NHL Trade Deadline Extravaganza!

12:58pm... I had not planned on blogging until after the deadline, but since the Caps are already making noise and some other names we all know fairly well are involved in trades so far, I figure I will blog as long as I get new info and have the time.

The Caps traded their 2nd round pick from 2009 to Montreal for Cristobal Huet, a French Born number one goalie. Now they have three goalies, Huet, Olie Kolzig and Brent Johnson. That means someone is going elsewhere. Since Kolzig is a free agent at the end of the year and he is 37, unfortunately it probably means he is heading out of town. Kolzig didn't take part in the morning skate--which he usually does not when he is scheduled to start--but since Johnson is clearly the number two goalie on the team, it might make you wonder if something is up. Kolzig is three wins shy of 300.

The second round pick in 2009 came from Anaheim in the Brain Sutherby trade, so we basically traded a 4th line checking center for a number one goaltender. Not bad.

1:05pm ... Jeff Halpern was part of the Brad Richards trade. Richards and goalie Johan Holmquist go from Tampa to Dallas and Jussi Jokinen, goalie Mike Smith and Halpern go to The Bolts. I have to admit I laughed when I saw this, since Halpern went to Dallas because Ulf Dahlen is an assistant coach there, the two are good freinds and Halpern wanted to win. I bet he gets booed harshly when he makes his next appearance at Verizon Center.

1:19pm... ESPN.com is reporting that Sergei Federov might be headed to Washington. Huh?! Him and Ovechkin together would be a site to see, back when Federov was healthy and banging Anna Kournikova. That was like 12 years ago!

1:28pm... OK, washingtonpost.com and the Hockey News are confirming that Columbus traded Federov to the Caps for Defensemen Ted Ruth. Who the hell is that you ask? A 6'1", 19 year old American that we drafted in the second round last summer. I'm looking for more about him, but I don't remember hearing to much about him in the past. Federov is a UFA in the summer, so this doens't cost us any money. I will try and find out how good he is.

1:35pm... Tarik-El Bashir said in Capitals INsider on www.washingtonpost.com that not only did Kolzig not take part in the morning skate, but Brent Johnson had already left the building. Kolzig doesn't skate in practice on game days, but who is in goal if Johnson isn't there either? The plot thickens.

1:42pm... Ted Ruth was not rated one of the top ten prospects in the Caps Farm System, so reports "The Hockey News". So, we gave up nothing for a playmaking center in Federov to replace Michel Nylander. He can only help the power play. "The Hockey News" says that the addition of Huet basically guarantees us the Southeast Title. Huet played for Boudreau in the minors in the Kings organ-eye-zation, so there is a realtionship there. Interesting...

1:56pm... Scott Burnside of espn.com is reporting that the Caps also have added agitator Matt Cooke from Vancouver for Matt Pettinger. Haha! I told you Drew! I like Petty, but he was awful this year and we need someone to light a fire under us and pester the other team into bad penalties, ala Dale Hunter. I was thinking we might go for Michel Peca, but apparently Matt Cooke is the guy. Doesn't score more than 10 or 12 goals a year, 60 plus PIMs (had 111 PIMs in 2001) and since Clark is still hurt and Pettinger was a nonfactor all season, this looks like a good deal. Not too mention that Pettinger is from Vancouver. Maybe a change will help him out. Wow, I was already planning my "Fire McPhee because he nevers pulls the trigger unless its a firesale" blog, but I guess I have to blow that up and start over, eh?

3:02pm... It's after the deadline and we still have three goalies. Stay tuned for one of our guys to go; the paperwork is still probably going thru. Every year there are numerous trades that aren't announced until after the deadline expires. Paperwork and what not. Have Mike Chase explain it if you don't understand. I will be on later tonight to analyze all of today's movement, but I have three appointments now and have to run. Thanks for joining me and check back later.