MOOOOOOSE!!!!

                                                                            Johan Hedberg (February 10, 2011 - Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images North America)

“MOOOOSE,” chants have been heard throughout the Prudential Center 16 games this year.  That is about 12 more times then I was expecting.  When Johan Hedberg came to New Jersey this offseason I thought it was a waste of money, with the expected number of games Marty Brodeur’s backup typically plays and the cap space needed with Ilya Kovalchuk and all, I would have rather paid the league minimum for Yann Danis again.  I had a feeling at first Hedberg was only signed to persuade Kovy to sign with the Devils or at least make it more comfortable for him to sign here.

I was wrong when I expected Moose to be collecting splinters most of the season with the exception of a handful of games.  That handful of games played was expected due to the fact that Brodeur’s backup as averaged about 9 games played a year for the past 5 years (excluding the year he was injured). Hedberg has already played in 31 games this year, starting 24 of them.  I cannot complain as Johan definitely won some games for the Devils that Brodeur would not have been able to.  Due to a few injuries to Brodeur at different times and playing extremely well resulted in the substantially larger than normal number of games he’s played.  It also kept Brodeur on the bench for a few games when he became healthy again. 

Hedberg’s work ethic and competitiveness is well above average, contributing to his solid goaltending.  The players and coaches are extremely happy with the way he has played, too.  Even in his last game, a loss to Tampa Bay and the first after 9 consecutive wins, coach Jacques Lemaire said he was happy the way Moose played and  that, “He still played the game he’s been playing this whole time.” His goals against average is in the top 10 in the league at 2.24.  This is the best GAA of all the goalies (at least 15 games played in) who are playing for the last 4 teams in the Eastern Conference.  Hedberg has yet to play a poor game this season, yes he’s had a weak goal here and there, but between his confidence level (just coming off winning 9 in a row) and his ability to steal games he will definitely be great in the 5 more games he plays this year.  His stats and ability to play so well shows he has the potential of a pay increase come July 1^st.  Even at 37 he will be a great veteran backup that can play 35+ games at a high level.  He proved it again this year.

Welcome and Deadline Deals

So this would seem to be my first blog post.  I will talk about pro hockey, mainly the show with the occasional look into the minors and a story about a goalie here and there (I am a goalie myself, just finished my college career, so I feel the need to show some love).  Hopefully you’ll enjoy this first post and will check back frequently as I plan on updating with new posts as much as I possibly can.

So today, well yesterday now, was the trade deadline and it definitely was quieter than most that I remember in the past.  The biggest deal seeming to be Dustin Penner going back to Cali to play for LA.  He should have a positive impact for the Kings playing on the top two lines and putting in time on the power play.  His point production should increase playing alongside Anze Kopitar.  The Oilers received a nice return for Penner.  They got a promising prospect defenseman in Colten Teubert who put up solid points for a d-man in major-junior and plays a tough game and once he’s fully developed could possibly throw his weight around. They also have a 1^st round pick this year and a 2^nd or 3^rd round pick in 2012.  These acquisitions could greatly benefit the young and developing Oilers team.

Out of the 16 trades on the deadline, the fewest number over the past decade, the Capitals two moves look like they will help them in their playoff push.  They received a veteran center they needed in Jason Arnott from the Devils.  He will definitely have a great contribution to the team and has a lot or veteran leadership and knowledge he will bring to the team.  They gave up a second round pick in 2011 and David Steckel.  He was expendable as they have a number of forwards that can fill in for him; the second round pick seems to have been the deal breaker for the Devils and their future.  Steckel, and his faceoff winning ability, will help Jersey in their miracle run towards the playoffs even though it is unlikely they will make it in.  If he was with the team for their last loss to the Bolts he might have won one of those two faceoff losses in a minute during the second period that lead to both goals against in a 2-1 loss.  Then the Caps trade with Florida, who were major sellers yesterday, for Dennis Wideman adds depth for their defenseman and could mean Mike Green is worse for wear.  And if Green is healthy Wideman won’t see as many minutes but will still contribute.  Even if he does not play much they did not give up too much for him.

Florida is definitely moving towards a rebuilding stage.  They received a project prospect in Jake Hauswirth who has only logged minutes in the ECHL and a Third round pick from the Caps in 2011.  They also made deals with Vancouver, Atlanta, and Carolina and the Rangers two days before the deadline.  The deal with Vancouver gives them a prospect d-man in Evan Oberg who put up decent points for a defender in the AHL last year and they also received a 3^rd round pick in 2013.  The Panthers gave up Chris Higgins as he was not part of the team’s future plans and the Canucks were searching for a lower 6 forward.  The trade with Atlanta brings Florida a promising player in Niclas Bergfors.  He is in his 2^nd full year in the NHL (and his 3^rd team) and has a very promising future.  The Devils gave him up in the trade for Kovalchuk.  The Panthers also got Patrick Rissmiller who will probably play out the remainder of his contract this year and not be resigned by Florida. They did give up a fifth rounder this year and Radek Dvorak who was expendable as he was not part of the future in the team. Finally the Panthers got Sergei Samsonov from Carolina.  He is a veteran that could contribute this season and may be back after July 1^st but there is a possibility he could be trade bait during the draft.  The Panthers got rid of salary by moving Bryan Allen back in return, which gives the Canes’ a defensive d-man.

The trade deadline has come and passed and there seems that there were fewer deals this year due to GM’s making more calculated trades prior to the 28^th.  The rest of the season will tell whether these were good deals for the teams looking to get into the playoffs or make the GM look like a dope. I’m not pointing any fingers but Mr. Sather has looked pretty dumb in the past but maybe this year’s moves will work out fine, but then again you couldn’t seem to acquire the key player needed (Brad Richards). Only time will tell.