Deals At The Deadline II

John Lebow
Mar 20, 2002

I didn't mention the Rangers at all in analyzing the smaller deals - that's because they didn't make any. On Trade Deadline Eve (a magical night, featuring the ghosts of GM's past), The Rangers nabbed superstar Pavel Bure from the Florida Panthers, along with a second round pick in the draft this summer in Toronto. They didn't give up too much in Igor Ulanov, who has been a healthy scratch more than a couple of times, blue-chip prospect Filip Novak, a first rounder this summer, and a 4th round pick next summer. The Rangers also have the right to swap picks with Florida in the second round of the 2002 draft.

Adding Bure gives the Rangers yet another game-breaker, someone who doesn't take stupid penalties a la Theo Fleury, or too injury prone, like Eric Lindros (as a comparison - Bure is no ironman). Pavel Bure is also one of the elite players in the league because teams had to design defenses just around him in Florida. Bure, Dom Hasek, and Joe Sakic, along with maybe two or three others are players that can get into another team's head before a game even starts.

The Rangers will have another 20$ million on Bure over the next two years, and an option for another season at 11$ million. That is why I hate the Rangers. This is a team that constantly tries to buy the best talent available, and it brings a smile to my face every time they miss the playoffs. I was beaming when Todd Bertuzzi scored a hat trick last night to ruin Bure's first game. (editors note: with one goal coming after a beautiful move through Bure's legs - sorry, couldn't resist).

The Rangers made another move, this time hooking up with the Edmonton Oilers, getting Tom Poti and Rem Murray for Mike York. York is the kind of player that will thrive in Edmonton, because of the Oilers' 'speed first' policy. Poti has been a huge disappointment this year for the Oilers, coming off a contract holdout and has a single goal to show for it. I'm not exactly sure where the Rangers will find room for Rem Murray, but he has the ability to be a stable player on a Rangers team that really doesn't have much problem scoring goals (except on the powerplay) as much as it does preventing them.

Also in the Eastern Conference, the Flyers looked to solidify their depth down the middle after injuries to both Kieth Primeau and Jeremy Roenick Deadline Eve. In picking up Adam Oates from Washington, GM Bobby Clarke squandered a first, second and third round pick this summer, as well as one of the top three young goalies not in the NHL yet in Maxime Ouellet. If the Flyers come out as the best in the East, Bobby Clarke will come out looking very good, if not Capitals General Manager Georgo McPhee will be laughing all the way to the draft.

One thing to consider is that Adam Oates is already 40. Speaking to the media last night, he said he could continue for 'a couple more years' at his current rate of production. If this happens, and the Flyers sign him, John Leclair taking feeds from the best passer in the game becomes a rather intimidating sight on the powerplay.

This year, the East is as tight as it has ever been, and another team looking to claim the crown of tops in the East are the New Jersey Devils. In dealing with the Dallas Stars, they managed to get both Joe Nieuwendyk and Jamie Langenbrunner for Jason Arnott, Randy McKay, and a first round pick this summer. Last year, The Devils and Jason Arnott went through the salary arbitration process, which left Arnott, a free agent this summer, with a very bitter taste in his mouth. More than once he had stated that after this season he wouldn't play for the Devils again.

In Nieuwendyk and Langenbrunner, the Devils get two proven players, especially Nieuwendyk, who has been very important in the Star's drives in the past. He could be just the player an unimpressive Devils' team needs to reach the finals again.

Over in the West, things were relatively quiet, with the exception of the Dallas/New Jersey deal and two others. Detroit, head and shoulders over everyone else this year made a deal for another defenseman, picking up Jiri Slegr from Atlanta for Yuri Butsayev and a third round pick. This isn't a big deal, but I did want to openly ask a few questions.

Why bother? The Red Wings are the best team in the league by far, and what can Slegr do on a blueline with Nicklas Lidstrom and Chris Chelios, who could go 1-2 in the Norris Trophy voting this year. Scotty Bowman may have voiced a couple of concerns about the age, and the amount of games his team is playing (almost every player on his top two lines were at the Olympics, and others). Slegr will be looked to provide error-free stable hockey in the five minutes a night where Chelios or Lidstrom aren't on the ice.

In the battle for second place in the league, Colorado picked up Darius Kasparitis from Pittsburgh. Essentially, Kasparitis will be called to fill the roster spot occupied by Ray Bourque last year, although without the offensive flair Bourque had.

Of teams looking to bolster their cup runs, Colorado and Philadelphia have done the most for right now. In the wide-open East, any guess is good, but in the West, the path to the final will still have to run through Detroit.

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