Well, it looks like the Leafs aren’t waiting for good ol’ Bryan Burke to start wheeling and dealing, as current interim GM Cliff Fletcher would say.
Causing John Ferguson Jr. to probably slit his wrists and write emo songs for the next few days, the Leafs have given up on young guns Alex Steen and Carlo Colaiacovo. (For those who don’t know, JFJ rejected a trade that would send Steen to the Oilers for Chris Pronger, and another that would send Steen to the Flyers for the 2007 2nd Overall Pick. WHOOPS!)
What will the Leafs get for the overrated-to-many Steen and made-of-glass Colaiacovo? Well, just ask the St. Louis Blues, their new team. The Leafs are getting 25 year old stud forward Lee Stempinak, who has 3 goals and 10 assists in 14 games this year(which puts him on pace for 72 points on the year).
Personally, I like the move for the Leafs. Steen wasn’t going anywhere. He was stuck on the third line, and for the love of god, Matt Stajan surpassed him on the offensive depth chart (however, Stajan looks like a beast now with 19 points in 19 games).
As for Colaiacovo, he just can’t stay in a lineup. In the span of six years, he’s played 111 games. This is about a year and a half full time, meaning he’s missed about 75% of the games he could’ve played in that time, pretty much entirely due to injury.
Eklund is speculating that the Leafs are also trying to Acquire Jay Bouwmeester from the Florida Panthers, however, I have my doubts that they’d jump the gun and get him before July 1st.
However, interestingly enough, the trade *does* remove 500k off the leafs salary cap, meaning they could theoretically bring Sundin back and take in Jaybo…
UPDATE 11:37PM: From the sounds of it, the trade will be Byfuglien and Brent Sopel for Nylander. The Hawks need a #2 Center under Toews, and with Backstrom and Fedorov, the Caps don’t need theirs. Giangreco on ABC chicago mentioned that this is the likely trade and would happen tommorow.
We’ll have more on this as it develops, but for now, this is basically what has been said.
Though a team spokesman denied a trade had been made moments before Thursday’s game against the Dallas Stars, there were signs that something was in the works to acquire Michael Nylander of the Washington Capitals. Forward Dustin Byfuglien came out on the ice for the morning skate and promptly was sent back to the locker room. He had left American Airlines Center before the brief workout was over.
Asked about Byfuglien’s sudden departure, coach Joel Quenneville said, ”We should know more later,” and wouldn’t comment further.
And tonight in an interview with player Dave Bolland…
Bolland: “We’ve bonded a lot and we’ve played great together. It’s sad to see Buff…”
Edzo: (cutting off Bolland) OK, Dave. Thanks a lot for joining us
We’ll keep you posted.
Looks like Paul Stastny has cashed in with the Colorado Avalanche, as expected. The 22 year old star center 
has signed a five year contract extention, worth 6.6 million per year, totalling 33 Million Dollars. The deal makes him the highest paid player on the Avs, and if nobody gets more, he will be until 2013-2014. Clearly, Paul has shown that he is the successor to Joe Sakic, and has been paid accordingly.
For those who don’t know much about him, he was second to Evgeni Malkin in the 06/07 Calder Trophy vote, racking up 78 points that year. He actually broke the record for most consectutive games with a point by a rookie, with 20.
Last year, he had 71 points in 66 games and currently has 15 in 16.
Some Quotes:
“I’m still in a state of shock,” Stastny said. “Two years ago, I was in college and now I’m signing this kind of deal in the NHL. I’m so excited. It’s a great organization, and I didn’t want to go anywhere else.”
“Paul has clearly established himself as one of the bright young stars emerging in our game today,” Avs general manager Francois Giguere said. “At a young age, he’s demonstrated tremendous skill, vision and composure on the ice and is recognized as one of the most complete players in our league.”We’re pleased that Paul will remain with the Colorado Avalanche franchise long-term. This is another sign of our ownership’s commitment to winning.”
I think its a good signing, personally. How about you?
San Jose, Ottawa, Dallas, and Los Angeles still need to unveil their 3rds, but I’ll keep you updated on that as we go along. Credit for the images and some teams’ info to the beast that is icethetics, but Chris doesn’t have a single post that talks about all of them, so I set one up here. Click on any Jersey to get a larger view.
The Atlanta Thrashers went with the Dallas style big numbers on the front design, which I quite honestly hate almost as much as the guy who’s wearing it, Ilya Kovalchuk. It looks like a basketball jersey with long sleeves, but that’s just my opinion. They debut this jersey tonight, against the Carolina Hurricanes. Who knows - maybe it’ll help them. Actually, they better hope it does - They’ve been one of the NHL’s worst teams so far this year, as they have, well, almost every year they’ve been around.
Other Photos, Courtesy of Icethetics.info
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/atlbackfull.jpg?pictureId=1599579
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/groupshot.png?pictureId=1575753
Next up is the Boston Bruins, who surely can’t go worse after their infamous Yellow Bear design. Thankfully for them, they have another classic in the collection. Featuring a distinct retro 20’s logo with a modern RBK design, it somehow pulls it off. This jersey leaked a long time ago, with slight differences, being tested out in practice as early as mid-last year. They unveiled it a few weeks ago, but now say that wasn’t the unveiling, which is odd considering they had Milan Lucic come out and wear it for the media to take their stalker-like photos. Boston debut’s these…eventually. They will not be using them in November or December, that much is for sure.
Other Photos, Courtesy of Icethetics.info
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/savard3.jpg?pictureId=1576185
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/bosflat.jpg?pictureId=1576178
Now we have the Buffalo Sabres. People have criticized their primary jersey for a very long time, not for the design, but for the logo, which bears a resemblance to a.. slug. The design was cool, but the slug caused agony. People were desperate for something new, and by new, we mean old. So everyone was very happy to see them wear their retro white jerseys during the 2008 Winter Classic. Sabres fans, the organization noticed, and brought back the retro blue ones. Now, they made some changes to ‘RBK-ify’ it, but its still an awesome throwback. They use them next November 26th.
Other Photos, Courtesy of Icethetics.info
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/sabres3rd.jpg?pictureId=1576229
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/buf.jpg?pictureId=1576242
The Carolina Hurricanes new third jersey is black with the team’s secondary logo with the storm flag on the front. It features thick red and silver stripes around the arms and a red stripe around the waist. Above that red stripe is a stripe of storm flags similar to the ones on the regular home and road sweaters. The difference being the flags are black with silver outlining and a silver square in the middle. On the shoulders is the primary logo in black and grey. There were rumours of a black third for years, but this was the first time it actually happened. They’ve already used the jerseys a few times this year, and use them next this Sunday, November 16th.
Other Photos, Courtesy of Icethetics.info
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/picture%2014.png?pictureId=1579774
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/car.jpg?pictureId=1576423
There really isn’t much you can say about the Chicago Blackhawks’ new thirds. They’re the same thirds that they’ve had every year - the standard design with a slim black feel, a trend that pretty much every team took from them without credit. Its worked well for them though, and I don’t seem them changing it in the forseeable future. These have long been debuted, but they’ll use them next Sunday November 16th.
Other Photos, Courtesy of Icethetics.info
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/83551450.jpg?pictureId=1586315
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/3rd5ga1.jpg?pictureId=1577211
In celebration of their 30th anniversary, the Edmonton Oilers went back to the 80’s style jerseys, which is probably the best thing they’ve done since the 80’s, really. Considering that their home and away jerseys look like practice jerseys, it was something that was desperately needed in the eyes of many fans and myself. Thankfully, after about thirty designs were scrapped, they decided that it could be a good idea to go back with the old one. And thank goodness, as they look simply stunning. They wore them last night and will wear them again on the 20th against Detroit.
Other Photos, Courtesy of Icethetics.info
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/3rdedm.jpg?pictureId=1577842
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/edm104101222_1024×768.jpg?pictureId=1577841
Its funny. Whenever I think of the Oilers, I think of the New York Islanders. Maybe its the back to back dynasties. Maybe its the similar jersey designs they had for a while. And now? Its because the Islanders took the example of the Oilers, and put in a 3rd where they needed it most, a 1972 retro design. It looks quite sharp, but then again, I was a fan of the fisherman design (half my readers stopped reading right there). They’ve used it already, but won’t be using it again for a few months.
Other Photos, Courtesy of Icethetics.info
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/islesstreit.jpg?pictureId=1577097
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/dsc01488.jpg?pictureId=1577100
One that personally shocked me was the Philadelphia Flyers 3rd. We all knew that it would be an orange jersey, as it usually is, but everyone was honestly a bit surprised when word leaked out last year it would be a 70’s throwback. The disctinctive feature? The RICHARDS on the back of the jersey to your left isn’t a mere MSPaint job, the Flyers have gone to the old days of having an off-colour nameplate. So yes, the real jerseys will have big white bricks with the names in black. Personally, I think its an awesome feature, though I also kind of hope we don’t see it continue, otherwise it’ll give MLSE ideas and the Leafs will go back to Ballard’s nameplates - same colour as the jersey so you can’t see them and you buy a program at the game to figure out who everyone is. Thankfully, I assume that there is a rule against that now. They get their first use November 28th.
Other Photos, Courtesy of Icethetics.info
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/phifrontfull.jpg?pictureId=1599509
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/phibackfull.jpg?pictureId=1599512
Everyone knew the Phoenix Coyotes were going black, but nobody expected such a nice and simple design. They’ve had a fair share of disaster in the past, so nobody knew if we’d see anything like their last monstrosity of a jersey. Thankfully, we got something better, although I would’ve liked it if they took the left shoulder patch, made it a logo, and made a Red and Tan Winnipeg Jets Style jersey (I’ll whip a concept up when i’m not lazy). They’ve clearly been planning this one for a while, as the Leak has Radim Vrbata on the back, even though he left the Coyotes July 1st. Like the Flyers, these ones are debuted on November 28th.
Other Photos, Courtesy of Icethetics.info
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/phxbackfull.jpg?pictureId=1599491
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/phxshoulder.jpg?pictureId=1599488
The Pittsburgh Penguins pretty much kept the exact same jersey as they had worn during the 2008 Winter Classic. Apparently, all they changed is the fact that they made the border on the numbers a bit darker and thicker. Its alright though, I don’t really mind - I own a Malkin Jersey in this style as is. They ‘debut’ these jerseys tonight.
Other Photos, Courtesy of Icethetics.info
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/pensthird.jpg?pictureId=1588224
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/pensthird2.jpg?pictureId=1588223
The St. Louis Blues always had a thing for having jerseys that are slightly ahead of their time, so overyone was shocked to hear that they were going to more or less rip off the Penguins jersey above. But could they pull it off? Not only did they do that, I’d wager to say that they actually improved it. It looks absolutely fantastic, and I kind of hope that they make it the new design for next year, home and away. They use it next on November 21st.
Other Photos, Courtesy of Icethetics.info
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/stl.jpg?pictureId=1579948
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/blues3rd5.png?pictureId=1579941
The design for the new Tampa Bay Lightning 3rd is rather…shocking (*rimshot*). Nobody really expected it, in all fairness. We’ve heard “blue third” for a while, but everyone just thought that meant they’d take the black one and make it blue. But no, they have the guts to use their nickname on the jersey (like if Montreal used HABS, or Leafs BUDS, or something to that extent). Then they do it in the classic Rangers-style diagonal, with modern lettering? Its a miracle that it doesn’t look all that bad. It hasn’t been “unveiled” yet, but its definitely legit.
Other Photos, Courtesy of Icethetics.info
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/tblfrontfull.jpg?pictureId=1599544
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/tblbackfull.jpg?pictureId=1599539
And the winner of “most completely expected third jersey” goes to the Toronto Maple Leafs. At least the Hawks might have spared the 3rd for a Winter Classic jersey (later on you’ll see they did both), but everyone saw this Leafs 3rd coming and are currently begging for this to be the new away jersey. As always, it has the much better looking 35 point Maple Leaf over the modern Ballard-era garbage that I don’t understand why MLSE has kept. Cups won with a full season of the more Canadian Flag Shaped leaf? ZERO (people who scream 1967, they didn’t wear them in the regular season, just the playoffs). Cups won in the 35 point Leaf jersey? 9 1/2 (67 being the half). They’ve worn them a few times this year already, next time will be in a few months, probably so they don’t run out of the 14 use max for thirds right away.
Other Photos, Courtesy of Icethetics.info
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/tor.jpg?pictureId=1580533
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/gyi0055926530101123_1024×768.jpg?pictureId=1580512
The Canucks unveiled their jerseys yesterday, though that is another one that’s shocked nobody, and will shock even less people when they make it the primary in two years after selling tons of the obnoxious “giant VANCOUVER wordmark” jerseys during the 2010 Olympics. It is a semi-throwback, using a slightly updated version of the “stick in the rink” logo, with their new Johnny Canuck shoulder patch. The actual jersey design is based off their home jersey. They use them for the first time tommorow against the Leafs.
Other Photos, Courtesy of Icethetics.info
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/canucks3rd.jpg?pictureId=1580635
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/vshoulder.jpg?pictureId=1609508
The Montreal Canadiens have released a third jersey. And a fourth. And a fifth, sixth, seventh, and an eighth. Though the 8th is the same as their away jersey, its just called the 8th for wearing-at-home purposes. I mean, I know its the 100th anniversery of the team, but do we really need all these retro jerseys? One of them looks like a rejected Leafs jersey, another same but Senators, 
other same but Nordiques, and then the rest are basically the same. Couldn’t we trim it to two? At least Price and Halak’s pads are beyond awesome, all retro style for the games they wear them. Honestly, I wont even bother giving dates on these jerseys, because its all over the place.
Other Photos, Courtesy of Icethetics.info
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/mtl1970.png?pictureId=1591158
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/mtl1945-46.png?pictureId=1591159
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/mtl1915-16.png?pictureId=1591165
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/mtl1912-13.png?pictureId=1591164
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/mtl1909-10.png?pictureId=1591162
http://www.icethetics.info/picture/mtl1910-11.png?pictureId=1591163
Next up are the Winter Classic jerseys to be worn at Wrigley Field in the outdoor
game between the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings. The Hawks design is based from the 40’s, and the Wings design? Its not even from when they were the Wings! Its a Detroit Cougars jersey, the teams name before they changed to the Red Wings. Just like the Penguins ones did, these will sell like hotcakes. The question should be though, will the teams wear them again after the Winter Classic, specifically next year? I highly doubt it. The Hawks have their black third, and the Wings? I’m shocked they didn’t just ask if they could remove the nameplates from their white jerseys, as its just odd for the Wings to not be wearing the Winged Wheel. Random Fact: Chris Chelios Invented the Cougars jersey over 80 years ago, will be playing in this game (*rimshot*, but seriously, I can’t belive he’s going to be 47 and still playing. Just incredible.)
Last but not least for the jerseys we currently know, the All Star Game jerseys. The game is being played in Montreal, and it looks like the entire eastern conference starting lineup will be Montreal players, so lets call them the 9th and 10th jerseys. They’re definitely better than last year, even though they still suck. The 3 stars on the sides represent the last three times Montreal has hosted the game. Also, random fun - the East jersey’s star is on the west side of the jersey, and vice versa. What the hell?
Sometime soon, I’ll post the remaining jerseys as they come available, but this is what we have for now. Thanks for reading!