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Paul Kukla
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As The Trade Deadline Approaches Plus Observations
from Michael Traikos of the National Post,
- A year ago, the Tampa Bay Lightning were in a similar position to where Toronto is now. They were cruising along as one of the best teams in the league. But they still went big at the deadline, giving up a pair of first-round draft picks for Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow, then beefed up their blue line with the additions of Zach Bogosian and Luke Schenn.
None of those players was among Tampa’s top five in playoff scoring or in its top 10 in ice time. But at some point, each provided the necessary grit that was essential in helping a skilled Lightning team advance past the Blue Jackets, Bruins, Islanders and Stars.
If I was Dubas, I’d be looking for something along those lines.
The team doesn’t need a winger like Taylor Hall. It doesn’t need more skill or scoring. It needs more blue-collar players like Bogosian and Simmonds. Guys like Nashville defenceman Mattias Ekholm and Calgary forward Sam Bennett. It needs guys that can push back against Boston and Tampa and Vegas. Guys that can help the Leafs go the distance....
- If you’re the Flames, would you trade Johnny Gaudreau and Bennett for Jack Eichel? Better yet, if the Jets would have been willing to wait, could they have traded Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic for Eichel rather than Pierre-Luc Dubois?
- In any other year, I’d praise Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen for standing by his coach during a tough stretch for the team. But this isn’t any other year. With John Tortorella on the final year of his contract and with Claude Julien, Gerard Gallant and so many other top coaches available, this is a perfect opportunity to make a change.
- After all, if Jeff Skinner could go from scoring 40 goals alongside Eichel to securing an eight-year extension worth $72 million, imagine what the possibilities for a Hart Trophy winner who had never played with a No. 1 centre?
It seemed as safe a bet as any. But two months into the season, no one could have wagered this would be happening.
The Sabres, who are en route to missing the playoffs for a 10th straight year, are not being led by Hall and Eichel. Instead, Sam Reinhart leads the team with eight goals and Victor Olofsson is tops with 16 points.
Hall has one goal and 12 points in 20 games. Eichel has two goals and 15 points. A duo that was supposed to dominate the nightly score sheets and get Buffalo back in the playoffs has been a disaster.
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