Kovie Upstages Ovie

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Written on 2/05/2010 by Jim Cerny

Usually when Alex Ovechkin comes to town---any hockey town really, but in particular New York City, where he just loves to play and torment the Rangers and their fans---he seizes all of the attention and focus.

But not yesterday, however.

Oh, Ovechkin was on Broadway alright last night, but the spotlight instead was on his fellow countryman, Ilya Kovalchuk, who was nowhere near Madison Square Garden.

Let's just say it's the night Kovie upstaged Ovie.

Even before the game between the Rangers and Capitals started, members of the media---and there were more than the norm at last night's game what with Ovechkin and the Caps looking for a 12th straight win and Olli Jokinen set to make his home-ice debut for the Rangers---huddled in groups to discuss rumors that Kovalchuk was soon to be traded.

Just 24 hours prior Thrashers GM Don Waddell had released information that Kovie rejected a pair of mega-deals---$101 million over 12 years, $70 mill over seven years---and was opting to head to UFA status this summer. As a result, Waddell announced that Kovie would be traded.

But to whom? And how soon?

Speculation flew around the press room at The Garden as reporters checked in with sources, shared what they had heard, and probably made up a few rumors, as well. I made a note to myself that it just seemed funny there was little to no chatter about the upcoming game at MSG, and Kovie's name was mentioned a heckuva' lot more than Ovie's.

What followed was one wild night, just a great fun night to be a hockey reporter. The Rangers and Caps played an exciting seesaw contest where goals and the power play ruled the day in a 6-5 Washington victory.

Ovechkin's brilliance was on full display as he notched two goals---including the hugely important one with 8.5 seconds to go in the second period that cut the Caps' deficit to one---and an assist. Nicklas Backstrom put forth a five-point effort. Vinny Prospal tied a career high with four points. Jokinen scored his first goal as a Ranger in a two-point effort. Four power play goals for the Rangers, three for Washington. Great stuff.

But as Ovechkin was throwing himself into a wild celebration over his team's third-period comeback and 12th consecutive victory, reporters were busy verifying web reports and rumors that Kovalchuk had been traded to the New Jersey Devils.

Ovie on the grand New York stage---even scoring his 500th career point (in only his 373rd game, I might add) turning in another virtuoso performance, and upstaged by Kovie.

"I wish him good luck," Ovechkin said to nhl.com's Dan Rosen after the game. "He's a good friend of mine and a great player. It was a big trade."

OK, Ovechkin lost the spotlight last night. And as far as big trades go, this one is the biggest of the season, certainly trumping the recent ones that saw the Rangers land Jokinen and the Maple Leafs acquire Dion Phaneuf and J-S Giguere.

It is the biggest deal of the season because it involves a mega-superstar player going to a legit Stanley Cup contender. Plus it may also be a fatal blow to the Thrashers franchise in Atlanta, where Waddell noted yesterday, "we're struggling with attendence as it is."

I understand Waddell had to trade Kovalchuk. Waddell tried his damndest to ink Kovie with UFA status looming over the contract talks. When Kovie rejected Atlanta's latest offers, he had to be dealt. The Thrashers had to receive something for him as opposed to just letting him walk on July 1.

But did Waddell have to rush into making this trade as he did yesterday? I understand, as Bob McKenzie says over at TSN, that Waddell has studied the market and knows it much better than I. But what did he have to lose by seeing teams react to the news from Wednesday that Kovie indeed was going to be traded?

So the Thrashers get Johnny Oduya---a solid defenseman, but no star, who will be tested as to how good he really is now that he is out of New Jersey's defensemen-friendly system. And they get winger Niclas Bergfors, perhaps a top-six forward, a player who started very strong in this, his rookie, season, but who fell out of favor with Jacques Lemaire. And they get prospect Patrice Cormier, suspended the rest of the year by the QMJHL, but considered a future third liner in the NHL one day. And the Thrashers land New Jersey's late first round pick, while also swapping second rounders and sending Anssi Salmela to the Devils, as well.

That is not an overwhelming package. I know Waddell was not going to win this trade no matter whom he acquired. You never do when you are forced to deal a superstar, especially one whom the receiving team does not know if they can sign to a long-term deal. But there was not a better offer out there, or wouldn't have been in the coming days?

As for the Devils, solid smart move by the master, Lou Lamoriello. I personally do not believe that Kovalchuk will sign with New Jersey after July 1---that is just speculative on my part---but for the here and now Lamoriello did not give up assets he can not replace from within anyway, and he received a superstar player to jolt his team's offense for the stretch run and post-season. Not too dissimilar to his acquisition of Alexander Mogilny in 2000, a move that helped spark another Stanley Cup run in New Jersey.

"What he brings, he can do things a lot of people can’t do," Lamoriello said of Kovalchuk in typical understated manner.

Kovie is sitting at 31 goals and 58 points in 49 games this season. He has 328 career goals already, and has strung together seven straight seasons of 30 or more goals. Twice he has scored 52 goals.

For a team that is in the bottom third of scoring in the league, this is an insane offensive boost for the Devils. How about a power play in a tight playoff game that can feature both Kovalchuk and fellow sniper Zach Parise? And if Patrick Elias can get healthy, add him to the mix, too. Not too shabby.

“We felt Kovalchuk was a player who could come and fill the need that we felt we had for an explosive scorer and someone who could add a different dimension to our power play with the type of shot,” Lamoriello said. “Then it was just the case of trying to make it work somehow where we could not sacrifice tomorrow.”

Will Kovalchuk chafe under Lemaire's preferred style of play as Marian Gaborik often did in Minnesota under Lemaire's watch? Will Lemaire allow Kovalchuk the freedom he so craves in the offensive end? Will we find out how badly Kovalchuk really wants to win now that he finally is on a team with legit aspirations to do so?

"[New Jersey] is a good team and it's a great chance to play in the playoffs and go far in the playoffs," Kovalchuk told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "It's sad at the same time because now -- I can say it -- I've been a Thrasher for eight years. I'm appreciative of everything, the organization and the fans."

Sad day for the Thrashers and their fans. Exhilerating deal for the Devils and theirs. And just plain fun from an NHL reporter's---or fan's---perspective.

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Rangers Land Olli Jokinen

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Written on 2/02/2010 by Jim Cerny

Now that the Olli Jokinen-to-Broadway trade has been completed one big question remains: will it be worth the wait for both the Rangers and the Flames?

Seemingly done on Sunday, only to be held up then nearly dead late Sunday/early Monday, the anticipated trade of Jokinen and rugged Brandon Prust to the Rangers for forwards Christopher Higgins and Ales Kotalik finally was consummated in the wee hours of Tuesday morning.

What held the trade up and nearly sent it sprialing to its death even after all four players had heard their names mentioned in various media reports about the deal?

Some reports claim it was Kotalik's fault, that he couldn't decide whether or not to waive his limited no-trade clause. Other reports state that fault lies with the Sutter brothers who insisted that Jokinen be in the lineup for last night's tilt against the Flyers at the Saddledome.

Either way it was a confusing, bizarre, somewhat embarrassing, and potentially damaging (if the potential trade had completely blown up) situation.

Prust said that he was up and pacing all of Sunday night/Monday morning waiting to hear official word from the Flames. When the call didn't come, he and Jokinen---fatigued both mentally and physically---dressed and played in the eventual 3-0 loss to the Flyers. As soon as the game was over the two learned of their fate.

"You play hard every time you go on the ice no matter the distractions," Jokinen said after the game. "You play for that sweater and the logo on the front."

The 31 year-old Jokinen, a former 3rd overall pick of the LA Kings and a six-time 20-goal scorer, did not seem happy at all about the trade. He said, "It's a real slap in the face to be traded."

He has now been traded five times in his 11-year career. This is the first time Jokinen has responded to being traded in this angry of a fashion. Perhaps he feels that the Sutters are making him---along with Dion Phaneuf---the scapegoat for Calgary's brutal play through January.

"I was hoping to stay here the rest of my career," said Jokinen. "It's a brutal business. But it comes with the salary we make. $5 million, 11 goals, that's not going to cut it."

Of course had Jokinen been more on a pace for, say, the 29 goals he scored a year ago, he wouldn't have been traded. But he hits the nail on the head by pointing out that a salary in excess of five mill, coupled with a scant 11 goals, just doesn't cut it.

I got to know Olli a bit when we were both with the Islanders back in 1999-2000, his only year on the Island after being acquired from LA in the Ziggy Palffy trade and before being shipped to Florida along with Roberto Luongo for Mark Parrish and Oleg Kvasha---quite possibly one of the worst trades in NHL history. Of course he was just a kid, 21, back then, but his commitment to the game did not seem great. He wasn't in the best of shape, hadn't learned to compete and battle every night just yet. But Olli was a good guy, quick with a smile and a joke.

Jokinen matured greatly down in Florida, eventually becoming the captain, an All- Star, and 39-goal scorer and 91 point-producer. He most definitely has shown the ability to be a star, a big physical presence with a sweet skill set to boot. But he is dogged by claims that he is not a team-first player. And last spring was his first go-round in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Winning is not in his genes yet.

But all that said, Rangers GM Glen Sather made a good deal here. First he received the best player, by far, involved in the trade. Second Sather acquired a true heavyweight in the 25 year-old Prust, a role that has been passed back and forth this season between the game-but-overmatched Aaron Voros and 37 year-old Donald Brashear. Third Sather rid his club of Kotalik's inflated contract, which called for two more years at $3 million per for the underperforming winger. Fourth he included Higgins, an UFA this coming July who had struggled mightily on the offensive side of the puck in his first year on Broadway. And finally Sather can clear Jokinen's $5 million plus off the books next summer because he, too, is an UFA. So whether or not Jokinen lights it up or not, the Rangers have freed up money next summer, which they wouldn't have done if they were still tied to Kotalik's contract.

As for Sather's counterpart, Darryl Sutter, he completed a true housecleaning this weekend, moving two big names in Phaneuf and Jokinen, along with their big contracts. But did he get enough in return for either player? Time will tell.

So Jokinen and Prust are in Los Angeles, and both will be in the lineup tonight for the Rangers. Jokinen will even center red-hot Marian Gaborik and Vinny Prospal on the club's top line. Whether he remains there or shifts to a second line to, in theory, spread out the offense, well, only time will tell again.

Rangers' coach John Tortorella knows Olli really well. As coach of the Lightning, Torts saw Olli at his best with the Panthers on a regular basis. Their relationship will be an interesting one to watch develop, or erupt depending upon how you think things will go.

"I'm excited to head back to the Eastern Conference and play for an Original Six team," Jokinen said last night. "And it's a chance to play with one of the better players in the league right now in Gaborik."

A quick final word on Kotalik and Higgins as they leave New York. These are two good men, who both worked hard, but just did not get the job done offensively. Projected as two of the team's top six forwards, neither fit that bill this year. Higgins was a force on the forecheck and was a huge part of the team's excellent penalty killing unit. But he just could not score. And Kotalik quickly fell out of favor with Torts because of his middling play at even strength. He found his way to the press box when he could not even help out the team on the power play, which is his specialty.

To Kotalik's credit, he was a true professional even as things spiraled downwards for him. He was always available for interviews, and was polite, funny, and gracious. Most importantly he was good supportive teammate.

Higgins grew more and more withdrawn as the season progressed. The sarcasticly funny Long Islander replaced by a much more quiet player who never said so, but sure seemed to want out of New York. But he, too, remained a good, hard-working teammate right up until the end, and should be commended for that. Higgins never stopped working as hard as he could to turn things around.

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Burke Wheels and Deals for Phaneuf and Jiggy

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Written on 1/31/2010 by Jim Cerny

As the losses mounted and his team sunk further into the basement of the Eastern Conference you just knew that Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke was itching to pull the trigger on something that would shake up his team. Not just something, something big. A headline grabber that would befit his DNA makeup.

On the last day of January consider it Mission Accomplished. Actually make that Mission Accomplished Times Two.

Burke announced this morning that the Leafs had acquired defenseman Dion Phaneuf (photo) from the Calgary Flames as the headliner in a seven-player trade. Shortly after that announcement Burke was back to confirm that he had picked up goaltender J-S Giguere from Anaheim in a three-player swap.

Phaneuf and Giguere. A couple of years ago Burke would have been heralded as a genius for landing this pair. Then again a couple of years ago there is no way Calgary would have traded Phaneuf or Anaheim would have dealt Giguere, two All Stars playing at the top of their game.

But the last two years have tarnished the on-ice images of both Phaneuf and Giguere as each player has seen a rather steep decline in his play. Burke is banking on both to return to form, and if that happens, he will indeed be heralded as a gutsy genius.

Of course both players will have to resurrect their careers in the crucible that is hockey-mad Toronto, while also trying to lift a marquee Original-Six franchise back to respectability. No easy task for Phaneuf and Giguere. This isn't exactly going to Nashville or Atlanta or Long Island to quietly go about getting your game back on track.

At his best Phaneuf is a monster on the blueline, a vicious hitter with a booming shot. He can be a force in both ends of the ice, a minute-muncher who is deployed in all critical game situations. Two years ago he played in all 82 games, notched 17 goals and 60 points, and racked up 182 penalty minutes while being selected to the NHL's First All-Star Team.

The last year-and-a-half Phaneuf has seen his offensive numbers decline along with his steady play in his own end. He was a minus-11 last year, and often seemed disinterested and not engaged. Did anyone say "Security of long-term contract"?

Though better this season, Phaneuf's play has not quite returned to form. Hence today's deal as the Flames gave up on the 6'3", 214 pounder who is still only 24 years old.

"[Phaneuf] is a warrior. He's got a cannon for a shot," Burke said after the deal was announced. "He plays the game hard and I want players who play the game hard because they're hard to play against."

To get Phaneuf, useful 3rd/4th line winger Fredric Sjostrom, and six-foot-six defense prospect Keith Aulie from Calgary, Burke traded away four players, losing quite a bit of his limited scoring depth along the way. Toronto sent winger Niklas Hagman (a three-time 20-goal scorer who has exactly 20 this year), center Matt Stajan (41 points in 55 games this season), rugged Jamal Mayers, and solid defenseman Ian White (a career-high tying 26 points, plus a respectable plus-1 rating) to Calgary.

From Calgary's point of view they are clearly trying to shake up the mix. The Flames have been struggling, and clearly the Sutter Brothers felt Phaneuf was expendable what with their deep backline. White will fit in quite nicely along with Jay Bouwmeester, Robyn Regehr, et. al in Calgary, though he is due a big raise at the end of the season. Calgary's inconsistent offense gets a boost with Hagman and Stajan.

Good deal from the Flames point of view, UNLESS Phaneuf regains form. Then this trade will haunt them for years to come.

As for Giguere, his future has been in doubt ever since Jonas Hiller challenged his reign as the No. 1 goalie in Anaheim a year ago. Hiller took over the mantle this season, and his inking a four-year $18 million extension on Saturday was the final nail in the coffin for Jiggy.

So Giguere takes his Stanley Cup ring and Conn Smythe Trophy and heads to Toronto to try and resurrect his sagging career. He is only 32 years old, and is just two years removed from a season that saw him post a 2.12 goals against average, four shutouts and 35 wins for a Ducks team that was run at the time, not so coincidentally, by Burke.

It will be interesting to see how Jiggy responds to this challenge. Jonas Gustavvson essentially plays the role of Hiller in Toronto, so his situation has not changed a whole heckuva' lot. Except for the fact that he is now playing for a worse team than he did in Anaheim, where his goals against rose to 3.10 last season and 3.14 in 20 games this year.

Vesa Toskala and Jason Blake were shipped to the Ducks in order for Giguere to be reunited with Burke and goaltending guru Francois Allaire in Toronto. Toskala, an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year, replaces Giguere as Hiller's back-up. And Blake is the classic case of addition by subtraction for the Leafs. His play has diminished greatly since signing as a free agent in the summer of 2007 following his breakout 40-goal season with the Islanders. Plus he wore out his welcome with his grating personality rather quickly in TO.

Time will tell if Burke mined some gold today, or if it really is Fool's Gold. But he swung for the fences in a city that demands so much if its hockey team.

Good for Brian Burke. Good day for hockey.

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