Late trades!

So San Jose gets Bill Guerin
Detroit picks up Todd Bertuzzi

Those are the big names in the last-minute NHL deals. If Bertuzzi makes it back from back surgery, that's a great pickup for Detroit, a big, fast veteran built for playoffs. And he can light it up.

San Jose needed something to get going again and Guerin could help. Although I liked Ville Niemenin, who they gave up, a lot. he goes to the St. Louis Blues, a team that has made a remarkable comeback since firing coach Mike Kitchen and hiring Andy Murray, the former LA Kings coach. In fact, St. Louis, which had the worst record in the league into December, was almost at .500 before dumping Keith Tkaczuk and now Guerin.

But these aren't bad moves for the Blues, who realistically didn't have a shot at the playoffs this year. With Big John Davidson as team president, a young team and a solid coach, they will be a team to watch next year. They also just re-signed their goalie, Manny Legace, which is interesting, because I'm not sure he's the kind of goalie you build a team around. Time will tell.

Trade Deadline Day

Much like the NBA, whose trade deadline passed quietly last week, there has not been a huge blitz of trades so far. Of course, Peter Forsberg was traded to Nashville a couple of weeks ago. And Keith Tkaczuk was moved by the St. Louis Blues to the Atlanta Thrashers, who've gone into a nosedive this month. The Thrashers also picked up Alexei Zhitnik. And the 'Canes traded for Anson Carter, who, to me, has parleyed one good season about six years ago into a career.

But the other deals have not exactly been big names. There's still time left for someone to make a move. Problem is everyone is so bunched up that teams on the brink (like the Rangers) are probably reluctant to give away talent even though it appears evident they're not making the playoffs this year.

Anyone out there have an idea for who they'd like to see the 'Canes pick up who's available?

Rangers 4-'Canes 1

My two favorite teams. But sorry, 'Canes, Rangers will always be #1 to me. So last night was a good game for me. My team played outstanding, the best I have seen the Rangers play this year based on 7 to 8 viewings. The 'Canes looked flat, generating few scoring chances, especially when the game was still close. And once the Rangers took a 3-1 lead, I thought the 'Canes basically packed it in; they never made a push in the 3rd period at all.

The Eastern Conference is a jam right now. Rangers are 3 points out of a playoff birth, but there's a mess of teams in contention. With some 30 games left, it's basically playoff time now, and teams have to give it their all every night. The 'Canes, who with 64 points are hanging onto that last spot, tied with Montreal, have to do more if they want the chance to defend the Cup.

Excellent move by Nashville, by the way, acquiring Peter Forsberg. Getting the most talented veteran out there, especially good in the playoffs, is the kind of move a team on the brink makes. Much like the 'Canes acquired Doug Weight last year. And Forsberg is way more talented than Weight. Will be interesting to see if Predators can push deep into the playoffs. Much less hold off the Detroit Red Wings for their division title and points lead.

Tidbits

'Canes won a must-win game last night, beating a lousy team in their own building. But just barely. Still, it's 2 points.

I watched a good chunk of the Anaheim-Colorado game. The Avalanche won 2-0, but I wasn't that impressed. The Avalanche goalie, Budaj, had a good game, but I didn't think Anaheim had that many quality chances. Nor were the Avalanche strong offensively.

Finally, St. Louis came back from 6-2 down last night, losing 6-5 to San Jose. After a terrible start and the firing of their coach, St. Louis looks like it is back on the road to respectability. They're 22-27, and won't make playoffs. But future bodes well for this franchise with management team led by John Davidson, who is missed as a television commentator, the best their was in my opinion, but a sharp talent evaluator. If the Blues get themselves a goalie, they'll really be in business. Manny Legace is not an "A" goalie; yes, he did fine for Detroit, but Detroit knows how to play defense and allows its opponents few quality chances. Legace doesn't exactly have a fortress playing in front of him in St. Louis.

Huge win

In the long hockey season, the real playoffs start about now, with 25 to 30 games left as teams jockey not only to get into the playoffs, but for position.

For the Hurricanes, last night's comeback win over the Bruins in Boston was huge. A defending Stanley Cup champion should, at this time of year, be winning games against lesser teams on the road and winning nearly all of its home games. Ray Whitney came up big with a natural hat trick late in the second period and the 'Canes were home free after looking out of sync for much of the first two periods.

For the difference in intensity requires of teams hoping to make it, my team, the Rangers, has displayed nothing the past three weeks and is sinking faster than (insert your own metaphor here).

It will be fascinating to watch how the 'Canes finish through the stretch and in the playoffs. While the Sabres are looking like the team to beat in the East, the 'Canes, having been there before and with the same nucleus as last year, should be a challenge for anyone in the playoffs. Trade deadline is fast approaching, too, and the moves made should be interesting. Will the 'Canes try to pick up help as they did last year, or are they OK with the team they've got?

Better yet, let's throw it out there: If you were Jim Rutherford, who would you like to see the 'Canes make a bid on and why? (and let's be realistic, only thinking about players who could/should be available. The 'Canes aren't going to acquire Sidney Crosby)