Trade Rumors 2012 edition.

First post of this thread will be about Gleason.

He just signed a 4 year 16 million extension with a 2 year full NTC.

So now, where does he go?

I don't think he'll go to one of the top contenders. I think a team battling for one of the lower spots will grab him. I think he'll go to Toronto or Minnesota.

This is unheard of by Jim Rutherford,  He has never negotiated during the season.  So this means Tim Stays put, but where does Ruutu land.

Also, this spells the end for Brian Allen.  He will be the Defenseman on the move I would think. 

Ruutu, and Allen are gone before too long. 

If Ruutu lands in Detroit I will throw the remote at the TV.


^First "remote throwing" post of the year

C'est - I could see Allen in Detroit as he is a pretty good shut down defenseman, but not Ruutu.  Where would he fit in?  Allen will be a UFA after this year, so for teams looking for that shut down defenseman going into the playoffs, Allen would be a good bet.  As for Ruutu, I see him more with a team like the Flyers, or the Devils than I do with a team like the Red Wings. 

The Wings have been rumored to be in the market for a top 6 forward. It makes sense as long as it's not a rental but 1. Ruutu is a UFA this summer and would most likely be a rental, and 2. I don't like Ruutu. He can put up quite a few points but I don't like how he plays in his own zone. He gives the puck up way too often and I think he's lazy. I don't want him wearing a Wings sweater even for just 20-25 games and the playoffs this year.

Obviously landing Zach Parise or Bobby Ryan would be amazing pickups but they're probably pipe dreams. Alexander Semin is out there as well but he needs to learn how to play defense before he can play in Detroit. I don't like lazy players.

I'm not sure how this happened. Before the season the expectation was the Wings would be targeting a defenseman at the trade deadline but now they're going for a top 6 forward. I guess they're holding out for Suter over the summer? Or maybe they're just content with what they have and the upcoming prospects in Grand Rapids.

I don't know. I won't question whatever Kenny ends up doing as long as he doesn't trade for Ruutu. It's just like the Wisniewski rumors over the summer. I was happy to see the Jackets decided to be idiots and sign him to a ridiculous contract (length and $$$). I hope the same thing happens this time around.

Feaster is busy.

The Calgary Flames have traded defenseman John Negrin to the Winnipeg Jets for winger Akim Aliu.

Aliu and Negrin's contract are going to expire and neither was likely to stay within their organization.
Aliu has had a ton of mental issues and was demoted to the ECHL and is a possible reclamation project for Feaster in Abbottsford.  He can still shoot.   Negrin has been having problems developing because of constant injuries and he may have upside if he's healthy and can show progression.

Probably a meaningless trade for both teams in the big picture but it's possible one of the players pay off.   Regardless, it appears neither team was willing to commit more time to those players so a trade was probably best for both clubs.  

I like both gms right now, and while Feaster keeps a Sutter there (only to annoy me) he's done a very good job restructuring how he has all 50 of his contracts lined up and the other 40 he is able to retain rights for.   He's definately reworking the entire organization and these subtle moves by him should give Flame fans reason for optimism in a couple years.

You can look around the league on any given year and there are about a dozen clubs that just hang on to guys with high ceilings that they know they won't resign in the summer.   It's nice to see gms and staff that don't work that way.

I think the Cole signing over the summer got JR off his rear on not negotiating with players during the season.  Rutherford thought all along Cole would not be a problem to resign, but Cole wanted security, 4 years and Rutherford was only going to give him 2 years like he had before.  When the time came to resign, Cole said no he wanted to test the waters, and then when He came back he said 4 years 4 million, Rutherford thought he was bluffing and boom he was gone.  He didn't take that chance with Gleason.  He got smart in a hurry.  Now he needs to sign Skinner to a 10 year 40 million contract and lock that kid in for the long term.  (BTW, 10 years would make Skinner a FA at the age of 30.)  

The Wings have been rumored to be in the market for a top 6 forward. It makes sense as long as it's not a rental but 1. Ruutu is a UFA this summer and would most likely be a rental, and 2. I don't like Ruutu

In my opinion the Wings can always use another forward, top 6 is great or even a good player for the 3rd line wouldn't hurt at all and wouldn't be nearly as expensive to acquire.  I don't trust a guy like Holmstrom anymore and don't expect Bertuzzi to put up a lot of points in the playoffs either so one more gritty player that can put the occasional puck in the net is a great idea.  Not Ruutu though, no thank you is what I say to him.  And don't worry, Kenny isn't going to rent a top 6 forward that's for sure.  They cost too much to acquire and the Wings aren't known to trade anything significant for a player that is likely to disappear a couple months later.  

Obviously landing Zach Parise or Bobby Ryan would be amazing pickups but they're probably pipe dreams. Alexander Semin is out there as well but he needs to learn how to play defense before he can play in Detroit. I don't like lazy players.

Bobby Ryan would be a wonderful pickup for the Wings, he's a young power forward and a player the Wings could really use in their top 6 and power play as well.  But he's on the Ducks who happen to play in the same conference as the Wings so unless Holland feels like overpaying to a crazy extent I doubt we'll see Ryan in Detroit.   Parise? Hummmmm, I like him and he might be a lot cheaper but once again he's a rental and I have a feeling Jersey will be asking for more then he's worth.

 

New Jersey will likely only ask for draft picks and prospects. They're in financial crisis and would like to get something inexpensive in return for Parise before his contract comes off the books in the summer and they end up getting nothing for him. They will be officially in rebuilding stage when the season ends. I think he'll get traded. If the Wings land him I think there's a good chance of signing him to a long term deal or even an extension before the season ends. Good players usually like to play on good teams in good hockey markets. Detroit is a good place for that and left wing is a scarce position on the Wings roster. It's easy to forget that Franzen is a natural right wing but was put on the left side to play with Datsyuk and Bertuzzi/Holmstrom the last few years. Zetterberg also prefers to play center. Parise would be a great fit in the Wings lineup.

Of course what I just said is pointless because Parise won't end up in Detroit.

No offense, Tuomo - you have a sensationally silly name, and for that, I will always have a soft spot in my heart for you - but I'd sincerely hope that if Holland thinks the Red Wings need to pick up a center that sucks at faceoffs, his name would be Malkin, not Ruutu.

PS: Ruutu is not a top 6 forward on the Wings. As for Semin - I will petition the courts to have Ken Holland declared incompetent if he goes after him.

I think he (Gleason) stays and Bryan Allen will be dealt. I don't think Allen has played terrible but players like Gleason and Harrison have played better this year. Also, Carolina loves their offensive Defensemen so Faulk, Pitkanen and McBain will probably not be dealt. Spacek is kind in the middle of the two groups I have mentioned, but he has a limited no-trade clause to make it harder to trade him.

I think a good place for Tuomo Ruutu would be with the Wild. With the uncertainty of Bouchard and Latendresse, it makes sense to me.  

I agree Ruutu would be suited for the Wild, but what does the Wild have the Fletcher would be willing to give up that Rutherford would actually want?

My best guess would be for Casey Wellman and a draft pick. Not sure how high or low or which draft year though. It would not surprise me if instead of one good draft pick there was two okay draft picks, etc

How is Gleason really an upgrade over anything the Leafs have?

How is Gleason really an upgrade over anything the Leafs have?

that depends greatly on if you're looking at right now, or the future, and if you're judging offensively, defensively, or overall.

gleason is definately better that komisarek in pretty much every facet, and comes with a smaller cap hit.

right now, i'll take gleason over franson, aulie, and gunnarsson.  these guys might develop in to better players, but right now they just aren't.

gleason is definatley better than gardiner in every aspect except offense, and right now the separation in that aspect isn't that great (although i totally feel that when gardiner develops more, he'll far surpass gleason in terms of offense).

I'd say that THIS YEAR, gleason is at least a match for schenn, if not playing better.  now i do think that schenn is probably a better player, and just having on off year, but that being said, THIS YEAR gleason is better.

so the only guy on toronto's D who is clearly better than gleason, IMO, is phaneuf.

gleason would EASILY step into toronto's top 4, and likely be a top pair guy with phaneuf.  he would for sure be your 2nd or 3rd best d-man right now.

right now, i'll take gleason over franson, aulie, and gunnarsson. these guys might develop in to better players, but right now they just aren't

.

I don't think Gunnarsson should be mentioned here. In my opinion he is one of the most underated players on the Leafs. For example, in the last 23 games for the Leafs, he ranks 2nd in average ice time by Leaf defensemen. (I admit Jake Garnier was close to being second, however his extra ice time came because Lilies only played in the last 11 of the 23 sample. Also, Lilies ice time was affected by him being weaned off his injury or else he could have easily been second.) Gunnarsson has averaged 22.4 mins for hast 23 games to be exact.  

Gunnarsson is definitely the better player for the future. As for the better now player between Gunnarsson and Gleason. If you need a defensive defensemen, more towards the physical side, then Gleason is the now player. Gunnarsson best defensive skills are more to do with smarts than physical. I like Gunnarssons offensive skills better than Gleason, not a lot better right now, but better and with a up side. I personally think Gunnarsson's best game is better than Gleason's best game, but I admit on average, I would give a slight edge to Gleason because he is more consistent. At the very least I don't think Gleason is way better than Gunnarsson right now.

I agree on both counts your honor.......neither of those guys is really what the Wings need. I'm hoping Holland has a surprise lined up. Things are about to get active everywhere. Won't be long.