InsideEdge

WINNIPEG TRADES LADD AND LOSE LITTLE Winnipeg, Manitoba – Last night the Winnipeg Jets finally made the trade that was quite possibly the worst kept secret in the entire National Hockey League. Andrew Ladd was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. Andrew Ladd was the face of the Winnipeg Jets so why would the Jets trade him away to Chicago of all places a team in the same division. Well this move makes a lot of sense for both teams and it was a win- win situation for both parties. Andrew Ladd is a great hockey player we all know that Ladd has hoisted the Stanley Cup twice once in Carolina in 2006 and 2010 in Chicago, however Ladd was traded to Atlanta before he even got his day with the camp along with Dustin Byfuglien. Ladd then came with the franchise from Atlanta to Winnipeg and became the biggest name in Winnipeg hockey history, ok maybe second behind Teemu. Ladd brought the Jets back to life and the team did well under Ladd as the team captain, but in the salary cap era no player is off the books. Winnipeg is known for being a budget team, they try to stay under the cap by a large margin and for the most part it has done well for the Jets faithful but with Ladd and Byfuglien both wanting big deals north of 7 million it was clear that one player was going to be moved and it was Ladd once Byfuglien signed his 5 year contract. But the Winnipeg Jets didn’t lose this trade by any stretch of the imagination, this was a good trade for Kevin Cheveldayoff and the Jets organization. The Jets got Marko Dano in return as well as a first round draft pick and a conditional third rounder in 2018. The condition is if the Hawks hoist the Stanley Cup again then Winnipeg gets a third rounder, if the Hawks don’t win the cup that third round pick reverts back to Chicago. Cheveldayoff has been getting ripped by fan saying this is a bad deal but let me tell you this is not a bad deal for the Jets this is a great deal and here is why. Dano has 48 games in the National Hockey League split between both Columbus the team who drafted him and Chicago where Dano ended up in the Brendon Sadd deal last summer, now we all know that the Hawks were only after Arteim Anisimov in that deal but Columbus didn’t want Dano so Chicago picked him up and put him in the minors. Dano only has 13 games in Chicago scoring two points, that’s why Jets fans are so upset and say this is a bad deal but if you go through the expanded stats that are offered Dano was only playing 9 minutes in Chicago an average of :41 seconds per shift which is not a lot of time to prove yourself on a powerhouse. Dano can fit right into the roster in Winnipeg with a great coach in Paul Maurice who is known for his work with young players along with assistant coach Charlie Huddy. Maurice has worked his magic with this team and got them into the playoffs last year yes it will be a no playoff year for Winnipeg this year but Dano can at least get his feet wet. Winnipeg would be picking third today if the season were to end and that is a great position to be in for this young team, and they also get the 28th pick in the first round from Chicago which is also great for the Jets. Winnipeg may not be done however with the news that they have lost Bryan Little for the remainder of the regular season. Little of course was hurt in Tampa Bay on the Jets four game road trip and has a fractured vertabre in his back, so the Jets may have to move someone else to replace Little in the short term, maybe a prospect or roster player. Winnipeg fans are also hoping that the Ladd era in Winnipeg isn’t over with the fact that he is a UFA after this season chances are good that Chicago will not resign him as he more then likely is just a rental player for the stretch run with the Hawks being bitten by the injury bug, there is a slight possibility that Ladd could return. INSIDE EDGE HOCKEY NEWS * Photo Credit- USAToday Sports Images

Evander Kane would be a good fit in Detroit. He would be a good fit for all 30 teams if he could just keep his nose clean. I do not see Buffalo moving him, but he is on the radar. Buffalo is worried the message he will send to their young talent, and I can't blame him..

FOR SALE: 10 Sellers Calgary Flames – The Flames are in the middle of a rebuild, and now it is time for a rebuild retool. Hudler and Russell are the most likely to go, but Jones just may be a secret pick-up for a contending team. Jiri Hudler Kris Russell Jonas Hiller David Jones Carolina Hurricanes – Obviously Staal is the big fish available in Carolina. The problem is the Hurricanes are tedering on making the playoffs. Management in Carolina just may stay pat and make a run at the playoffs. Eric Staal Cam Ward John-Michael Liles Nathan Gerbe Columbus Blue Jackets – The Blue Jackets are stuck in a slow rebuild. They will sell but the problem is they do not have many assets to sell. Kerby Rychel Rene Bourque Edmonton Oilers – The Oilers are in the longest rebuild in history. History of all professional sports. The Oilers need defense bad, and they are willing to give up some talent on center to get it. Ryan-Nugent Hopkins Jordan Eberle Teddy Purcell Justin Schultz Nail Yakupov Montreal Canadiens – The Canadiens season has been such a mess that they just might trade anyone other than Carey Price. The team is in shambles and offense is at the top of their needs list. Lars Eller Alex Galchenyuk Dale Weise Tom Gilbert Andrei Markov Philadelphia Flyers – I am not really sure that I would consider the Flyers as strong sellers. This year has been a learning year under new head coach Dave Hakstol. Cap issues and lack of offense have held the Flyers back. The positive is they have a excess of young defenseman prospects, and that is a great problem to have. Sam Gagner Evgeny Medvedev Prospects Toronto Maple Leafs – It is full out house cleaning in Toronto. The Leafs are looking for draft picks. They are in desperate need of young talent. P.A. Parenteau James Reimer Michael Grabner Brad Boyes Nazem Kadri Rich Clune Tyler Bozak Vancouver Canucks – The Canucks have finally hit the point in which management is starting to believe it is time to get younger. That being said, it is time to move some assets for draft picks. Lots of players could be on the move in Vancouver. Radim Vrbata Dan Hamhuis Brandon Prust Matt Bartkowski Yanic Weber Alex Edler Ryan Miller Winnipeg Jets – The Jets had high hopes at the beginning of the season. Things just have not worked out this season. Dustin Byfuglien is now signed, and Andrew Ladd has been moved. This is a young team on the rise, and they are now looking for more young talent. Matt Halischuk Grant Clitsome Adam Pardy Ondrej Pavelec Buffalo Sabres – The Sabres continue to look for good young talent. Another high draft pick this year will help the rebuild, but limited assets at deadline could be a problem. They do have a few players that may draw interest. Jamie McGinn David Legwand Evander Kane Chad Johnson INSIDE EDGE HOCKEY NEWS * Photo Credit - USAToday Sports Images

I am guessing Chicago...

ANDREW LADD IS A JET…………………BUT FOR HOW LONG????? It is that time of year yet again it is one of the best times of the year for hockey fans all over the world, but it is a very busy time for NHL executives and general managers. Winnipeg Jets General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is no different, Cheveldayoff has had some very laid back trade deadline days during his tenure in Winnipeg but this year there is a very big difference and it could be a busy day on Portage Avenue with Captain Andrew Ladd still unsigned and Dustin Byfuglien signed long term for big money. As it stands right now the Jets do have 11,565,241 million dollars free under the salary cap right now sounds like a lot however that does not include Byfuglien and his new deal that only leaves around 4 million dollars for Cheveldayoff to play with and Ladd will not be taking a pay cut from his 4.4 he is currently making. Cheveldayoff also has to remember that Mark Scheifele and Jacob Trouba are both coming off their respective entry level deals and while they are not going to be making 7 million a year Cheveldayoff has too sign both those players are they are very important to the future of this team, Cheveldayoff can’t let them walk to keep Ladd happy this is about building for the future success of this franchise. Many hockey insiders on all the major networks TSN, Sportsnet, ESPN yes ESPN, and NBCSN all say that Andrew Ladd is good as gone, but what none of them are saying is who the Jets could get in return, they have all said that the Blackhawks, Kings, Anaheim, Boston, Florida all want Andrew Ladd, so let us take a look at some possible trades. Chicago Blackhawks Andrew Ladd has a history with the Chicago Blackhawks Ladd was on the Stanley Cup winning Blackhawks for the first of three championship teams, before being dealt to Atlanta with Dustin Byfuglien. So why does Chicago have any interest in Ladd they did trade him and they did win two Stanley Cups without him. Stan Bowman has some issues in Chicago with injury, Marian Hossa is currently injured although Hossa is expected to return to the lineup before the playoffs, Bowman also has Marcus Kruger on the IR right now and Kruger has a season ending injury although the Hawks have done a great job plugging holes with call ups, this team is known for deep playoff runs and Ladd has more experience then the Rockford call ups currently in the lineup and with some moves they could get Ladd in under the salary cap. The Winnipeg Jets would then of course need something in return for Ladd the Hawks would have to move some salary in order to fit Ladd under the cap so who is going to be skating in aviator blue Teuvo Teravainen would be a good fit in the Jets lineup, he is a cap hit of under $900,000 and has another season on his entry level deal. It sounds crazy because Teravainen was the Hawks number one draft pick in 2012 and was the next big thing for Chicago. Teravainen had a lot of call ups last year from Rockford and was able to stick with th team during the playoffs, and again this year out of training camp, but in recent weeks the emergence of Artemi Panarin it may be time for the Hawks to move on from Teravainen. But this trade will not be a one for one, the Jets could also demand a prospect and a draft pick for Ladd he is after all the captain of the Jets. Marko Dano from the Rockford Icehogs and a second round draft pick could go back to the Jets and that can buy the Jets some time and money to sign the guys they need to carry this team. Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are out of this picture altogether, they are already over 80,000 dollars are over the salary cap. The Los Angeles Kings are set up for another long run and don’t need Andrew Ladd in their lineup. Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are still a good team, they have been since they won the Stanley Cup in 2011, but this season has been horrible for the Bruins. Boston has had sparks of greatness and sparks of the old Bruins in 2011 but they have fallen on flat on their face in other games hence the 9-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. So why would Boston want Andrew Ladd, one reason is Chris Kelly is out of the lineup until May or July depending on the rehab of his knee injury, even if Kelly returns will he be ready for the demand the playoffs will put on his body. Andrew Ladd, would make sense for the Boston Bruins Ladd has been more or less healthy for entire career and he is five years younger then Kelly but he does make more by a million and a half. Ladd is a better player then Kelly and can take the playoff demand better then Kelly could if he comes back. So what the Jets get in return, the Jets would have to take some salary back for sure, Loui Eriksson would be getting sent back to the Winnipeg Jets for sure as Loui and Ladd make roughly the same, now the Jets don’t need Eriksson and they could let him walk and seasons end or the Jets could turn around and flip Eriksson as well. The Winnipeg Jets would be smart to get prospects and draft picks in return picking up Frank Vatrano would be a smart move for Winnipeg with two season left on his entry level deal he could do really well under the Jets coaching staff who works wondering with the Jets young guns, they can also demand a second or Vatrano and third rounder. Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers have a great team and great management in Dale Tallon a very smart hockey mind. Andrew Ladd would make sense for the Panthers for a number of reasons and reason number one being there is a great chance that the Panthers and the Capitals will meet in the playoffs at some point and the Panthers right now can’t take a series against the Caps but with Ladd in the lineup they at least have a more scoring threat. The Panthers also have an injury issue with Brendon Pirri and Alexander Barkov are both injured Barkov is undisclosed after being smoked in Detroit he has been out with what can obviously be marked as a concussion, Pirri should be back mid-march. The Panthers are believed to be letting Shawn Thornton walk after the season ends that frees up at least 1.5 million in cap space. The Panthers could very well resign Andrew Ladd to a long term deal as well with 5.8 million in cap space however they would need to be careful with Barkov and his massive deal kicking in next year. The Winnipeg could get Brendon Pirri and make a play on Alex Petrovic as well Pirri would have to be sent down to the Manitoba Moose but Petrovic would make the Jets roster for sure. The Jets play tonight in Winnipeg could this really be Andrew Ladd’s last game in the Powerhouse on Portage as the Jets play a home and home with the Dallas Stars. INSIDE EDGE HOCKEY NEWS * Photo Credit: USA Today Sports Images

With Big Buff signed it is all but a formality that Ladd will be gone..

I am agreeing with you...

Byfuglien/Jets Future in Limbo Dustin Byfuglien made some pretty interesting comments when it came to whether or not he preferred to stay in Winnipeg, over other destinations. Frank Seravalli of TSN asked Byfuglien about Winnipeg he said “I just want to put on a jersey, to be honest with you”. “I don’t mind Winnipeg at all. It’s close to home for me – it’s probably the closest I’ll ever get to play by my home.” Byfuglien will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st. The Jets are in a dilemma because team captain Andrew Ladd is also a UFA, and to make matters worse young stars such as Jacob Touba, and Mark Scheifele are coming off cap friendly entry-level contracts. The Jets cannot afford to not pay these young stars. This makes it virtually impossible to sign both Byfuglien and Ladd. Talks with Ladd look somewhat dead, so maybe signing Byfuglien is not out of the question. It sure looks more possible now than it did 6 months ago. Byfuglien is from Roseau, Minnesota, which is about two hours from Winnipeg. He is a small town kid that loves hunting and fishing. I am not insinuating that he will accept a hometown deal, but with many players frowning on the lifestyle in Winnipeg the “Big Buff” just may want that lifestyle. NHL: Trade Talk – News and Notes Andrew Ference will not play again this season. It is most likely he will be bought out during the buyout period and it may be the end of his career. David Staples of the Edmonton Journal thinks the Edmonton Oilers may be able to get a 1st round pick for pending UFA Teddy Purcell. I disagree, I think a late 2nd rounder or later would be a more likely price for him. I have to think the Oilers are getting close to making a decision on the future of Jordan Eberle and Justin Schultz with the team. They may want to retool with these players. Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News proposed the Idea that the New York Rangers might be willing to give up Rick Nash or Chris Kreider in a trade for Kevin Shattenkirk. It is also worth noting that Patrick Marleau did list the Rangers as a team he’d be willing to be traded to. There is a rumbling that the Chicago Blackhawks might have some interest in Teddy Purcell. It would have to be for the right price since General Manager Stan Bowman never overpays. INSIDE EDGE HOCKEY NEWS * Photo Credit- USAToday Sports Images

Leafs Have Trade Options Toronto Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello has let teams know that he will be a seller leading up to the trade deadline. P.A. Parenteau and Roman Polak will possibly land them something close to a 2nd round pick which is what the Maple Leafs are striving for right now. Shawn Matthias, Michael Grabner and Nick Spaling won’t merit much of a return individually, but packaged in the right deal they may warrant a higher draft pick or a decent prospect. I think it is pretty clear the mentality of the Maple Leafs is just to build for the draft, and trust your scouts. With an already solid prospect pool, and a few more key draft selections the team may one day finally become a powerhouse again. There was some speculation that Leo Komarov may be on the move, but it seems Babcock has taken a liking to him and really loves how he plays. James Reimer is a wild card right now, he currently holds the second best save% in the league, and is battling for the number 1 spot. If he was moved, you may be able to negotiate for a good return. NHL: Trade Talk – News and Notes Tampa Bay is trying very hard to move Drouin. They are very actively shopping him around however the price tag at this point, with all the drama is very unclear. It is thought that he may have a few offers on the table though, Steve Yzerman is holding off, hoping for a better deal after the dust settles from Drouin removing himself from the line-up. Yzerman holds that cards and will not deal Drouin without proper compensation. Everyday he is away Drouin is hurting himself. The Edmonton Oilers are being very active on the trade market right now for a right handed defenseman. The rumor is that the Oilers may have talked to Anaheim about Sami Vatanen who may fit nicely. I feel they need to be more physical. I believe they should go after Travis Hamonic or Dustin Byfuglien. The Oilers are said to be willing to give up Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent Hopkins, Teddy Purcell and Justin Schultz. Either of those players in a package could bring a very nice return. Another potential trade target for teams needing a goalie could be Fredrick Anderson of the Anaheim Ducks. He’s having a less productive season than last, but if the right offer came about they may consider moving him. INSIDE EDGE HOCKEY NEWS * Photo Credit - USAToday Sports Images

Duck Bait: Cam Fowler The Anaheim Ducks are in a very difficult position in the Western Conference, however they have a very good problem on their hands. When Simon Despres and Cam Fowler were out of the lineup the Ducks leaned on Shea Theodore and Josh Manson. They both played very well, which raises the problem every team would love to have, and that is having too many quality defenseman. With both Despres and Fowler coming back it opens up the question of what to do now? In a salary cap league that means you may have to move a defenseman. While the smart move would probably be to move Despres, the return for him may not be as great as you would like. Fowler though may be a different story, the asking price for his caliber of player would be a first round pick in a regular market or maybe a top-six winger. This is no regular market though there is a very high demand on top-four defenseman. Teams wanting one almost always have to over pay. NHL: Trade Talk – News and Notes From Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers - players available at the trade deadline: Teddy Purcell, Justin Schultz, Mark Fayne, Eric Gryba, Lauri Korpikoski and Matt Hendricks. I really think Jordan Eberle would fit well with the New York islanders. With Kyle Okposo being a UFA a trade might make sense for the two teams. Jeff Blair of Sportsnet: The Toronto Maple Leafs may now be thinking that James Reimer should be a part of their long-term future. He should be open to the possibility of re-signing with the Leafs. It is still possible that the Maple Leafs could trade Reimer before the deadline and then try to re-sign him in the offseason. If they do trade Reimer, I have heard some buzz leaning towards Montreal being a possible landing spot for this season. Somewhat hard to believe, since the Canadiens are not looking as if they will need a rental player for the playoffs. The Vancouver Canucks have many depth players they may look to trade away at the deadline if they fallout of a playoff spot. I could see Alex Burrows fitting well with the Chicago Blackhawks since they are looking for forward depth. INSIDE EDGE HOCKEY NEWS * Image credit - USAToday Sports Images

Barkov Signing a True Bargain The Florida Panthers locked up a key piece of their future on Tuesday when they signed forward Alexsander Barkov to a six year contract extension. The contract is reportedly worth $35.4 million. Many are speculating on whether or not Aleksander Barkov was worth his 5.9 million dollars per year contract? Honestly, that’s absurd; he is worth every penny of that contract and more. Barkov is a very rare breed of player, with his skilled two-way game he’s showed great promise and is one of the main reasons why this Florida Panthers team has been able to turn around so quickly. He will be a cornerstone piece to build around in the future. This will hopefully help in ticket sells as well, it shows they are building for the long term. Now if they can sign young defensive star Aaron Ekblad they may be the start of a possible powerhouse franchise. Things are looking brighter and brighter everyday in sunny Florida. NHL: Trade Talk – News and Notes Bob McKenzie of TSN is reporting that Jiri Hudler of the Calgary Flames could become available as a rental player. He has been having a very rough year, but a team looking to add an extra skill player could get him for a player and a pick. The Flames will definitely not be able to resign Hudler so he will be a key factor on Trade Deadline Day or before. The Los Angeles Kings will look to add another defenseman before the trade deadline. However, that is always a tough market and the price will likely be high for any player of value. Aaron Portzline reported a number of Scouts at the Canadiens game on Monday. With things falling off the tracks in Montreal it is very likely roster moves are on the way: Avalanche, Maple Leafs, Devils, Predators, Rangers, Stars and Red Wings all had scouts present. Kris Versteeg might be another cheap rental player, though if the Carolina Hurricanes want to make a push they cannot give up too many pieces. INSIDE EDGE HOCKEY NEWS * Photo credit: USAToday Sports Images

I actually think that Reimer has been good for the Leafs. But He has received zero respect. If I was him I would leave the Leafs hanging like they have done to him so many times....

Leafs Bernier or Reimer- Who will be Traded? The Toronto Maple Leafs are shopping goaltender Jonathan Bernier, according to The Globe and Mail’s James Mirtle. Bernier has defiantly had his struggles this season, but many thought his goaltending counterpart just maybe the one on his way out of Toronto. 27-year-old James Reimer is a pending UFA and there has been talk of him on the way out of town. His play has been very good this year. He has a very impressive .932 save percentage and a 2.10 goals against average in 24 games. He has been plagued with injuries this season, but has really played well when healthy. The question is will Reimer want to resign in Toronto? It is not a secret that he has been disrespected and treated like garbage by management during his stay in Toronto. It looks as though Toronto will be in a difficult spot they want to sign Reimer and trade Bernier, but it is really hard to pull the trigger on Bernier if you are going to loose Reimer to free agency in the summer. Leaving you with no goalie. Looks like any trades just may be on hold until they resign or know they will not resign Reimer. The likely destination for either of these goaltenders is Calgary. The Flames have had horrific goaltending this season, and neither are likely to be resigned this off-season. The Leafs and Flames have some history, the most obvious is the connection with Brain Burke. NHL Trade Talk: News and Notes By Staff Writer – Logan Heath George Richards reports that the Florida Panthers have zero interest in Andrew Ladd. Could they be going after a bigger target, time will tell? This completely disputes yesterdays report that Ladd may just be a target of the Florida Panthers. Jimmy Murphy reports that numerous teams are on the Bruins scouting list for the game against Anaheim Ducks game last night: Islanders, Sabres, Flames, Hurricanes, Blackhawks, Kings, Wild, Canadiens (2), Predators, Devils, Rangers, Capitals and Jets. Jimmy Murphy also reports that the scouts have told him to expect Loui Eriksson to be traded. The Bruins may be scouting Sami Vatanen. Could Sami Vatanen be a fit in Boston? Personally I feel over the past few seasons the Bruins have really gotten away from what made the team a Stanley Cup contender. They have lost that grit that they use to play with. This really defined what Bruins hockey was. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet has reported that teams have called for Alex Galchenyuk, but the Canadians have no interest in moving him. INSIDE EDGE HOCKEY NEWS * Photo Credit - USAToday Sports Images

Backes Contract Talks on Hold Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Reports that contract talks between David Backes and the St. Louis Blues have slowed down drastically. He reportedly turned down a 3 year 26.5-million-dollar contract during training camp. That does not mean that he will not be signed, though it may not come any time soon. Backes has a full no trade clause which would make him difficult to move unless he wanted out of St. Louis. To be honest I don’t think it would be a very good move on the behalf of Blues to move him right now. He is a quality shut down center who can put up points in a very difficult division. However, if it comes down to it and he wants out there will be many suitors for the pending UFA. Other trade talk around the league: In Winnipeg recent rumblings have the Jets leaning more towards keeping Dustin Byfuglien over captain Andrew Ladd. However, it is not impossible that both would be moved at the deadline if the team keeps the downward trend going. If this does happen the team will be in an official rebuild, and I think that may be the best course of action. Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times has reported that the Tampa Bay Lighting have offered Steven Stamkos an 8 year 68 Million Dollar contract. Neither side has given this report any credibility however I do believe that this could be a starting number where the contracts would begin. It is very rare you see stars of this caliber move while still in their prime. So look for him to be signed eventually, but these recent contract talk leaks are very interesting and somewhat puzzling. This has been a very hush contract signing, and why would it change now. The source that first reported this was Elliotte Freidman of SportsNet, and you cannot get any more credible source. INSIDE EDGE HOCKEY NEWS * Photo by USAToday Sports Images

Fantasy Breakout Players The most surprising break out fantasy players of this year at the half way mark. Forwards Evgeny Kuznetsov is having a breakout year after having a solid rookie season. We are a little over the halfway mark of the season, and he has already passed his point total of last season, and if he keeps pace he could hit 80 points. This should not come as a total surprise however; he has had more playing time with the Alexander Ovechkin the “great 8”, and Ovechkin is a point machine for any decent playmaker who can feed him the puck. Kyle Palmieri Is having a career year as well as some other players on this year’s surprising New Jersey Devils team. He has already passed his career best in points (35) and a career best in goals(20). A lot of this may be due to the increase in overall ice time, as well as more time on the power play, if this pace keeps up he could very well hit the 60 point season total. Defense Rasmus Ristolainen, at the age of 21, has finally shown some really good signs of development this season. He has tied his career high goal mark (8) and passed his assist high (23). This shouldn’t come as a complete surprise because the new system Bylsma has implemented is much more suited for two-way defenseman such as himself. This former 8th overall pick is setting himself up for a career year, and a bright future if he can keep this pace. Shayne Gostisbehere while not having a huge sample size Gostisbehere has put up 19 points in 27 games. A rather smaller, mobile defenseman, Gostisbehere has drawn some comparison to the Senators Erik Karlsson. His ability to join the rush, and make smart plays while moving from his own zone has resulted in points. I do have my doubts if the rookie can keep fire like this, but I cannot deny the consistency he has shown thus far. Goalies Petr Mrazek was a 5th round pick in 2010, and since then has come a long way in his career. Going into this season Mrazek had played in every level of the league, which includes a Calder Cup while playing for the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2013. Mrazek only sports 17 win this year, but has an outstanding .932 save% and a 2.03 GAA. While it is unlikely his numbers will stay that good, it is still an extremely good fantasy season on any standard. Jake Allen came into the season battling for a number one spot with Brian Elliot and has come out on top. Allen is 4 wins’ shy of reaching his career high of 22, but with the amount of playing time he will get he should well top that number. Allen carries a .924 save% and 2.17 GAA, which is very impressive because the Blues are one of the most injury plagued teams this season. INSIDE EDGE HOCKEY NEWS * Photo by USAToday Sports Images

He has struggled. That is another great mid-season surprise. My gut feeling is that he has a very strong second half. Tampa will have a great second half. Very talented team.

10 Mid-Season Statistical Shockers - Alex Ovechkin is 3rd in NHL +/-. A far cry from his past seasons horrible numbers. Ovechkin is an impressive +21. The league leader is Los Angeles Kings Tyler Toffoli at +23, and second is held by rookie Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings at +22. - Chicago Blackhawks secret rookie Artemi Panarin leads the rookie point chase with 15 goals, 24 assists, and 39 points. This ranks him 15th overall in NHL points. - Brent Burns of the San Jose Sharks is king of all defenseman. His 40 points puts him in the lead amongst NHL defenseman. He has 18 goals, and 22 assists in 41 games. The one downside of his stats is that he is -10. - There are three surprises amongst the NHL top 10 in points. Calgary Flames sophomore sensation Johnny Gaudreau is 7th with 43 points. Edmonton Oilers Taylor Hall and Winnipeg’s Jets forward Blake Wheeler are tied for 8th with 41 points. All great players, but were not expected to be in the top 10. - On the bad side of the statistics are a couple of superstars that have dropped off their usual pace. The biggest is Ryan Getzlaff of the Anaheim Ducks. He has just 3 goals in 38 games. A key reason why the Ducks have struggled this year. Another is Sidney Crosby, who has just 12 goals in 41 games. He has improved as of late, but is still not performing to his usual elite level. - Braden Holtby of the Washington Capitals has proven to be the king of goaltenders this year. He has 27 wins, and a very impressive .932 save percentage and 1.93 goals against average. He has proven numerous people wrong this year. A couple of surprises (although a smaller sample size) are Toronto Maple Leafs James Reimer has a league leading .936 save percentage, and Anaheim rookie John Gibson has a league leading 1.84 goals against average. - Erik Karlsson leads all defenseman in points, which is not really that big of a surprise, but it ranks him 4th in the NHL in points. He has 9 goals, 36 assists and 45 points in 44 games. Another very impressive Karlsson number is that he averages 28:39 minutes per game. - The streak that no one thought would ever end ended at 26 games. Patrick Kane had the hockey world on the edge of their seats in the first half of the season. Scoring points in 26 straight games was very impressive. Kane has posted some very scary first half numbers, 25 goals, 38 assists for 63 points in 45 games is off the chart. - Anaheim Ducks head up the list of underachieving teams. Their 43 points is a drastic reduction than what was expected from this talented team who was considered a Stanley Cup favorite. Columbus (36 points) and Tampa Bay (48 points) are two other teams that were expected to be better. - The Florida Panthers head the list of overachievers at the mid-season point. Their 57 points puts them at the top of the Atlantic Division, and also puts them atop the Eastern Conference. INSIDE EDGE HOCKEY NEWS * Photo Credit - USA Today Sports Images

Some very good points. I think the term that should be used is "big name" instead of star. Thanks for your insight. Just for the record I do not see Carolina making the playoffs.

Carolina Hurricanes first line center Eric Staal is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, and it is hard to believe that the star will make it to free agency. All signs are showing that a contract will not be signed in Carolina. If a resigning were to happen I would think that it would have happened by now. The Hurricanes are off to a 19-18-7 (45 Points) record. Although they are just two points out of a wildcard position the prospect of the Hurricanes surging into a playoff position look dim. This would lead many to believe that Staal just may be the biggest fish available on trade deadline day. The 30-year-old year old Staal has been very quiet about the pending free agency. Staal is currently in his 12th season with the Hurricanes. The only team that the 6’4” center has ever played professional hockey for. He has been very loyal to the Hurricanes, and raised his one and only Stanley Cup there in 2006. Staal expiring contract carries a $8.25 million dollar cap hit. Although Staal is still perceived as a powerful first line center he does look to be in line for a pay reduction. In 44 games this year he has just 9 goals, and 19 assists. The 28 points is off his career standard, which leaves many wondering just how much this contract situation is affecting his play and mindset. According to Luke DeCock of the Raleigh News & Observer, Staal admitted that his pending free agency has weighted on him. Staal commented, “It’s been more challenging than I thought it would be, but I’m doing my best,” Staal said. “Doing my best to contribute and try and help this team win and play hard. I have a family. There’s things you think about. My brother’s playing here. There are a lot of different things you think about. You try not to worry about it too much, and play, and hopefully we can get on a little bit of a run here and go from there and let it sort itself out. We’ll see what happens.” With all signs pointing to Staal not resigning, it would benefit the Hurricanes to make a move sooner rather than later. The Montreal Canadiens once expressed interest in the big center, and do have some assets that the Hurricanes may be interested in. Two names that have surfaced have been Alex Galchenyuk (which looks unlikely) and goalie prospect Zach Fucale. The truth is all 30 teams are looking for a strong front line center. The real question is how much are they willing to give up to get him. The Hurricanes have his contact termination hurting his value, and Staal has his age and declining numbers working against him. The question is, will a team making a Stanley Cup run give up the farm for him on trade deadline day? INSIDE EDGE HOCKEY NEWS * Photo credit USAToday Sports Images

You have to realize that this was posted three weeks ago. Things have changed and I may just pick differently now. I guess that is why they are called predictions.

yave1964 I agree, I would do whatever it takes also. I just can't believe that the Blue Jackets would ever move him. It would be a huge mistake. Time heals everything.

Ten Teams Out of the Playoffs As Christmas draws upon us many teams are asking Santa for a ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Unfortunately the play of some teams this year has earned them a ticket right out of the playoffs. Here are the 10 NHL teams that I believe will not make the playoffs this year. 1- Columbus Blue Jackets – 29 pts Eastern Conference – The Blue Jackets season has been a complete nightmare. A terrible start, lead to a coaching changes that brought in John Tortorella. Which in turn caused a riff with star player Ryan Johansen who has been at odds with the new coach since day one. If that was not enough the early season play of goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was horrendous. It is time for the Blue Jackets to hit the reset button and gun for the #1 pick in this years draft. 2 – Carolina Hurricanes. – 31 pts Eastern Conference – Carolina is a team lost in space. A slow start really put this team behind the 8-ball. The play of captain Eric Staal has been mediocre, and the question also looms of what will happen with goaltender Cam Ward. The Hurricanes have some good young talent, but this team just looks to be in disarray. 3 – Anaheim Ducks – 29 pts Western Conference – The Anaheim Ducks are the biggest question mark of the NHL this season. I had them penciled in to win the Stanley Cup, guess not. This team will not make the playoffs. I have no explanation for this collapse, none! Superstar Ryan Getzlaff has one goal, and that one was an empty netter. The Ducks may just be biggest shock in all of sports this year. 4 – Toronto Maple Leafs – 31 pts Eastern Conference – Toronto is just not ready. They show flashes of playoff capabilities, but this team just does not play consistently good hockey. Jonathan Bernier has struggled all year in net. James Reimer has been good in net, but has been injured. Offensively they have showed times of greatness, and times were they look like they will never score. This team needs help, and time. 5 – Buffalo Sabres – 32 pts Eastern Conference – The Sabres were not expected to make the playoffs so this is not a surprise. They were expected to battle for the #1 pick in the draft, but they look better than that. This young team has played fairly good considering their age and lack of depth. Jack Eichel will continue to mature as a player, and this team will be a playoff team, just not this year. 6 – Pittsburgh Penguins – 35 pts Eastern Conference – The Penguins are the second biggest surprise of this season. I had them picked to be taking on the Ducks for the Stanley Cup (shows how much I know). Sidney Crosby has really struggled this season. He has 6 goals, 16 assists in 32 games. Very unlike the Sidney Crosby we are used to watching. The Phil Kessel experiment has not panned out. The result of this slow start was the firing of coach Mike Johnston. 7 – Philadelphia Flyers – 37 pts Eastern Conference – Newly hired coach Dave Hakstol entered his position knowing that this Flyers team lacks depth, and high-end talent. The season started horribly, but things have begun to turn around. Clutch scoring by young defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere has helped the Flyers pick up points in key games. The struggles of superstar Jakub Vorchek have been a surprise. Is it because of the system? Or just a difficult slump for Vorachek. The Flyers will look to continue their recent success, but it will be just too hard to fight them back into a playoff spot. 8 – Edmonton Oilers – 32 pts – Western Conference – Things are starting to look up in Edmonton. Just not quit up enough to earn a playoff spot. Scoring is up, but the injury to Connor McDavid has hurt the surge of this young (not so young) team. The time is drawing closer, but the defense and goaltending must improve before Edmonton is back in the playoffs. 9 – Colorado Avalanche – 35 pts Western Conference - This one was a little more difficult to call, but there was one factor that is going to make it very difficult for the Avalanche to make the playoffs. They are in the Central Division. With three teams earning division spots and two wildcards up for grabs, there just may not be space for them to make it in. Semyon Varlamov and Matt Duchene are back to their superstar levels. Defensively they struggle, and offensively they just have not found their groove this year. They look to be a few pieces short of the puzzle, but I know general manager Joe Sakic is exploring ways to strengthen this team. They are close, but not this year. 10 – Winnipeg Jets – 32 pts Western Conference – The Jets are another team that is in a difficult spot because of the strength of the Central Division. Last year the Jets worked their way into the playoffs, but this year they do not look as intense. They have struggled on the road and defensively. This will be a critical year for the Jets on and off the ice. Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd are unrestricted free agents at years end and Jacob Trouba is a restricted free agent at years end. This will be an interesting year watching how the Jets fight for a playoff spot on the ice, and battle to sign their stars off the ice. INSIDE EDGE HOCKEY NEWS * Photo by USAToday Sports Images

War in Columbus, Johansen vs. Tortorella Contract problems, coach confrontation, and healthy scratches. Columbus Blue Jackets forward Ryan Johansen has experienced all of the above this season. The season has been a complete circus on and off the ice for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Now the war is on between newly hired head coach John Tortorella, and young superstar Ryan Johansen. Johansen’s play has been heavily criticized this year. His biggest critic has been his coach. Johansen has honestly looked lazy, and disinterested since the hiring of Tortorella. After last weeks healthy scratch of Johansen, the trade rumors exploded. The truth is every NHL team would be interested in a young, and strong center, but Johansen’s recent play has lowered his trade value, but there are numerous teams that would love to take him off the hands of the Blue Jackets. The Nashville Predators, Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens have all expressed interest in the underachieving center. A few of the rumors included Nashville sending young defenseman Seth Jones to Columbus for him. Another trade rumor had Montreal sending forward Brendan Gallagher to Columbus in exchange for Johansen. Well not so fast on the trade talk….. I just cannot see the Blue Jackets letting this asset go without giving it some time. I am sure that they do not want a Tyler Seguin regret. Recently Doug MacLean of Sportsnet talked about the situation and felt the same as I do. “Trust me on this: It’s got a chance to be the next Seguin trade,” MacLean said. “You’ve got to be careful.” MacLean talked to a few people after the Blue Jackets hired coach John Tortorella. “They said, ‘Doug, trust me on this: I know this guy really well. This is a battle Torts will not win. He will not win a battle with this kid. That’s how hard-headed and stubborn he is. And he’s a big-time talent.'” It is also very evident that Tortorella is not going anywhere. Why would they fire someone they just hired and put their trust in? Hockey insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet thinks a little differently and thinks that maybe Johansen may be the odd man out in this war. Friedman stated, “Now, we know John Tortorella is not getting fired because he just got hired. But there isn’t anybody coming out for Columbus and saying, ‘Ryan Johansen isn’t getting traded.’ “ Another real sticky point in this matter is the fact that Johansen and Columbus had a nasty contract battle over the summer. The relationship between the two sides may be very bitter, and who knows maybe Johansen moving would be better for both sides. Johansen is saying all the right things ,and Tortorella is also saying the right things, but only time will tell with this one. It could get messy, and some team may just reap the rewards. INSIDE EDGE HOCKEY NEWS * Photo provided by USAToday Sports Images

I agree with you. Toronto is probably marginal, and I do agree with the entertainment perspective you have with St. Louis ---- you nailed it. I agree on Florida, and even Buffalo. Colorado is sloppy and I don't see a lot of entertainment factor other than MacKinnon, and Duchene. I have had some second thoughts on not having Chicago. They are good and entertaining. Just maybe a little sick of watching them, but that is not fair to them. Thanks for your input....

Watching hockey is a nightly ritual for many hockey fans. But, lets face it some teams are more fun to watch than others. There are many reasons that make some teams more enjoyable to watch. It might be how fast and exciting they are, or how bad they may be. Hockey is an amazing sport to watch live, but for many fans the television is where they get their hockey fix. Here are the top 10 teams I look forward to watching on television. 10 – Toronto Maple Leafs – The Leafs are that team that you can’t turn off when you turn them on. They are exciting because the play is often sloppy, and you’re not sure what will happen next. It will be interesting to see what Brendan Shanahan will do to resurrect this team. 9 – Calgary Flames – The Flames are fun to watch because of their high energy. Now that has gone away a bit, but one is not sure what Flames team will show up. The fact that Johnny Gaudreau is on the team makes them fun to watch. He is one of the most electrifying players in the league, and a pleasure to watch. They are extremely hardworking team, and with young talent such as Sean Monohan, and Sam Bennett, how can you not want to watch this team. 8 – Anaheim Ducks – Lets face it the Ducks are one of the biggest, strongest teams in the NHL. They are a powerful team, and it is always fun to watch how NHL teams work to fend off their strength. 7 – Winnipeg Jets – Much like the Ducks the Jets are fun to watch because they are built under the same mold. They are big and strong, they work hard every night to overpower their opponent. They are also a small market team and underdog. They play in the wildest arena in the NHL, and everyone enjoys watching the underdog win. 6 – Washington Capitals – The great 8 makes the Capitals a must watch. Washington is a strong Stanley Cup contender this year, and a very upbeat speedy team to watch. Goaltending by Brayden Holtby, and goal scoring by Alexander Ovechkin make the Capitals very exciting. 5 – St. Louis Blues – It is kind of confusing to explain why the Blues are a fun team to watch. They feature on of the leagues most dynamic players in Vladimir Tarasenko, but also seem to struggle defensively. They are one of the best regular season teams to watch, but find a way to lose in the first round of the playoffs. 4 – Tampa Bay Lightning – Young, speedy and offensively gifted pretty much sums up the Lighting. A slow start this season has fans worried, but this a solid team both offensively and defensively. Victor Hedman and Jason Garrison highlight the defense, and superstar Steven Stamkos, Ondrej Palat, and Tyler Johnson dazzle on offense. 3 – Edmonton Oilers – The Oilers are great to watch because they are like playing the lottery. You feel like you are going to win millions, but just don’t seem to cash in. This is much like the Oilers. With a handful of #1 overall picks you would think the Oilers would be powerhouse. Well not so fast. Fans have been waiting three years for the Oilers to breakout, but that just has not happened. A poor defensive core, and lackluster goaltending has limited the Oilers success. Sadly the fact that their defense is so bad makes them super entertaining. Games are fast paced, and the chances are a plenty. 2 – Arizona Coyotes – Rookies are fun to watch. A team that last year I refused to watch this year I find myself looking forward to their games. Max Domi and Anthony Duclair have taken the league by storm. The rookies have been lighting the lamp, and veteran goaltender Mike Smith has found his game again. This has resulted in an upbeat style of play, and some very entertaining games. 1 – Dallas Stars – # 1 they are good. Really good! The Dallas Stars lead the powerful Central Division, and Western Conference in points. Forward Jamie Benn leads the league in goals with 17, and the team is full of scoring depth to help him. The Stars have three players in the top ten in points. Jamie Benn (33), Tyler Seguin (32), and John Klingberg (25). This is one powerful offense. Defensively they are better this year than last year, but not great. Goaltending continues to be a little shaky. Games have a tendency to be high scoring, back and forth affairs that will promise to keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the game. Now sit back, give a few teams that you normally don’t watch a chance, and enjoy the game. SO LET THE CONTROVERSY BEGIN! INSIDE EDGE HOCKEY NEWS * Photo by USAToday Sports Images