Leafs/ Ducks Trade Imminent?

Wow, didn't get around to blogging for a while, been kind of busy. Sorry about that. I'll be making up for that soon, as I'll be introducing a new site feature, and updating the site, once I get all the details down.
In the meantime... I'm still hearing the Leafs are hot on Bobby Ryan (as I said before) but I was told by one source (out of many who are telling me the opposite) that the Leafs wont make a deal with Anaheim anytime in the near future unless they're getting an amazing deal. Some other people have told me that the Leafs are looking trade with Anaheim or Pittsburgh sometime soon.
If you're looking for one fantasy draft sleeper (who's probably still a fa in your pool) then I would take a serious look at Jakub Voracek. This rookie has 3 pts in 5 games, and I think is poised to do a lot more damage. In my mind, he's the early Calder Trophy favorite...
More later...

Updates

Sorry I haven't blogged for a bit, been shuffling through cities for a bit. Here's the news. Bell clears waivers. Deveraux has just been put on waivers, as well as Stefan Kronvall. Colaicovo has been shopped around by the leafs, mostly to Pittsburgh. The Ian White rumor I'm hearing has been crushed or put on hold. As my sources indicated White was shopped and ready to be sent to another team, which very well could have been the Flyers, until the club tested him up front, to which he responded very well which boosted White's status big time, as now the club can switch him from defence to forward. A source called me and told me very vaguely that Patrick O'Sullivan will resign, presumably today or in the next couple of days. I've also been told that the Penguins have been talking to Vancouver about a potential deal for a defencemen, which could or could not be Kevin Bieksa. Very interesting. I'll try to get back with more info later...

UPDATE: O'Sullivan has now signed a deal with L.A per TSN.

Bulin Updates, Leafs Updates and Savard Rumor Debunking

I haven't heard too much about what will happen with Khabibulin, and the only hard info I've received from a source was one person told me that Washington was giving Bulin a look, which kinda caught me off guard, but then again, it's only a rumor. I think that when the Caps made a commitment to Theodore they took a chance and I think they'll sleep with that one, and not go after Bulin. We'll see how that one turns out though. I've heard some talk about Europe being an option, but nobody has come straight out and told me that, however if I where to bet on one place for Bulin to land, somewhere in Europe would be my choice.
Some Leafs rumors here that I gathered up and which none should be considered top notch rumors whatsoever, but something to think about:
1)White to Philly (details not specified)
2) Colaicovo to Pitts. (picks return)
3)Kaberle to Pitts. (prospect, picks, and Tyler Kennedy's name been thrown in there)
4)Ponikarovsky to L.A (details not specified)
5)White to Boston (details not specified)
6)Kaberle to Philly (details not specified)
7)Prospects and picks to Anaheim (Bobby Ryan return) - I hear from a source that Fletch is still hot on Ryan but, I personally think that ship has sailed.
---------------Again most of those sources just threw at me, probably for the sake of entertainment, but the White one I've been tracking for a while, and I think the Colaicovo one could happen, givin the right return. The rest I don't think have a chance of happening, but we'll see.

On the Savard rumors, I personally haven't heard anything. Which is odd actually, because usually when a story gets broken at least someone will come along and filter me a rumor. I haven't heard anything though, which leads me to believe there's nothing behind it. I can't see it happening either. The Bruins like Savard, and so do the result sheets. He may have some issues in the dressing room etc... but I haven't heard anything, so I'm guessing this is a no air rumor.
Anywho that's it for today, I'll get back if I hear anything.

Kaberle On the Move? Schenn Goal, Plus More On Bulin...

Frantisek Kaberle that is. I heard from a source that Kaberle could be on the move sometime during the first half of the season. "If not then, then [Kaberle] will be moved at the [trade] deadline." The source went on to say that the suitors could be L.A, Montreal, or St.Louis but to "not count anybody out".
I like Frantisek. He's a great puck moving defencemen, the only thing that has hurt his value has been his injury's, but I think if he stays healthy, he's an asset for any team. The way my source tells it though, the Canes wouldn't be looking for a significant return.

If you wanna watch something that's gunna make you smile, Leaf fan or not, you gotta watch this heart warming goal by Luke Schenn- the shootout winner - last night. Oshie made a great move for St.Louis also, but lost the puck, or else he had a wide open right side of the net. Entertaining.

The latest on Khabibulin is that he was put on waivers as my source indicated, and has recently cleared waivers. A couple of people suggested to me that L.A would pick him up, but someone within the L.A organization told me "The Kings aren't really interested in Bulin, I think. From what I've heard, they're just focused on re-signing O'Sullivan and getting to the cap floor rather than going over it by acquiring [Khabibulin]." The source isn't high up in the L.A organization whatsoever, but was the only person I could get a hold of right now. So don't count L.A out just because of that, because there will obviously be some interest with the recent send down of Bernier. I was also told by someone point blank that the Sens were not interested in Bulin whatsoever, and that they'd like to ride Gerber, which doesn't make a whole lot of sense givin that Gerber hasn't exactly been solid in pre-season. But it's a hard one to call. If the Sens were to want to acquire Bulin, then they would want to move Gerber most likely to avoid another goalie controversy. So my question is this. Is Khabibulin that much better than Gerber? And wouldn't the Hawks want to avoid taking Gerber in return to avoid a goalie controversy of their own between Huet and Gerber? I dunno, just my thoughts.

Khabibulin On Waivers?

I'm hearing rumblings that Nikolai Khabibulin has been placed on waivers or is going to be placed on waivers. I got a text from a source that reads "Khabibulin on waivers." Not so much info there. The source isn't the most reliable but it's at least something to think about. To add on to that vague topic, a buddy of mine in Chi-town said that the talk was Bulin was headed to Ottawa.
I'll talk about that and more when I hear more about it....

UPDATE: Now confirmed by TSN..

Debunking Gaborik Rumors...

One subject that is sure to come up over the next couple of weeks (or perhaps months) is that of Minnesota Wild's star Marian Gaborik being moved to another team. Here's the scoop. Gaborik wants tons and tons of money if he's gunna stay and play for the defensive minded Wild. There's nothing to argue there. If Gaborik is going to have to restrict his offensive output then he wants long term security and big, big money. And he's got one of the best agents to do it. Now here's the thing, Minnesota has already offered him a fair amount of money, which he has turned down, and has recently left the Wild with a number and told them basically "Sign me for this, or I sign for nothing". This puts the Wild in a bit of a bind. If they choose to trade Gaborik they will not get full value, because everyone else is gunna know that they want to get rid of him. If they choose to keep him but not sign him, then they risk the chance of him calling them on their bluff and going elsewhere via free agency (which, believe me, will happen if they don't sign him). So the question is this: will the Wild sign him, or trade him. Many believe they will end up trading him if he continues to ask for the contract he's asking for (which I've heard is around Ovechkin-ish type of money, something he certainly has not yet earned). In fact I've had one person tell me straight out that in his mind Gaborik being moved is 100% happening.
Me? Not buying it. I don't see Gaborik going anywhere, but to celebrate a 9 year deal worth millions, with the Wild. The fact is, the Wild can't afford to lose Gaborik- and he knows it! Without Gaborik the Wild have the chance of losing not just games, but fans, and credibility. Even if they pull off a deal for him witch seems like an okay deal, unless they bring in at least, at least, fair value (aka a top forward or two or three) then the Wild lose. Even if they save that money from the Gaborik deal and use it toward the UFA market and try (key word is try) to bring in a nice forward, they still lose.
So my point is that the only way this conundrum is going to be solved is by the Wild giving Gaborik what he wants, even though it might be tough to see. So Wild fans, I wouldn't lose too much sleep over the Gaborik issue, as I'm all but sure he'll be sticking around for a while, maybe even more than a while...

Taking In the Leafs/ Pens Pre-Season Game, Update Schneider Rumor...

Although it is only pre-season, these games give us a bit of glance of the talent of the players that will be playing next season. When watching a pre-season game, try not to think about the score, and try to pin point the players, and you'll instantly see the one's with good work ethic (along with the ones just fighting for a job). Two players really stand out in my mind from yesterdays game between the Leafs and Pens. Luke Schenn, and Justin Pogge. Pogge continued to look great and comfortable in net. He had little chance on the goals that he did let in: two went in off his own defenders (Boumedienne and Stralman), and one was a 2-0 with Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal- I'm sure even Marty Brodeur would have nightmares about that- after Stralman blew a tire and created the turnover in the Leafs defensive zone.
For me, Schenn was the only solid defender for the Leafs last night. Even Tomas Kaberle found his jockstrap in the crowd- along with other Leafs- when Malkin decided to have a little game of keep away. Schenn consistently makes smart plays, and doesn't show any rookie jitters or impatience. He's very very mature for a hockey player of his age. He did have one sort of bad turnover however, but right after made a smart move to gain the puck back. Ron Wilson is gunna have to send him out there alone if he wants to make a case for sending him to the minors.
Leaf overratee (yes it's a word now) Nikolai Kulemin seemed invisible once again, until one power play where he decided to dangle around a few Pens and snap a dangerous shot.
Grabovski had some bad turnovers in the game, but made up for them with a beautiful goal with around ten seconds left in the game. Draped all over Pens, Grabovski rushed to the net, and slid the puck home. Grabovski seems almost too selfish though. Even though it's a pre-season game, just watch him every time he gets the puck, he'll try to create everything by himself, but due to his size, often then not he'll end up planted on the ice. He is very skillful though, and I can seem him turning into a very solid forward force for the Leafs.
On the Pens side of things, they seemed like they were just playing with the young Buds. Malkin threw so many dangles together the Leafs must of thought they were in Slapshot 2.
Staal showed once again how unselfish he is on the 2-0 with Evgeni Malkin. Malkin promptly handed Staal the puck right in front of Pogge with no defenders in sight, and in a situation where most players in pre-season would try to plot the puck home for their own benefit, Staal threw it right back to Malkin who tapped it in to the mercy of Pogge.
The final score by the way was 3-2, but that hardly tells the full story as the Pens dominated the Leafs.

As for the Schneider rumor, I really thought it would have been over by now, the deal that is. It's the first time I've actually had a ton of people tell me the same thing over and over. For that, I suspect the deal should be done by the end of this week, but the mystery factor is still there because my none of my sources could give me any real hard info, like the details of the trade, so don't count this as too reliable. I'm trying to dig around for more info, but haven't got anywhere. If I come up with something I'll let you know. I do know that the Blues really need a defender, among other things, if they wish to make some noise this year. Schneider seems like an okay fit, but why not Marek Malik (UFA) ? He's not as top notch as Schneider, but is still a very good d-man in my opinion. And I'll keep campaigning for someone to sign him until some one does!

I shall be writing more later, especially if I find anything more on Schneider...
UPDATE: Traded to Atlanta