Not really NW Division specific, but good post by The Hockey Junkies on wearing player jersey's of the opposing teams just because you like the player. One of them had a rather bad experience at a Pens game with another fan giving them a hard time about wearing a Bergeron jersey, which is such a shame. Maybe it's just me, but I feel that even though you have your home team, if you are fan of the game in general you recognize that some players are ridiculously talented. So why can't you show your support for that particular player by wearing their jersey?

And now back to your regular NW Division links...

Someone gave Canucks reporter Derek Jory a press pass for the Olympics and he shares really great behind the scenes photos complete with captions

Lowetide looks at how Magnus Paarjavi-Svensson ranks with other notable SEL teenagers over the years, which puts him in between Peter Forsberg and Nicklas Backstrom

Calgary's retro jerseys are now 5-0, and Matchsticks and Gasoline now understands whats it's like to be an Avalanche fan

The Canucks acquired Andrew Alberts at the trade deadline, and in the game against Phoenix, he was found going after the ref's whistle instead of the puck

Let's see what's been going on here, eh?

Chicago's having goalie issues. In other news, the world is round.

Winging it in Motown looks at the load the Mule's pulling.

The 303:30 talk about the Preds at the deadline... and about how they didn't fill any big gaps.

Game Time's Prospect Department looks at the Blues' young guns.  If you're not reading this every week, you're insane.  Or not a Blues fan.

Not a whole lotta links this week... for whatever reason, things've been pretty quiet around the Central, other than the fact that the Wings are within one of Nashville.  That's always exciting.

I imagine the vast majority of people who follow this blog regularly already are aware of this, but Brandon Worley asked me to help him out with NBC Sports' new hockey-centric blog Pro Hockey Talk. Obviously, big thanks go to Worley for a great opportunity. I hope to bring my brand of verbal hooliganism and impish charm to the blog, so feel free to let me know what you think of the endeavor.

For what it's worth, NBC has been fantastic about supporting the blog so far, with prominent display of our stories on their NHL page. They seem serious about putting their considerable strength behind it, so I'm serious about providing the best content my feeble mind can produce. It is, without question, a very exciting project so far.

As far as CLS is concerned, I'd like to keep it alive. It just might require a lot more outside help. One idea I've had is to possibly have an "editor of the day." After all, this blog was originally designed to be all-roundtable discussions anyway. So if you'd like to be considered for a daily editor "position" (unpaid naturally), drop me a quick e-mail at cyclelikesedins[at]gmail.com. I can't guarantee you anything, especially not a quick response :)

More to come as this situation sorts itself out ...

Even though the trade deadline as a whole was disappointing in the fact that only minor trades were made, this weeks links are full of post-trade deadline stuff, enjoy.

Imagine your team getting Toskala at the trade deadline: Vesa Toskala, Kpper's bestest friend, is a Calgary Flame. Yeah. Join the Rush thinks Darryl Sutter is officially grasping at straws

Sean from Anyone But Detroit explains why money was a factor in Wolski being traded to Phoenix

Lowetide find the beauty in Edmonton's moves is that his kids will be able to experience "scorched earth" for themselves due to Tambellini

Since Schneider (the goalie with the Manitoba Moose not the old guy) didn't get traded yesterday, JJ at the Canucks Hockey Blog looks into the shelf life for Cory Schneider

And though most fans don't think of this, View From My Seats looks at the human aspects of NHL Trades

Much like last year, CLS thought it would be best to poll some of our favorite team-specific bloggers and ask, "What would you do if you were your team's general manager?"

With the deadline approaching on Wednesday, these posts will be updated up until early Wednesday afternoon so keep an eye on the blog during that time. Feel free to tell us what you would do if you were the GM in the comments.

(And, as always, thanks to our contributors.)

Jump for Rudy Kelly, Hip Checks and tarts who may be found on or around couches.

Much like last year, CLS thought it would be best to poll some of our favorite team-specific bloggers and ask, "What would you do if you were your team's general manager?"

With the deadline approaching on Wednesday, these posts will be updated up until early Wednesday afternoon so keep an eye on the blog during that time. Feel free to tell us what you would do if you were the GM in the comments.

(And, as always, thanks to our contributors.)

Jump for greatness from Scotty Hockey (NYR) and Flyers Goal Scored By ...

Like what Laura said earlier, I'm filling in for James for the NW Division GM Thoughts, if this is the first one you've read here's the deal:

Much like last year, CLS thought it would be best to poll some of our favorite team-specific bloggers and ask, "What would you do if you were your team's general manager?"

With the deadline approaching on Wednesday, these posts will be updated up until early Wednesday afternoon so keep an eye on the blog during that time. Feel free to tell us what you would do if you were the GM in the comments. If your team hasn't been covered yet, or even if it has and you have a different take, shoot me an e-mail at thevancitycanuck [at] gmail . com and we'll make it happen.

(And, as always, thanks to our contributors.)

Avalanche

Tapeleg from Jerseys and Hockey Love

I'll be honest here, I'm a hold-on-to-your-potential-assets, keep-the-chemistry kind of guy.  I don't like to let go of guys who have potential or have come up through the ranks, and certainly wouldn't give them up for nothing.  But there are a few guys who no one would miss.

Just fillling in for James tonight while he's off doing bigger and better things or whatnot.  Here're the two clubs, St. Louis and Nashville, that we have reporting in so far on the what would you do senarios.

Hello there.

Hello to you too, Brad.  Was this what St. Louis's looking for?

If I was GM of the Blues, I would be shopping Paul Kariya like a mofo. No. 1 thing I'm looking for is a rugged, stay at home defenseman who can control the area in front of my crease. A lot of fans talk about getting a puck-moving defenseman or a power play quarterback. But then every team is looking for those guys and they don't grow on trees. So I do the next best thing and I try to control the puck more in my end and see how it goes from there. Dumping Kariya would free up a roster spot for Lars Eller, a first-round pick from a few seasons ago who was taken the same draft as David Perron. 

I would not trade Keith Tkachuk, a player who helped the team make a miraculous run at the playoffs -- something we hope happens twice in two years. Because of that, I can't trade the often disappointing Brad Boyes. But I'd be willing to listen to even moderate offers. 

Finally, I'd try to find a taker for Eric Brewer. It would open up the captaincy, clear some cap space and give Brewer a fresh start in a city where he's really not liked. I doubt I could actually do it unless I'm willing to take a horrible contract (Hello, I'd like the number for the New York Rangers).

Much like last year, CLS thought it would be best to poll some of our favorite team-specific bloggers and ask, "What would you do if you were your team's general manager?"

With the deadline approaching on Wednesday, these posts will be updated up until early Wednesday afternoon so keep an eye on the blog during that time. Feel free to tell us what you would do if you were the GM in the comments.

(And, as always, thanks to our contributors.)

Click read more for some great hockey writing ...

(Jump)

Much like last year, CLS thought it would be best to poll some of our favorite team-specific bloggers and ask, "What would you do if you were your team's general manager?"

With the deadline approaching on Wednesday, these posts will be updated up until early Wednesday afternoon so keep an eye on the blog during that time. Feel free to tell us what you would do if you were the GM in the comments.

(And, as always, thanks to our contributors.)

Buffalo Sabres

Vance from Bangin' Panger/Double Edged Sabres:

So last year I said sign Tim Connolly, that's worked out pretty well, you know, with that whole 55 points in 60 games thing he's got going on.  Plus he's stayed healthy, so that, is what we call prescience.  Look it up n00b.

But this year is a totally different situation.  I know you just watched those there Olympic games over the past couple weeks.  That Team USA goalie who suddenly ascended to Jesus and Oprah status, yeah, he's in his prime, our team is within striking distance of everybody but Washington.  Darcy Regier, it's time to go for broke.  The window here is short, Miller is 29, going on 30, you've got 3 years to make this thing happen before the blow up.  There's 3 things I'm thinkin' here.

1.  Trade for the baddest ass blueliner available(by available I mean pending UFA). In my estimation, that's Shane O'Brien out of Vancouver.  More realistically?  Maybe Brendan Witt, from the Isles (now playing in Bridgeport of the AHL), or somebody like Kurtis Foster or Aaron Ward.

2. You know those 5th round picks that really don't end up meaning anything to your team?  Trade that guy for Marty Biron. Us Sabres fans always love former Sabres, especially when they're better than Patrick Lalime.

3. The big splash. Everybody keeps saying the Hawks need to shed salary (they don't) but I'm gonna act like they want to.  Let's have a go with Nate Gerbe, Toni Lydman, and a pick for Patrick Sharp.  The Hawks get a prospect, a gritty stay at home blueliner, plus they get to shed the salary.  We're all winners there.

Oh wait, this is Darcy Regier.  So we'll end up with Wade Dubielewicz, Lee Stempniak, and Shane Hnidy.  [Facepalm]  That being said, I will forever give Regier a free pass, since he drafted Ryan Miller and Tyler Myers.

***

Hooray Punch-Out!

Boston Bruins

Evan from Stanley Cup of Chowder:

The Bruins need to find someone that can put the puck in the net and a defenseman that can make the first pass. They have been able to survive on goaltending and defense, but that can only take you so far. Their offensive punch has been weaker than Glass Jaw Joe. The need for a finisher is obvious, but they also need a puck-moving defenseman. Claude Julien's system is that the attack develops from their own end of the rink. Unfortunately, the B's haven't had a legitimate puck mover on the blueline that can get the puck to the forwards. The Bruins constantly cough up the puck when they are faced with an aggressive forecheck. We saw that in the Carolina series last year and it continues to be a issue. To sum things up, they need a winger with some scoring ability and a defenseman that doesn't soil himself every time they see a forecheck. If they can do that and find someone dumb enough to take Dennis Wideman's contract, I would be very happy...but that might be asking for too much.

***

Roy's Cup victories broke a lot of hearts.

Montreal Canadiens

Habsfan10 from Four Habs Fans:

If I was Pierre Gauthier, there's a couple of different ways I might approach the deadline:

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Ottawa Senators

Meaghan from Sens at Land's End:

I haven't thought much about the Sens for the last two weeks -- too busy focusing all my energy on Team Canada -- but I believe I remember something about the team being short a defenseman. It seems to me Alexandre Picard was traded for Matt Cullen before the Olympic break and Chris Campoli went down with an injury. Murray must also consider the fact that even when Campoli comes back to the lineup, he will still be a terrible hockey player. There is also the question of Anton Volchenkov to think about: he'll be an unrestricted free agent at season's end, and the Sens must decide whether they're willing to risk not being able to re-sign him and losing him for nothing. Murray said today on Ottawa radio that it is possible the A-Train will be traded before the deadline. To my mind, trading Volchenkov would be crazy at this point. The team has been playing so well and it's hard for me to imagine what losing such an important piece of the puzzle would do to them. Plus, obviously, trading him would leave them short two defensemen.

To sum it up: the Sens must trade someone for help on defense. Who will they trade? No idea. There just aren't that many pieces I can either a) see the Sens wanting to lose or b) see other teams wanting to add.

Oh and in an ideal world, they'd pick up reliable goaltending. But good luck with that.

***

Toronto

Sean from Down Goes Brown:

If I was Brian Burke, I'd be pushing hard to get Tomas Kaberle to waive his no-trade clause. Which Burke publicly vowed not to do. Which means, I guess, that I'm not Brian Burke.

But for the record, I think Burke is making a big mistake if he plans to wait until the off-season to move Kaberle. Teams are willing to pay more at the deadline, and any team trading for Kaberle now will get him for two playoff runs instead of just one. I can't see how Burke will be able to get a better package in the summer, even though he'd be able to negotiate with all 30 teams. But he seems to be firm on this, so I guess I'll be disappointed.