Having another go

I haven't been active with the blog for ages. My last post was on Oct. 21st 2008.

Due to lack of feedback from readers, thus giving me a lack of motivation, I've been nowhere near this blog. This is going to change.
The Swedish hockey league is going into the playoffs, starting Thursday. It should be a great few weeks, possibly with the factor of some upsets for the major teams. I think Linkoping and Farjestad are the main contenders this year. Although I must post a word of warning for the oustider Timra from Sundsvall. For almost the first time since the beginning of the season, they have a full strength team.

In the main part of this blog, I'm discussing the NHL. This will be no exception today. Things have happened since my last post. The most important being the switch of coach in the New York Rangers. Tom Renney got the sack and now "the Sean Avery of coaches" is running the show: John Tortorella.

And he has managed to break a bad streak. With a slow start (losing 2-1 on penalties against the Maple Leafs). But the 6-1 demolition job against the Colorado Avalanche might be the thing turning the Rangers around again. They are still in desperate need of some luck, turning those chances into goals. But the Avalanche game was a start.

Tomorrow, we have the busiest day in the NHL - the trade deadline. Philadelphia might look for a keeper, Calgary needs a puck-moving defensemen according to most experts and the Rangers need, as mentioned above some scoring. So, do I have any thoughts about this?

Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. With almost the whole team of the Toronto Maple Leafs being available, a few guys might move there. Also, Jay Bouwmeester of the Panthers, Chris Pronger of the Ducks, Marian Gaborik of the Wild and Keith Tkachuk of the Blues are a few guys to be mentioned as possible bricks to move tomorrow. I doubt that Gaborik will move but if Bouwmeester doesn't, I'd be very surprised. Rumour has it that he doesn't want to re-sign with the Panthers, thus making this the last chance for the Florida management to get something in exchange.

I think the Flames might make a move for Toronto defenseman Tomas Kaberle, he'd fit right into their plans if the price is right. Also, Nik Antropov might be at a new club by the end of tomorrow. But where might he go?
If the Rangers need scoring, they will need to dig deep. Only a superstar will do. And that will be costly. The Flyers might be looking for a new keeper, but who'd want to let their top goalie go? Cam Ward is out (the Hurricanes are building their team around him) unless the Flyers pay BIG. Tomas Vokoun could be the man.... Perhaps Vesa Toskala from the constantly under-achieving Maple Leafs?

Some experts say that it will be a calm day. I think not. The move of Pens defenseman Ryan Whitney to the Ducks in exchange for Chris Kunitz and Eric Tangradi, sort of set the tone for tomorrow. This is a big deal and both parts will benefit from it. I'm a big fan of Whitney and this was a bit of a surprise deal. And last night, veterfan defenseman Niclas Havelid (and minor forward Myles Stoesz) moved to New Jersey Devils in exchange for defenseman Anssi Salmela. A calm deadline day? I think not.

Stay tuned