Welcome to Puck Daddy's all-day trade deadline coverage. We're publishing fresh posts every hour with breaking news, fresh rumors and "live blog" analysis. Please share what you've heard and what you think will happen down in the comments. Check out Hour 4 here.
12:43 p.m. EST - TSN's calling the Olli Jokinen deal, claiming that the star center is going to the Calgary Flames for Matthew Lombardi, Brandon Prust and a first-round pick. McKenzie and Dreger are both saying that the numbers don't really seem to add up, so perhaps there may be some variation on this or another deal down the line today.
We'll break down this one at the top of the hour. As for trades that are as official as they come: The Boston Bruins have traded center Petteri Nokelainen to the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman Steve Montador. The Bruins held Nokelainen out of practice in preparation for this trade, after coming back from an eye injury.
Montador is an expiring contract and is having a pretty darn good season (plus-14) for the Ducks. Good snag for the Bruins blue line. On the scale:
Nokelainen has been a bust so far and Montador boosts the Bruins defense before leaving in the summer. He's also much cheaper than what Derek Morris would have cost. (Morris is becoming the Brady Quinn of this deadline, isn't he?) Nicely played, B's.
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12:33 p.m. EST -- Just a note on Gerber to the Leafs: The general thought is that Vesa Toskala could be shut down due to injury at some point. Gerber joining the team isn't an indication that Toskala's on the move. We think.
Bruce "Malkin To the Kings" Garrioch has rumor porn:
- Flyers are still on Bouwmeester big time.
- The Sharks are the frontrunner.
- A lot of talk Steven Reinprecht may get dealt to the Hawks. He has a history with Joel Quenneville.
The San Jose Sharks are the "frontrunner?" For Jay Bouwmeester? Seriously? He means the Cup, right? Because otherwise .... J-Bouw, Blake and Boyle. Whoa.
Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland on TSN said it appears his team won't be making a move but "who knows?"
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12:22 p.m. EST -- A little reaction to two of the most recent moves.
The acquisition of Mikael Tellqvist by the Buffalo Sabres has raised all the "Ryan Miller is on his death bed" chatter, but Coach Lindy Ruff said Miller is progressing well even if there's no timetable for him to test the ankle. If anything, the Tellqvist trade is an indication of the team's confidence in Patrick Lalime during what is a no margin for error Eastern Conference race.
That said: With Derek Morris and Olli Jokinen and Tellqvist ... it's a little depressing to see the once-promising Phoenix Coyotes sellers again.
As for Brendan Morrison, acquired by the Dallas Stars via waivers, Mike Heika of the Dallas Stars Blog breaks it down thusly:
I'll start with the bad. He is still not 100 percent healed from knee surgery, and that's why the Ducks are moving him. He also is listed as making $2.75 million, which means he will cost about $650,000 for the remainder of the season, and that's another reason the Ducks are moving him.
Now, for the good parts. He is a great person, a good leader, a solid power play player, and a versatile forward. He can play center or he can play wing. He's another lefty (which is bad), but he can help bridge the gap until Brad Richards gets back.
Heika is concerned that Morrison's addition may "stunt the growth of Brian Sutherby," which is a reminder that Brian Sutherby hasn't been in Dallas for all that long.
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Noon EST -- It's pretty clear that Mark Recchi is going to be moved today, as long as the Tampa Bay Lightning come off of their asking price. There's zero chance a body's going for the old man. But he can help a good team with some depth scoring.
Are the New York Rangers a possibility? You wouldn't think so, but stranger things have happened. Speaking of the New York Rangers and strange ... from Dave Pagnotta of TFP:
A head scratcher... Rangers have inquired about Martin St. Louis of the Lightning.
Well, now that's just crazy talk, right?
TSN reports that the Pittsburgh Penguins have traded defenseman Danny Richmond to the St. Louis Blues for defenseman Andy Wozniewski, who spent nearly all season with the AHL Peoria Rivermen. The Phoenix Coyotes have traded Mikael Tellqvist to the Buffalo Sabres as well for a fourth-rounder.
Bob McKenzie with waiver wire madness: The Toronto Maple Leafs claim goalie Martin Gerber from the Ottawa Senators and Eric Reitz from the New York Rangers; the Dallas Stars get their center, claiming Brendan Morrison from the Anaheim Ducks; and the Penguins claim Craig Adams from the Chicago Blackhawks.
