Trade Deadline Madness

Suppose your the General Manager of a team that is looking for that final piece to the puzzle for making a run at the Stanley Cup this year.  The natural question would be what do I need and what will I have to give up to get that piece.  This is the question that faces many teams who seek a long Spring, and seemingly, the big prize this year is Rick Nash.  Along with Tuomo Ruutu (pending the severity of his injury from Monday) and Jeff Carter, it seems that every team not named the Columbus Blue Jackets or Edmonton Oilers is working long hours to find the right deal to bring in that missing piece.  Since this blog is heavily biased towards Vancouver and Ottawa, I figure that the time is now to figure out how both teams can better their standings.

If either team is seeking a major piece, it will not be Nash or Carter, as both carry a ridiculously high price tag, and Vancouver needs a serviceable fourth liner and maybe a puck moving defenseman.  In a previous post, I thought Lubomir Visnovsky would be a good fit, but seeing as Anaheim is making a late push for their own playoff run, I doubt Anaheim will be selling.  Ruutu would be a good fit just about anywhere, but Carolina would obviously be asking for a lot.  Ruutu has been a good player that often doesn't get enough credit, and certainly, Jeff Skinner can attest to the benefit of having a player like Ruutu around.  Rumors are circling around that Mike Knuble could be gone from Washington, and given the last two stink bombs the Capitals laid, Vancouver would be wise to look into this one, as Knuble has won the Stanley Cup before.

Ottawa made a big trade in December, bringing in Kyle Turris from Phoenix while giving up defensive prospect David Rundblad to do so.  A win over Tampa Bay last night certainly helps Ottawa's chances of making the playoffs.  Unfortunately, that win followed some painful losses in the past seven games or so.  Goaltending is the likeliest thing that Ottawa should go for, but a shutdown defenseman would be a far better option.  If I had to take a major gamble, it would be looking into what Buffalo is willing to part with, which at this point seems to be Paul Gaustad and likely Derek Roy.  Maybe Ottawa inquires about Ryan Miller, a pipe dream, I know.  The more likely option for Ottawa could very well be Evgeni Nabokov or Al Montoya, seeing as the Islanders have a logjam in goal, even without Rick DiPietro.  As for a shutdown defenseman, Mattias Ohlund from the Lightning should be an option, particularly if the Lightning continue to have problems.