Actually, that’s every Atlanta game, Alanah. Also, he reported those scouts before the puck ever dropped, while rehearsals for the Graves retirement ceremony were taking place.

Also, with a year left on his contract, Kovalchuk isn’t moving this deadline… but that won’t stop the rumor mill. Speaking of nutty rumors, you can find all you’d ever want to see just by looking at HFBoards’ trade forum.

(or the Maple Leafs boards!)

Posted by Alan from Atlanta on 02/04/09 at 02:36 PM ET

Total WIN on the Burke twitter

The Canucks really need some grit and size up front. Far too often, the cyclers are content to stay in the corners, and it is a big reason why the Canucks are near the bottom in the league in shots (for) on goal.

Keith Tkachuk would seem to be a great fit for the Canucks alongside either the Sedinbots or Sundin-Demitra. The guy knows how to park his fat ass in front of the net and do the dirty work in the ‘red zone’ that the others wont.

Get rid of Pyatt, for another. He doesn’t provide enough positive aspect in any one area to keep him around. Yes, he has size, but he’s a marshmellow. He’s not defensively wise enough to keep up with Burrows and Kesler, and he certainly is too pretty to be the third Sedin.

I think Nylander will stay put in Washington. They want to make a big run this year, and he’s been playing better of late.

Posted by Jes Golbez on 02/04/09 at 02:37 PM ET

I knew that the trade deadline would have some unexpected surprises, but wow.  Jes Golbez is alive?

Posted by Earl Sleek from Anaheim, CA on 02/04/09 at 02:41 PM ET

I like that Burke didn’t tip him for the pizza. Epic win.

Posted by Yankee Canuck on 02/04/09 at 03:04 PM ET

...and I agree with Jes on Pyatt. Having him and Bernier on the team is too much of the same under-achieving big guy. We have plenty of that with these two and Sundin thanks.

Thanks to the Backes deal I don’t see St. Louis moving anything but hate to Vancouver.

Still a lot of time left for Vancouver to run off the rails again and force Gillis to be a seller. With Ohlund, the Sedins and Sundin, that’s a lot of potential return right there preferably for warm bodies since our draft record is far from stellar.

Posted by Yankee Canuck on 02/04/09 at 03:09 PM ET

Get rid of Pyatt, for another. He doesn’t provide enough positive aspect in any one area to keep him around. Yes, he has size, but he’s a marshmellow.

Yeah, Pyatts departure is something that needs to happen soon.

Same as Raymond, his amazing speed isnt equating into goals and although the linemates around him havent helped him much, I am starting to think thats its possible he could be the next Afinogenov, all flash but no finish.

Hope I am wrong about Raymond but his decision making is questionable at times.

Posted by PuckHound61 from Speckville USA on 02/04/09 at 03:21 PM ET

Alan - Lordy. I think Don Waddell could tattoo Kovalchuk’s number on his ass, while simultaneously hanging his jersey from the Atlanta rafters, and some people STILL wouldn’t let that stop them from passing on insane trade rumors.

Jes - Nice to see you!  Tkatchuk is an unconventional idea for the Canucks. Didn’t he move to some theoretical ‘contender’ at the trade deadline a couple years ago? I can’t remember how that worked out…

Yankee - Agreed on the St. Louis Blues. They’re more likely to send chemical weapons and spitballs Vancouver’s way, rather than any decent hockey player. So I think St. Louis rumors can be instantaneously rejected from now on (assuming no one has blackmail material somewhere in play!)

Puckhound61 - I hope you’re wrong about Raymond, too. I think you are, though. My feeling is that he’s just a slow developer.  *knock on wood*

Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 02/04/09 at 03:38 PM ET

Don Waddell could do any number of things, but once the ownership dispute is settled, you can pretty much kiss him goodbye from the Thrashers, and the league. His mismanagement of the team here is legendary. A few little birdies I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with are confident that he’s being ousted as soon as the ruling comes down.
Those same little birdies have also told me this: Not even the NHL knows who really owns the Thrashers. Oh, the things that make you go “Hmmm?”

Posted by Alan from Atlanta on 02/04/09 at 03:48 PM ET

Earl, technically, I am undead

Alanah,

1. I forgot about the whole Bernier-Backes thing, so perhaps that bridge is burnt. We’d hope both GM’s would be professional enough to not let that get in the way of any future deals, but NHL GM’s are notoriously cliquish.

2. Tkachuk was dealt to the Thrashers in 06-07 as a playoff rental ... when Waddell sold the farm for a 1st round sweep. Upchuck had 3 points in 4 games and did OK in his 2nd line role. His production is still solid and he’d be good with skilled linemates that can get him the puck (ie. Demitra)

3. I say patience on Raymond and Bernier. Bernier’s talents are evident, and he may just be a late bloomer. Unlike Pyatt, who is clearly not going to do much more than he has, Bernier has the potential to do a lot more than he has and it’s too early to give up on him.

Raymond is only 22! He’s far from his peak. Ideally, he would have spent more time in the AHL, but the Canucks were desperate for offense. Raymond has too much talent to give up on, and is one of the few good prospects the Canucks actually have right now.

OF course, we have to realize that if the Canucks are going to make a deal, Bernier and Raymond will be the two players other GMs will ask about. Pyatt is not going to be worth much at all.

4. The real reason the Canucks are struggling? No Jan Bulis.

Posted by Jes Golbez from In your pants on 02/04/09 at 04:53 PM ET

Well, here’s a monster Canucks breaking news trade for ya.  Yet another slingshot, musical chairs, switcheroo trade with a California team, flipping a current player with an ex-player. From a Ducks press release:

“The Anaheim Ducks announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has acquired right wing Mike Brown from Vancouver in exchange for defenseman Nathan McIver.”

Does that make up for the ongoing pain of losing Bulis, Jes?

Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 02/04/09 at 05:25 PM ET

That’s right—you guys probably know more about McIver than I do.  So far all I really know about the guy is that I like calling him “McGyver” and he can take a punch to the face pretty well.

Posted by Earl Sleek from Anaheim, CA on 02/04/09 at 05:29 PM ET

Err, we traded away some trash for some trash we already threw away. Meh.

“he can take a punch to the face pretty well. “ - hehehe

Only Bulis can make up for the pain of losing Bulis. No substitutes or exchanges!

Posted by Jes Golbez from In your pants on 02/04/09 at 06:19 PM ET

So Cooke was moved for Pettinger, McIver was lost on waivers for nothing right before Pettinger was lost on waivers because Gillis thought Brown would definitely be claimed and now McIver is moved specifically for Brown. Does that mean Cooke equals McIver?

As Earl said, at least he can take a punch!

Posted by Yankee Canuck on 02/04/09 at 07:43 PM ET

“So far all I really know about the guy is that I like calling him “McGyver” and he can take a punch to the face pretty well.”

That’s freakin’ classic, Earl. And I want that last part on a t-shirt.

Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 02/04/09 at 07:47 PM ET