We’re literally doing backflips here, and by we’re I mean the Atlanta Thrashers. Man, they ripped off Pittsburgh.

Per Eklund, I’m sure TSN will confirm it after talking to Holland. More to come.

TSN says Campbell to San Jose…something I (Well, Jeff, but thats cause I was busy, I got the details) said a week ago.

http://faceoffcircle.net/2008/02/18/svengoks-rumors-for-today-guest-post-by-jeff/

San Jose and Ottawa are the front runners, San Jose wanting him thrown in a trade with another player for the Leafs to aquire Cheechoo (bundled with Ponikarovsky or Antropov I’m hearing), or to Ottawa for Vermette, straight up.

UPDATE: This has now been confirmed to be false…the thing isn’t its not so much false as it is Welly changing his mind…Kyle’s been under a lot of stress from what I’ve heard lately and he might have demanded the trade on a whim and changed his mind. Good to see, I’m a big Wellwood fan and think he should stay with the Leafs.

• Stoll to Boston, Philly, or the Rangers
• Murray to Buffalo, St. Louis, or New Jersey, IF the price is lower than what Chiarelli wants right now
• Suter to Edmonton, NYR, or Toronto
• Zherdev to Ottawa, Toronto, or Calgary (Unlikely though)
• Prospal to Washington, Anaheim, or Columbus
• Roberts to Buffalo, Colorado, or Ottawa
• Olesz to Ottawa, Boston, or Toronto
• Jason Blake to Colorado, NYI, or Phoenix
• Clark to St. Louis, Buffalo, or Detroit
• Hossa to Anaheim, Atlanta, Boston, Ottawa, Montreal, or Detroit
• Rolston to Boston, Colorado, or Dallas
• Cheechoo to Phoenix, Toronto, or Calgary (for Tanguay+?)
• Jovonovski to Boston, Detroit, or Minnesota

More to come at noon if I can’t, if not at 4PM.

Oh, and before I go through my stuff today, Eklund posted yesterday on his site that a Malik for McCabe deal was in the works…

Let me tell you, he’s right and wrong. Malik would be in such a deal to send McCabe to Manhattan but realise that he’s only in there as the “dead weight” to clear the space for Mr. McCabe. There is a hefty amount going with Marek if this happens. Also, its not the only possible destination for either of them. San Jose and Washington are interested in Malik, the Islanders, Philly, and St. Louis are interested in McCabe.

Now on to todays stuff. As always, top 3 team unless less than 3 are interested or there are more than 3 “favourites”

• Rob Blake to Detroit, San Jose, Anaheim
• Thibaut to Philly, Anaheim, or Tampa
• Brad Richards to Edmonton, Montreal, or Vancouver (seems like it ;))
• Barret Jackman to Dallas, Colorado, or Vancouver
• Shanahan to Boston, Anaheim, or Chicago
• Knuble to Edmonton, Toronto, or Calgary
• Salei to Boston, St. Louis, or Toronto
• Tucker to Detroit, Calgary, or Edmonton
• Cullen to Phoenix, Buffalo, or Montreal
• Lang to Atlanta (for Holik?) Carolina, or a return to Pittsburgh
• Laperriere to Tampa, Columbus, or Montreal (Imagine the name mixup if he’s traded for Lapierre)
• Doan to Vancouver, Toronto (for Jason Blake+?) or Ottawa

I can do some work on finding out stuff with other players or teams, so just leave a comment if you want me to do some backwork.

Nick Schultz signs, 6 years 21M (3.5 cap hit).

But heres the bigger story…

Fowards Mikhail Grabovski and Matt D’Agostini are likely not playing for the Canadiens’ AHL Hamilton Bulldogs tonight…we’ll have confirmation on this in a bit. On top of that, Michael Ryder has been rumoured to be prepping himself to say adios. On top of this, Olli Jokinen seems to be on the market…

I talked to a good connection of mine, and I was told that the Habs are indeed deep into this race if it happens. He’s saying two prospects, Ryder, and a pick was the offer…now, are the prospects Grabovski and D’Agostini? I don’t know and they don’t know. We could be looking at a massive coincidence or we could be looking at a breaking trade here…

Stay tuned folks.

• Stuart to St. Louis, Buffalo, or Philly
• Campbell to Phoenix, Colorado, or Toronto (likely for the Leafs unless it’s for McCabe or Kubina)
• Huet to Tampa, LA, Washington, or though unlikely, Dallas (talks have happened)
• Tkachuk could be gone AGAIN, but not for as much as last year. Philly, Detroit, and Boston are interested
• Denis will likely be bought out at the end of the year according to a trusted source
• Gomez could be swapped for another big time player. San Jose, Montreal, and Atlanta (maybe for Hossa?) are interested.
• Hatcher could be going to Anaheim to make their defence made of descruction, or maybe Calgary or Buffalo
• Van Ryn to Pittsburgh, St. Louis, or Toronto
• Kubina to Minnesota, Florida, San Jose, or Buffalo
• Ian White to Dallas, Philly, or Nashville
• Havlat to Anaheim, St. Louis, or Pittsburgh
• Liles to Tampa,Edmonton, or Philly
• Carle to Buffalo, Tampa, or Calgary
• Beauchemin to Colorado, Calgary, or Boston

To follow up on the whole thing about Hunter yesterday…there was a big deal in the works but what I’ve been told is the Leafs wanted a sign and trade on Hunter. The Islanders had a condition that if they could get him any longer than 3 years at the price wanted (1.5-2M) then he’s off the market…and look what we have here. This trade was very possible but in the end broke down due to Hunter being just too damn nice.

Was told today that if McCabe is traded to the Island he’d be traded for Hunter, Bergeron and a 2nd…

Though its possible the trade fell out theres a good chance this is a sign and trade…

Now, you may be questioning why the isles would announce the signing. Its simple. Snow wanted to make this signing regardless of whether the trade happened…if the trade doesn’t happen or Hunter isn’t involved people will ask “why the delay in reporting it?”. If its good either way you might as well say it.

Its no coincidence that McCabe told Fletcher he’s consider waiving his NMC…something he’s never done.

I’ll update you guys as I learn more.

Following up on other rumours from previous days…

• Nashville out of Redden Race, apparently Wade might waive it to Colorado, Buffalo interested though
• Foote is likely now to go to Washington
• Sundin’s favourites are Vancouver and Anaheim, San Jose is close too though.
• Kolzig for Khabibulin could very well be possible
• Roloson for Emery (picks involved) is possible too.
• McCabe is favourited to go to the Island, St. Louis is possible
• Raycroft, maybe, to Carolina (they hate their backups)
• Modano favourite to Minnesota, Detroit interested. Both make sense, his original city or his home area. NOT likely he gets traded though.

• Handzus to Ottawa, the Rangers, or Boston
• Roloson to Buffalo, Atlanta, or Tampa, or just maybe part of a package for Emery…
• Emery to Edmonton, Los Angeles, or Chicago
• Zidlicky to Ottawa, Minnnesota, or Vancouver
• Arnott ot Atlanta, Florida, or Philadelphia
• Guerin to Nashville, the Rangers, or Calgary
• Brylin to Tampa Bay, Minnesota, or Florida
• Sydor to Boston, New Jersey, or Vancouver
• McCabe to St. Louis, New York Islanders, or Calgary
• Raycroft to Buffalo, St. Louis, or Carolina
• Khabibulin to Tampa, St. Louis (they’re really hoping for a ____ + Legace Pair)
• Todd White to Montreal, Anaheim, or Minnesota
• Aucoin to Atlanta, Detroit, Florida
• Modano to Boston, Atlanta, Minnesota
• Tellqvist to Tampa, Los Angeles, or Carolina
• Fedorov to Ottawa or Detroit

More in a bit