Ultimate Hockey Warrior

Steve Stamkos continues to play like an animal in his final season of junior hockey in the OHL (Ontario Hockey League).  Steve Stamkos is in 2^nd place for goal scoring in the OHL, despite playing on one of the weaker overall teams.  Steve Stamkos who is predicted to be drafted #1 overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft has 46 goals in 53 games this year.

Steve Stamkos plays on the Sarnia Sting who are currently sitting in the last and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.  Steve Stamkos’ first year with the Sting was last year, when he took them from the worst team in the OHL to a playoff team last year, despite a weak supporting cast.  This year isn’t too different with Stamkos carrying most of the load for the Sarnia Sting with his 46 goals and 87 points this season.

Steve Stamkos will more than likely be drafted #1 overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, and will likely be competing for a roster spot his first year as a pro.  Keep your eyes on Steve Stamkos because he has the potential to be a great player for many years to come.

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Sidney Crosby will likely return from his injury next week.  The high ankle sprain has kept Crosby out for over a month now, with his last game coming January 18.  Crosby is definitely missed on the ice and in the Penguin’s locker room, but since he has been out Evgeni Malkin has picked up his game and is now leading the NHL in points.

When Sidney Crosby returns to the Penguins from injury, he will likely be put on a line with newly acquired Marian Hossa.  Evgeni Malkin will continue to skate with Sykora and Malone.  But don’t look for Crosby to return until after this road trip at the earliest.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are playing better as of late, giving themselves a chance to make the 2008 NHL Playoffs … but what is the point?

Even if there were to close the gap and make the NHL playoffs, they are getting to get smoked and they will lose out on a top draft pick.  I know it is hard to sit and watch your team lose game after game, but at this point in the season there is more to gain by losing then winning. 

The Maple Leafs have started moving up in the standings and are now only 6 points out of the playoffs.  They have no moved themselves out of the lottery for the #1 draft pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.  With less than 20 games remaining, it is possible they will earn enough points in a weak Eastern Conference to make the 2008 NHL Playoffs. 

The Maple Leafs will lose very quickly if they make the 2008 NHL Playoffs.  Mark my words.  There is not enough talent and not nearly enough heart on the Toronto team to even bother with the playoffs.  If I were the Maple Leafs GM, I would forget the NHL playoffs this year and start playing some of your kids from the minors and give them a taste of the big league.

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Peter Forsberg skated with the Colorado Avalanche for the first time since being re-signed by his former club.  Forsberg’s return will likely be against the Los Angeles Kings this Saturday.

Adam Foote is the other main signing by the Colorado Avalanche yesterday before the trade deadline, and he played 18 total minutes for the Avalanche last night in a 3-2 overtime win.

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The Ottawa Senators fired their coach John Paddock in a surprising move on Wednesday, and GM Bryan Murray named himself head coach.  Paddock has led the Senators in 1st place in the Eastern Conference for most of the year, but the Senators have played horrible as of late and have fallen out of 1st place.

Assistant coach Ron Low was also fired on Wednesday.

“It comes certainly because of performance lately,” Murray said. “The results we’ve been having — or not having — was an indicator that some adjustment, some emotion had to be brought back to the team.”

Murray was the Sens coach last year when they made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals before losing to the Ducks.  John Paddock was hired int he off-season to take over coaching duties for the Senators.

The Senators are such a deep team with the strongest line in all of hockey, with Spezza, Heatley and Alfredsson, plus a great defense and 2 good goalies.  There was no reason for such a falloff from such a strong team, and now Murray will try and turn things around as head coach for the Ottawa Senators.  Although this was Paddock’s first season as head coach of the Senators, he had been with the Senators organization for 6 years.  Paddock was offered an undisclosed job with the Ottawa Senators despite being fired as the Ottawa head coach.

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Huge update on NHL trade deadline day.  The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis from the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for Angelo Esposito, Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen and 1^st round pick.

This is biggest trade so far this year.  Hossa will give the Penguins a very strong team going into the playoffs. Hopefully the Penguins are able to sign Hossa, or else that is a lot to give up for a rental player.

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There has been a lot of activity today in the trade mill in the last few hours before the NHL 2008 Trade Deadline. There have been a number of big trades happening on 2008 Trade Deadline Day. Here is a list as of 1:50 pm of the trades occurring before the trade deadline:

Devils Traded for Bryce Salvador, Blues received Cam Jansson

Panthers Traded for Wade Belak, Maple Leafs received 2008 5^th round pick

Sharks Traded for Brian Campbell and 2008 7^th round pick, Sabers received Steve Bernier and 2008 1^st round pick

Capitals traded for Cristobal Huet, Canadians received 2009 2^nd round pick

Stars traded for Brad Richards & Johan Holmqvist, the Lightning received Mike Smith, Jussi Jokinen and Jeff Halpern

Avalanche traded for Adam Foote, the Blue Jackets received 1^st round pick and conditional pick

Avalanche traded for Ruslan Salei, the Panthers received Karlis Scrastins and 2008 3^rd round pick

Senators traded for Martin Lapointe, Blackhawks received 2008 6^th round pick

Hurricanes traded for Tuomo Ruutu, the Blackhawks received Andrew Ladd

Capitals traded for Sergei Fedorov, and the Blue Jackets received Theo Ruth

The Islanders traded for Rob Davison, and the Sharks received a 7^th round pick

The Canucks traded for Matt Petinger, the Capitals received Matt Cooke

Pittsburgh Penguins traded for Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis, the Thrashers received Angelo Esposito, Erik Christensen, Colby Armstrong and a 1st round draft pick

Ducks trade for Marc-Andre Bergeron, Islanders receive 3^rd round pick

Coyotes trade for Al Montoya and Marcel Hossa and the Rangers receive Frderik Sjostrom, Josh Gratton and David Lenevue

The Wild trade for Chris Simon, the Islanders receive 6^th round pick

Red Wings trade for Brad Stuart and the Kings receive a 2^nd and 4^th round draft pick

The Panthers trade for Chad Kilger and the Maple Leafs receive a 3^rd round draft pick

The Ducks traded for J.S. Aubin, the Kings receive a 7^th round draft pick

The Predators trade for Jan Hlavac and the Lightning receive a 7^th round draft pick

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The first major trade of the day on NHL trade deadline day. Brian Campbell has been traded to the San Jose Sharks from the Buffalo Sabers, tsn.ca reports. Steve Bernier and a 2008 1st round pick went to Buffalo.

Brian Campbell will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year.

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