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Post by Alex Tran on Oct 23, 2008 8:12:50 GMT -5
Busy week ahead for Cliffy: While the Leafs work on their hockey skills, Fletcher will be putting his managing skills to the test. The league's GMs meet at the end of the week in Chicago, and Trader Cliff anticipates the seeds of future deals will be planted.
"We'll see what people are thinking," he said. "It's going to take another 10 or 15 games before some teams want to do something."
For his part, Fletcher has some extra defencemen at his disposal.
With Jeff Finger (foot) on the mend, the Leafs boast nine defenders and will be forced into a roster move when Finger returns. The team – scoring at a rate of just 1.8 goals a game – could use help at forward.
"We know we have to improve our hockey club, so we're open to a lot of things," said Fletcher. "There really hasn't been many trades before the trade deadline. But early- to mid-November, some teams will want to try to improve in certain areas. There could be some possibilities for us."
Fletcher said his phone line is always open if a fellow GM is looking for a trade. He said he's mostly interested in blue-chip prospects and is not afraid to part with draft picks.
"Draft picks are assets, like anything else," said Fletcher. "To trade a draft pick for a young player, if you think the young player is a good player, then it's a good idea.
"We're not trading first-round picks. We're not trading picks for old players that are short-term. We'd only trade picks for a player who will help us in the future."
He cited the example of Mikhail Grabovski, acquired from Montreal for a second-round pick.
"I think Grabovski is going to prove to be better than what generally is available in the second round," said Fletcher.
"I know he hasn't gotten a point yet, but he's a competitive hockey player with skill." www.thestar.com/Hockey/article/520242 |
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Post by Alex Tran on Oct 23, 2008 8:13:36 GMT -5
The league's 30 GMs meet Thursday in Chicago. Of the many agenda items, two things stand out for me:
1. GMs will discuss testing at NHL combines and whether it can be any more thorough in the wake of Cherepanov's death. Cherepanov got a clean bill of health at the NHL combines two years ago, even though he reportedly may have had a heart condition. But, on the other hand, the NHL combine testing did discover a heart condition with former prospect David Carle last spring, potentially saving his life. The overall question the GMs have to ponder is what kind of testing should teams perform, and how thorough can it be?
2. Blues GM Larry Pleau will submit a rule change idea regarding delayed penalties, and it's something that has generated support from other GMs. The idea is to only whistle after the penalized team actually clears the puck out of their defensive zone. So, instead of possession, they would have to totally get the puck out. That could create more offensive chances for the team that's about to go on the power play with extra attacker out. Also, if the puck is in the offensive zone and the offensive team gets called for a penalty, then the team in the defensive zone, if they have the puck, can carry the puck up and shoot it into the zone; but, this time, the goalie stopping it behind the net won't stop play. His team will need to clear the puck out of the zone.
"It's something I brought up a couple of years ago, but didn't have a chance to do much with it," Pleau told ESPN.com. "We came out of the lockout with changes aimed at having more flow and more offense and excitement. So, I feel we should look at this idea.
"How many times do you see pressure after a penalty is called and the defensive team touches it and the whistle is blown. Instead, let's bring on the sixth attacker, which fans love, and let the play continue until the puck is cleared." sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3651473&name=lebrun_pierre |
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Post by Alex Tran on Oct 23, 2008 8:14:05 GMT -5
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Post by Alex Tran on Oct 23, 2008 8:15:28 GMT -5
While it's highly unlikely that any deals are made, hopefully Cliff can start talking to some of the struggling teams to lay the groundwork on potential trades come mid November or so.
Philly for example, may be interested in what Cliff is asking for the likes of Kaberle, Van Ryn, Kubina, etc.
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Post by CarltonTheBear on Oct 23, 2008 9:40:46 GMT -5
I don't like Pleau's suggested rule change, it's over the top, and with the rule change that's already happened where the faceoff is automatically in the penalized team's zone, it will definately promote diving.
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Post by goldenleafs on Oct 23, 2008 15:25:38 GMT -5
I don't like Pleau's suggested rule change, it's over the top, and with the rule change that's already happened where the faceoff is automatically in the penalized team's zone, it will definately promote diving. I like the new rule idea, but what they should do, is call more diving penalties also. And if they do call one, don't call an obstruction penalty on the other guy. Sure you can argue "he wouldn't have dove if he wasn't hooked..." blablabla. But just call the diving by itself and you'll see diving almost eliminated. On a side note, get rid of the instigator penalty already......... |
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