in next season's draft. Can anyone say John Tavares?

Fantasy Wise, this is a bummer. Weight had been in the midst of a great renaissance season posting 35 points in 44 games, including 20 on the Power Play, and his minus -12 could have been far worse. With the March 4 Trade Deadline less than a month away, this will probably put the kibosh on any team acquiring Weight. This means you, Columbus and Chicago.