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Post by Vegas Golden Knights GM on Sept 29, 2006 12:20:41 GMT -5
Ouch, what are the Canes thinking?
I also liked how TSN's original headline was "Canes Acquire Gleason"...as if he were the centerpiece of the deal.
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Post by ColumbusGM on Sept 29, 2006 12:30:52 GMT -5
Worst deal ever?
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Post by LAKingsGM on Sept 29, 2006 13:04:55 GMT -5
(Worst trade ever?)Oh, I don't think so. Gleason is only 23 and has become a nice two way top 4 defensemen. Eric Belanger is a very capable 2nd/3rd line player with grit for Carolina---when healthy. This makes them more of a complete team again for this season.
Jack Johnson is a highly touted prospect, no doubt, but let's face it, he hasn't proven anything in the NHL...yet. Oleg never fit in Carolina but he is only a few years removed from putting up massive numbers in the NHL. I think new life in LA could revive his career. He had 23 points last year for Carolina in limited action.
Rutherford isn't stupid. I've always liked Jack Johnson, but he could be a bit enigmatic. Maybe not the type of player the Hurricanes really like. Getting Gleason who has the proven ability on the blueline isn't such a bad trade, IMO and dumping Tverdovsky's salary could prove to be a nice move IF there is, in fact, another deal brewing.
I say it is a win win situation for everyone. LA gets their bluechip defensemen prospect they've craved since trading Grebeshkov and Carolina gets proven skill in young Gleason and vet Belanger.
The kicker here is how well Tverdovsky does. If he puts up Visnovsky type numbers this season, this trade is a coup. We'll see.
I wouldn't call it the worst trade ever. This trade involving the mentioned franchise (CAR/HFD) could be:
Pittsburgh Penguins traded John Cullen, Jeff Parker and Zarley Zalapski to the Hartford Whalers (pre-Carolina years) for Ron Francis, Grant Jennings and Ulf Samuelsson.
That pretty much won the Penguins their first Stanley Cup.
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Post by Elite Sim News (ESN) on Sept 29, 2006 13:07:15 GMT -5
Easy there killer. It's not like Gleason is a career ECHLer here, the boy can play. And the "can play" part is the reason there was a deal. I think it's pretty apparent that what I didn't want to believe actually was the cause: Jack Johnson did not want to play for Carolina. If that is the case, which it appears to be, I would have to take issue with that. Tim Gleason is all of 23 years old, and was himself a first round selection (Ottawa, 23rd overall) in 2001. Last season Gleason finised with 21 points (2 goals, 19 assists) and was EVEN playing for Los Angeles. He doesn't have the size Johnson has, but he is still a good all-around defenseman. He's added some strength this year, which was a knock on him. He can skate well and does also have offensive upside. Gleason isn't exactly Christian Laflamme back there. From Carolina's POV, if Johnson made it clear he had no intention of playing with the Hurricanes, they made out pretty well. I don't think there's a team in the league that doesn't understand the situation here. If Johnson wanted to play in Carolina, there's no chance he gets dealt. However, he's now property of the Kings, so I think we know how that played out. The 'Canes got themselves a very talented young defenseman in return for a player they were never going to see suit up for them. That's not a bad thing in my mind. They also got rid of Oleg Tverdovsky, which speaking strictly from a defensive standpoint is never a bad thing either. Dropping his contract (5 mil the next 2 years) was also nice. For Los Angeles, getting Jack Johnson SHOULD be a pretty deal in the near future. Hopefully he will find Los Angeles more to his liking than Raleigh would have been. The Kings now have some mighty impressive prospects. Gleason was among that group, so we will now replace him with Jack Johnson, to go along with O'Sullivan, Kopitar, Brown, Boyle, Tukonen, Bernier etc. In the end, I think Carolina did pretty well given the circumstances. As much as it hurts me to say this as a much too loyal supporter of USA hockey, my opinion of Jack Johnson has taken a major blow. Obviously Los Angeles appears to have the better of this deal. Jack Johnson has all-world potential, while that of Gleason is likely a #3 (best case scenario he actually becomes a top pair guy, which isn't likely). Carolina dumped Tverdovsky's contract and got a pretty good young defenseman who will put on the jersey and skate on the ice in Carolina. I will forever be of the opinion (perhaps it is a fact, but I can't say for sure right now) that Johnson made it known that he would not play for Carolina. That's the only reason I can logically come up with as to why the 'Canes would trade Johnson. However, if that isn't the case then the 'Canes are pretty d**n stupid. Given the team they have put together, I wouldn't go around calling Carolina brass a bunch of idiots. So, assuming that is the case, and the entire league knows you are over the barrel so to speak, getting Gleason and Belanger isn't bad at all. Hope you enjoy yourself in Los Angeles JJ. I sure as hell know the fans in Carolina will.  |
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Post by Elite Sim News (ESN) on Oct 3, 2006 14:00:31 GMT -5
And then there's this little beauty:
How about 'dem apples. I have also heard the rumor of Fleury for Nabokov. Giving up on Fleury already?
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Post by Vegas Golden Knights GM on Oct 3, 2006 14:18:56 GMT -5
I stopped reading that after it said "According to Mark Madd-"
Labarbera is barely a backup goalie in this league. And if we wanted Johnson, we could have thrown some Belanger-like scraps to the Canes.
Fleury isn't going anywhere....he's 21! The Sharks are the last team that would want another goalie back. Fleury is talented, but has a long way to go. Why rush it?
Plus, as much as everyone in the world hates Jocelyn Thibault, he has proven over a pretty long career that he can hold up quite well behind awful teams. He was misused last season by that douche Edzo, and then he got hurt. T-Bo will bounce back. Fleury will get time to develop. It'll all work out!
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Post by Elite Sim News (ESN) on Oct 3, 2006 17:01:00 GMT -5
Nate, that's pretty much how I feel. I know all about Mr. Thibault from his Chicago days. I never thought he got the credit he deserved, considering how awful some of those Hawk teams were. I don't see Fleury going anywhere. It wouldn't make any sense at all.
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