PREDICTING THE NCAA TOURNAMENT

March Madness is upon us! And basketball isn't the only sport with a "big dance" going on this month. Now that the NCAA Hockey Tournament bracket is out, let's take a look at the four regions, with predictions for each.

NORTHEAST REGION (Manchester, NH)
1. Boston University OVER 4. Ohio State
3. New Hampshire OVER 2. North Dakota

1. Boston University OVER 3. New Hampshire

EAST REGION (Bridgeport, CT)
1. Michigan OVER 4. Air Force
3. Vermont OVER 2. Yale

1. Michigan OVER 3. Vermont

WEST REGION (Minneapolis, MN)
4. Miami (OH) OVER 1. Denver
2. Minnesota-Duluth OVER 3. Princeton

2. Minnesota-Duluth OVER 4. Miami (OH)

MIDWEST REGION (Grand Rapids, MI)
1. Notre Dame OVER 4. Bemidji State
2. Northeastern OVER 3. Cornell

2. Northeastern OVER 1. Notre Dame

FROZEN FOUR (Washington DC)
Boston University (Northeast Winner) OVER Michigan (East Winner)
Minnesota-Duluth (West Winner) OVER Northeastern (Midwest Winner)

Boston University OVER Minnesota-Duluth

5 MORE NHL PREDICTIONS

The majority of NHL teams have played 69-70 of their 82 regular season games for the year. With that said, here are five more predictions for the rest of the NHL season. Who will make the playoffs? Who will be left out in the cold? We'll find out in the days and weeks ahead. Here are a few things we might see before the season ends in mid-April.

5. The Hurricanes will not make the playoffs
Carolina had been playing great since dealing for old friend Erik Cole. But they have struggled recently, losing three straight on the road in Chicago, Dallas, and Washington. The 'Canes remaining schedule is a difficult one, with games against the Rangers, Penguins, and three games against a very strong New Jersey club. Even the Islanders, who Carolina faces twice, are playing well. It's gonna be tough for Carolina to sneak into the postseason with a schedule that tough.

4. The Devils will reach the Eastern Conference Finals
Yes, they are that good. With Martin Brodeur back, New Jersey is probably the best team in the Conference. They are clearly better than Washington, and Boston has been struggling mightily as of late. The Devils are a pretty safe bet to win at least two rounds, even if they are the most boring, trap-filled two rounds in the playoffs.

3. Columbus will shock some people
The Jackets--currently 6th in the Western Conference--are a solid, scrappy team and might surprise a few people come playoff time. They are a solid 7-7-1 against the Central division, which includes Detroit and Chicago, so they can win against good teams. Antoine Vermette, acquired from Ottawa at the trade deadline, has been fantastic for the Blue Jackets in his brief stay in Columbus, and if Steve Mason is playing well anything can happen.

2. Nashville will miss the playoffs
The Preds, currently the 9th place team in the west but tied with 8th place Edmonton (73 points), won't make the postseason because they can't win on the road. They have 5 home games and 8 road games left on the schedule, which is a big problem considering they are 13-18-2 away from the Sommet Center this season. With two games at Detroit, and one at Chicago and San Jose, the Predators will be left out in the cold once again.

1. We will have a new Stanley Cup Champion
Detroit simply doesn't have the goaltending this season to hoist Lord Stanley's cup once again. Chris Osgood looks old and Ty Conklin isn't that number one that's going to carry them deep into the playoffs. You would never see the old Red Wings teams lose games 8-2 (3/7 vs. Columbus), 8-0 (2/28 at Nashville), or 5-2 (2/21 at light scoring Minnesota). They have the offense--there's no doubt about that--but the goaltending just isn't there this time around. The Wings seem poised for an early (2nd maybe?) round flameout in 2009.

THE MOST PROLIFIC SCORER IN OHL HISTORY

Last night, John Tavares of the London Knights scored three goals, giving him 215 for his career in the Ontario Hockey League. Tavares passed Peter Lee, who's 213 goals were the most anyone had ever scored in the OHL, until Tavares came along. The record, now his, would not have been broken without another outstanding season from the 19-year-old, with 58 goals and 104 points so far this year. He has 2 more games this season, which is sure to be his last in the OHL.

Next season, of course, should be Tavares' rookie year in the NHL. He is the big prize in next year's draft class, and should make one struggling organization very happy. Central scouting has him as North America's top skating prospect, and obviously with good reason. Tavares was the OHL Rookie of the Year in 2006, the OHL MVP in 2007, and now is that league's all-time leader in goals.

As of March 8, 4 teams have at least a 10% shot at winning the lottery and getting the top overall pick in the draft. With 51 points this season, the New York Islanders have far and away the best shot at Tavares, with a 25% chance. The Tampa Bay Lightning are next at 18.8%, followed by the Atlanta Thrashers (14.2%) and Colorado Avalanche (10.7%). I'm sure any one of those clubs would love to take a chance on the most prolific scorer in OHL history.

THE GAME EXPERIENCE OF THE FUTURE: IS IT REALLY NECESSARY?

The Boston Globe ran a piece in the sports section today about the Game Experience of the Future, a series of graphics point out upgrades being made to the way fans take in action at sporting events, ranging from electronic ticketing to upgraded convenience. What I want to know is, won't that ruin the fun of being at the game?

Now don't get me wrong. Some of the initiatives being taken are good news for sports fans. Instead of waiting in long lines to get into the arena, some places now have the technology to simply scan a "smartphone or smartcard at a special terminal and head right into the stadium." Waiting in line for food could be a thing of the past as well, with the technology to browse menus and order concessions from hand-held devices, used right at your seat. Are they necessary? No. But are they an upgrade? Most certainly.

Some of the steps though, take the fun out of attending sporting events. The Globe mentions that you can "use your hand-held device to check out stats from your game and games around the league, and interact instantly with other fans using photos and chat forums." Um, what? Why would I want to interact digitally when there are thousands of other fans sitting around me? A lot of the fun of being at games comes from the interaction with the people in your section. Starting chants, cheering loudly, and high-fiving the drunk guy sitting behind you are all reasons to go see a game live. This kind of technology is damaging to the fan experience because it takes all that away. Crowds today are already far more subdued than in the past, this is just another step in the wrong direction.

I would hate to see upgrades to hand-held devices for the sake of easy access to stats and news at sporting events. Whats great about sports--especially hockey--is the buzz in the arena during a big game. If the crowd is constantly checking things on their phones, that excitement will diminish, and attending a sporting event may never be the same.

HOW GOOD ARE THE CAROLINA HURRICANES REALLY?

Eric Staal had the best game of his career last night in the Hurricanes' 9-3 destruction of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Staal tied a franchise record with four goals and six points, all in the game's first forty minutes, putting any doubt about a Carolina victory quickly to rest. The win was the third straight for the Hurricanes, who have won seven of their last nine. As the playoffs approach, let's take a look at whether this is just a standard hot streak for a run of the mill team, or a club that's going to do some serious damage in the postseason.

The 'Canes currently sit right in the thick of things in the Eastern Conference. With 75 points, they sit tentatively in the eighth spot, but have the same number of points as seventh place Montreal and trail two more teams--the Panthers and Rangers--by just one point. That said, the Penguins and Sabres are nipping on their heels with 74 and 73 points respectively. If the Hurricanes can keep up this kind of play, they can put some serious distance between themselves and the competition, and could easily climb as high as fifth in the conference once the playoffs finally begin.

Scoring hasn't been so easy for Carolina for much of the season, as they currently sit just seventeenth in the league with 2.78 goals per game. In the past few games though, the 'Canes have been clicking on all cylanders, having scored 5 goals last Tuesday at Washington, 6 against the Flames, and then 9 in Tampa Bay last night. A lot of that can be attributed to the re-acquisition of Eric Cole right before the trade deadline. Cole spent the first six years of his career with Carolina before a summer trade sent him to Edmonton for defenseman Joni Pitkanen. Cole under-performed in Edmonton, but has completely revamped Carolina's attack, at least for a few games, with a goal in his return, a 6-1 crushing of Calgary, and then four assists in the Tampa Bay blowout. Definitely a good sign for Carolina.

Even better for the 'Canes has been their discipline. Carolina averages only 10 penalty minutes per game, the fewest of any team in the entire NHL. But that doesn't mean they shy away from physical play. Tuomo Ruutu, the team's 26-year-old centerman, is ranked 11th in the league with 180 hits.

Add that to the Hurricanes solid play during close games--19-6-5 in one goal games this season--and Carolina could surprise one of the Eastern Conference leaders come playoff time. They are certainly hitting their stride, and--if they continue this current hot streak--should push another conference foe out of the playoff picture. Just don't look for Staal to score six points every night.

THE NHL: SIMPSONS STYLE

With less than 20 games remaining in this NHL regular season, let's take a look at what we've seen so far, with a little help from our favorite TV family: The Simpsons.

Homer: You don’t like your job, you don’t strike. You go in every day and do it really half-assed. That’s the American way.
To the New York Islanders, the worst team in the NHL. The Isles have 47 points, seven behind the next worst team. They are in heaps of financial trouble and can't get fans into their outdated arena. Oh well, at least they have Rick DiPietro for the next 13 years.

Chief Wiggum: Can’t you people take the law into your own hands? I mean, we can’t be policing the entire city!
To Cal Clutterbuck of the Minnesota Wild, the NHL leader in hits with 253. The 22-year-old winger from Welland, Ontario will have to police the ice even more now that star Marian Gaborik is back from a hip injury.

Homer: Old people don’t need companionship. They need to be isolated and studied so it can be determined what nutrients they have that might be extracted for our personal use.
To Mark Recchi, 41-years-old and still going strong. Recchi was dealt from the hapless Tampa Bay Lightning to the Eastern Conference leading Bruins at the trade deadline, and is having a pretty good year, his 22nd in the NHL. Recchi has 14 goals this season, and will provide leadership and experience for a young Boston club.

Barney: Aaah! Natural light! Get it off me! Get it off me!
To the Winter Classic, which saw the Red Wings beat the Blackhawks in the annual outdoor game. Wrigley Field was sold out, the throwback jerseys looked good, and the new years day game was a success for the league.

Homer: What’s the point of going out? We’re just going to wind up back here anyway.
To the Minnesota Wild, who clearly prefer staying at home in the Xcel Energy Center. The Wild have scored 61 goals on the road this season and allowed 69. Compare that to the 96 goals they've scored at home, and Minnesota is clearly a better team on home ice. The Wild are 18-11-5 at home, and 13-16-0 on the road so far this season.

Homer: I'm normally not a praying man, but if you're up there, please save me Superman!
To Alexander Ovechkin, who has played like Superman for much of this season. Alexander the Great leads the NHL in goals with 46 and is second in points with 83. Ovechkin's Capitals are right in the thick of the fight for home ice advantage throughout the playoffs.

Flanders: I think we hit something!
Homer: I hope its Flanders
To the developing rivalry between the superstars of the Penguins--Crosby and Malkin--and Alexander Ovechkin. First it was Malkin and Ovie squabbling before the all-star game, then it was Crosby saying he didn't like Ovechkin's over the top celebrations after scoring a goal. This rivalry could get more interesting down the line.

Homer: Remember as far as anyone knows, we're a nice normal family
To the New York Rangers, who have struggled mightily to score goals, despite doling out huge contracts to the likes of Drury, Gomez, Rozsival, and Redden. The Rangers sub-par play cost head coach Tom Renney his job, and the club is barely hanging on to one of the final few playoff spots in the east.

Moe: Enough chit-chat, let's see how you like flaming trash!
Our final quote goes to the San Jose Sharks, who will be hearing things like this if they fall short in the postseason once again. San Jose has been known as a team that hasn't gotten it done in the playoffs. With the team they have this season, it had better not happen again for the sake--and sanity--of their fans.

5 CRIPPLING CONTRACTS IN THE NHL TODAY

Everybody knows that the rising price of free agents, coupled with the recent economic downturn spells bad news for the NHL. Now, with superstar players signing ten or eleven year deals, teams won't be able to surround those players with enough talent to win on a consistent basis when the salary cap goes down. Maybe some long term deals, like the one Washington gave to Alexander Ovechkin, are worth it. Here are five that are not.

5. Mike Commodore- Blue Jackets, 5-years, $18.75 million
This sure seems like too big a contract for a team like the Blue Jackets to be giving to Mike Commodore. Columbus is desperately trying to claw it's way into the Western Conference playoffs (don't worry, they'll make it), but are they really a Cup contender? Depth on the blue line is certainly an issue for them (it is for most teams), so why throw such a long term deal at Commodore? It would have been more beneficial for GM Scott Howson to spend that money on two shorter, cheaper contracts than throwing it all at the 29-year old, who is now playing for his fifth different team.

4. Wade Redden- Rangers, 6-years, $39 million
Redden signed this monster deal to join the Big Apple circus this past offseason, and is already booed every time he touches the puck at MSG. The 31-year-old defenseman, who was rated number one on SI writer Allan Muir's Free Agents most likely to bust column, parlayed 11 pretty good years in Ottawa into this mega deal. Needless to say, it hasn't quite worked out. Redden was a plus-159 in his career for the Sens. He's a minus-9 through 64 games with the Rangers.

3. Scott Gomez- Rangers, 7-years, $51.25 million
Gomez, now in his second season with the Rangers, hasn't exactly lived up to his massive contract. New York has struggled to score goals consistently, and were somewhat handicapped at the trade deadline because of the massive cap hits that come with both Gomez and Redden (above). Gomez's 47 points put him 66th in the NHL. Not exactly what Glen Sather wanted when he agreed to this monstrosity.

2. Daniel Briere- Flyers, 8-years, $52 million
Briere also signed his deal before last season, and will be in Philadelphia for a long long time. Briere has struggled with injuries, but more than anything is giving the Flyers serious salary cap issues that they will have for years to come. Bobby Clarke allegedly dangled Briere (and his mega contract) before the trade deadline, but nobody wanted to touch that albatross, so Briere remains a Flyer. Throw that in with the 12-year deal they signed Mike Richards to, and Philly is looking at major problems down the road.

1. Rick DiPietro- Islanders, 15-years, $67.5 million
What is there to say about this? DiPietro will make $4.5 million every season until 2021. Sure seems ridiculous considering his recurring health problems, and the fact that the Islanders are neck deep in red ink. Apparantly the Isles didn't learn anything from the 10-year, $87.1 million mistake that Alexei Yashin signed in 2001. DiPietro's deal is guaranteed and will have to be paid in full should the netminder be forced to retire due to injuries. While nobody is saying that he'll need to give up hockey, DiPietro has struggled to stay healthy. He has missed all but five games this season, and will miss the remainder of the year. DiPietro has had three surgeries in the past year, including knee and hip operations. The only thing we can do here is ask what were they thinking?

THE TOP 5 MUSTACHES IN NHL HISTORY

Watching Bill Clement on the NHL Live! Trade deadline show yesterday afternoon got me thinking about one of his most under appreciated characteristics: the mustache. That man simply knows how to wear the lip fur. Here are five more masters of the mustache.

5. Dennis MarukBesides being a mustache legend, Maruk was a pretty good player in his day. He scored 50 goals in 1980-81, and 60 the season after that. He was also the first Washington Capital to have 100 points in a single season.

4. Harold SnepstsThe former Vanouver Canuck looks a bit like Cheech Marin, but with a better slap shot. Snepsts appeared in over 1,000 games for Vancouver, Detroit, and St. Louis between 1974 and 1991.

3. Dave BabychBabych, who's bushy 'stache traveled with him to Winnipeg, Hartford, Vancouver, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles over 19 seasons, was a two-time All-Star who scored 723 points during his long career as an NHL defenseman.

2. George ParrosA current player this high on the list? It must be Princeton grad Parros, who's rough, gritty play makes him valuable to the Ducks. He loves to fight, and had this to say when asked about the 'stache: "It's very robust and manly." Well then.


1. Lanny McDonald
Who else? McDonald, who's fiery red mustache matched his Calgary Flames uniform, was also quite a good player. He scored over 500 goals in his career, and won a Cup with Calgary in 1989. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall-of-Fame in 1992, and we can only assume the Mustache Hall-of-Fame long before that. McDonald's mustache is probably the best in all sports, not just hockey. At least until someone brings back the look to it's glory days...

TOP 5 OLD-SCHOOL GOALIE MASKS

Way back in late January, we counted down our five favorite goalie masks of all-time. Some were old (Gerry Cheevers), some were new (Jaroslav Halak), but all were very creatively designed. Now, let's look at five more masks, these ones from long ago, before the current cage design we see so often today. These masks are all old-school Jason masks that were so effective for goaltenders from generations ago.

*Note- Gerry Cheevers is not on this list simply because he was number 1 on our list of the five greatest masks of all-time.

5. Chico Resch- New York Islanders

Resch's dark blue design from the 1970's makes the cut because of how menacing it makes him look. I love that the Y in NY makes a hockey stick, plus the outline of the smile around the mouth.

4. Murray Bannerman- Chicago Blackhawks
This weird design obviously comes from the Blackhawks logo, but it kind of makes him look like a Geisha girl in net. Or maybe a cat. Either way, it's funny.

3. Ken Dryden- Montreal Canadiens

Dryden's bleu, blanc, et rouge looks like a target aiming straight for the middle of his mug. Plus the cutout arrows all over the mask give it a certain zany appeal, like everything is all out of whack, yet right where it should be.

2. Gary Bromley- Vancouver Canucks

Bromley's skull design is like an earlier, cooler, more human-looking version of the one Vesa Toskala wears now. The space on the right side of the mouth also gives the appearance of missing teeth, a trait common among most NHL players.

1. Gilles Gratton- New York Rangers

This fierce looking mask was worn by Gratton in his one season with the Rangers in 1976-77. There is no denying that the cat mask is one of the greatest goalie mask designs ever.

TRADE DEADLINE: WINNERS AND LOSERS

Now that the wheeling and dealing has slowed (minutes after the 3:00 deadline), let's take a look at the winners and losers of the 2009 trade deadline. Keep in mind, some trades can be announced a bit after the deadline, so this may change if anything major is announced.

WINNERS
Calgary Flames- The Flames added Olli Jokinen and former Hobey-Baker award winner Jordan Leopold. They've added both offense and defense and the only significant piece they moved was Matthew Lombardi. Calgary currently sits third in the west and is in prime position to make a long playoff run.

Boston Bruins- Boston, the top team in the Eastern Conference, has been struggling recently. At just 3-5-3 in their last 11 games, the Bruins needed a bit of a shakeup, and they got one from GM Peter Chiarelli. Chiarelli dealt young players Matt Lashoff, Martins Karsums, and Petteri Nokelainen, and picked up Steve Montador from Anaheim and Mark Recchi from Tampa Bay. Both players should boost the Bruins' strong core, and Recchi will almost certainly replace PJ Axelsson on the power play.

LOSERS
Colorado Avalance- Lawrence Nycholat, one of the defenseman the Avs acquired from the Calgary Flames in the Jordan Leopold deal, was recently waived by the Flames. Why pass on him and then trade a solid defenseman for him? I understand the need to deal Leopold from a financian perspective, but come on. The Avs could have gotten more than Nycholat, Ryan Wilson, and a 2nd round pick.

Anaheim Ducks- The Ducks offense stinks. Why trade forward Chris Kunitz for defenseman Ryan Whitney? Clearly the Ducks aren't straight up sellers, deciding to hold on to Chris Pronger and Scott Neidermayer. So why trade another defenseman, Steve Montador, for a very young player looking for playing time in Nokelainen. It seems like Anaheim couldn't decide if it wanted to sell or stand pat. I don't like their moves.

TRADE DEADLINE: TODAY'S UPDATES (2:15 PM)

With forty-five minutes remaining until the trade deadline passes, here is what we have learned since our last post some twenty-five minutes ago.

Bill Guerin, who has been held out of the Islanders last few games, has finally been dealt. The veteran forward is joining Sid the Kid in Pittsburgh. The Islanders will pick up a conditional draft pick in the deal, in addition to the rest of Guerin's $4.5 million salary that they no longer need to pay. The conditional pick will be either a third, fourth, or fifth round pick, depending on where the Penguins finish the season.

Marian Gaborik is being shopped by the Minnesota Wild. Gaborik has missed almost all of this season with a hip injury, but was recently cleared to play by Minnesota's doctors. It's odd that the Wild waited this long to shop their all-time leading scorer, with less than an hour until the deadline passes. We'll find out within the hour if Marian Gaborik is dealt.

TSN is also reporting that Chris Neil is being sent from Ottawa to Florida. It is not yet known what the Senators will receive as compensation.

More coming...

TRADE DEADLINE: TODAY'S UPDATES

The deadline is inching ever closer, and plenty of deals have gone down, and will continue to do so until 3:00pm, when the NHL trade deadline officially passes. Here is a brief recap of what's gone down thus far.

Penguins get: Andy Wozniewski (D)
Blues get: Danny Richmond (D)
A very minor deal in which Pittsburgh and St. Louis swap young defenseman. Neither of these players are destined for greatness. This one is a draw.

Sabres get: Mikael Tellqvist (G)
Coyotes get: 2010 4th round pick
The Sabres pick up a backup goalie from the financially strapped Coyotes. With Ryan Miller injured, this is a smart pickup for Buffalo. The compensation seems fair for a backup netminder, especially considering Phoenix's hesitation to take back any salary whatsoever.

Blue Jackets get: Antoine Vermette (C)
Senators get: Pascal LeClaire (G), 2009 2nd round pick
Columbus, right in the thick of the Western Conference playoff hunt, pick up a serviceable veteran forward who can put the puck in the net. Mason is set in goal, making LeClaire expendable. The Sens build for the future with the draft pick, and pick up a goalie to replace Martin Gerber, who was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier in the day.

Bruins get: Steve Montador (D)
Ducks get: Petteri Nokelainen (C)
Boston picks up a savvy veteran blue liner for a young forward. Nokelainen is still developing, but the Bruins are ripe with young forwards. Adding a defenseman was a top priority, and Boston gets a good one in Montador. The Bruins win this deal.

Flames get: Jordan Leopold (D)
Avalanche get: Lawrence Nycholat (D), Ryan Wilson (D), 2009 2nd round pick
The Flames clearly believe they can win the Cup this season, and they are stocking up for the stretch run. The Avs, currently last in the west, are building for the future. Leopold returns to Calgary and will certainly help the Flames out.

Flames get: Olli Jokinen (C)
Coyotes get: Matthew Lombardi (F), Brandon Prust (F), 2009 1st round pick
The floundering Desert Dogs are smart to deal Jokinen and his large salary. While the Flames are building for a run this season, the Coyotes rebuild for the future once again, and the 1st round pick will certainly help out with that.

Bruins get: Mark Recchi (F), 2010 2nd round pick
Lightning get: Matt Lashoff (D), Martins Karsums (F)
Boston adds another piece to their power play, which could boost them in the long run. Karsums seems to be nothing more than a fourth line forward (at best), but Lashoff is a nice addition for Tampa Bay. The Bruins first round pick a few years back, Lashoff should get something in Tampa Bay that he couldn't get in Boston: playing time. That will only help his growth for the Lightning.

Teams are also signing their own players to extensions rather than dealing them. Tim Connolly signed a 2-year, $9 million deal to stay with Buffalo, Filip Kuba signed a 3-year extension with the Ottawa Senators, and goalie Niklas Backstrom inked a 4-year deal to remain in Minnesota. Backstrom's deal apparently has a no-trade provision as well.

More to come as the deadline draws nearer....

THE TRADE DEADLINE: DEALING DRAFT PICKS

The NHL trade deadline (Wednesday at 3:00pm) is the final chance for teams in prime playoff position to load up for the stretch run. Oftentimes teams will deal future picks for players that can help them now, without fear of what those picks may or may not become. Sometimes the draft pick becomes meaningless, just another player toiling in the minors who wasn't quite ready for prime time. But other times, those players become franchise icons, all-stars, or even hall-of-famers, it's all just a luck of the draw kind of thing. Here are four deadline deals in which the draft picks panned out far beyond expectation.

The Hartford Whalers acquired Glen Featherstone, Michael Stewart, a 1995 first round pick, and a 1996 fourth round pick from the New York Rangers for Pat Verbeek- March 23, 1995
The 1995 first round pick that went from New York to Hartford ended up being JEAN-SEBASTIAN GIGUERE, the 2003 Conn Smythe winner and 2007 Stanley Cup Champion goaltender for the Anaheim Ducks.

The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired Andrei Nazarov and Florida's 1998 first round pick (previously acquired) from the San Jose Sharks for Bryan Marchment, David Shaw, and Tampa Bay's 1998 first round pick- March 24, 1998
This deadline deal in 1998 landed the Lightning the first overall pick from San Jose, which had previously been acquired from the Florida Panthers. The Lightning selected VINCENT LECAVALIER, their current captain who led them to the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals, where they defeated the Calgary Flames in seven games.

The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired Sandy McCarthy, a 1998 third round pick and a 1998 fifth round pick from the Calgary Flames for Jason Wiemer- March 24, 1998
On that same day they picked up the first round pick from San Jose, Tampa added a third round pick, which they used on BRAD RICHARDS. Richards went on to win the Conn Smythe trophy for Tampa Bay during that same Cup run in 2004.

The Buffalo Sabres acquired Rhett Warrener and a 1999 fifth round pick from the Florida Panthers for Mike Wilson- March 23, 1999
That fifth round pick was a goalie out of Michigan State by the name of RYAN MILLER. Miller, now Buffalo's starting netminder, is one of the NHL's best and will probably be one of Team USA's goalies in the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.

GM's shouldn't be so quick to sell off their draft picks for quick returns this season. If the deals don't pan out the way they want to, the draft picks might just turn into all-stars down the line.

MARTIN BRODEUR: THE GREATEST GOALIE OF ALL-TIME

With two shutouts in his first three games since returning from elbow surgery, Martin Brodeur announced that he was back, healthy, and ready to resume his reign as the NHL's top goaltender. New Jersey's first round pick (20th overall) in 1990, Brodeur is a first ballot hall-of-famer, and to take it one step further, is the greatest goalie to ever play in the National Hockey League.

At some point later this year--or more likely, next--Brodeur will become the league's all-time leader in wins and shutouts. He currently sits just six wins short of Patrick Roy's 551, and three shutouts behind Terry Sawchuk, who had 103 in his illustrious career. Brodeur will probably pass Roy and top the playoff shutout list as well, as he is only one behind the former Canadiens/Avalanche netminder with 22 career goose-eggs in the postseason.

But what Martin Brodeur has done for the game exceeds all stats and numbers. If you've never seen him play the position, there is no way to truly understand Brodeur's greatness in the net. He's made some of the most jaw-dropping saves of all-time, and even scarier, generally does it with some regularity. Additionally, Brodeur revolutionized the way goalies handle the puck, oftentimes coming out of the net to make tape-to-tape passes to streaking wingers. Oh yeah, and he's one of only a handful of goalies to score a goal.

Often criticized for his massive pads, Brodeur has continued to have success since the NHL began regulating the size of a goaltender's equipment, and changed up some rules to increase scoring. Brodeur, the longtime Devil, doesn't mind because it doesn't really effect him. His incredible numbers are just as mind boggling now as they were before the lockout.



Sometime very soon, Martin Brodeur will own the most victories and most shutouts in NHL history. He'll probably be regarded as the best ever when that occurs, but I say why wait? His numbers and records speak for themselves, as do his 95 playoff wins, four Vezina trophies, 2002 Olympic Gold Medal, and three Stanley Cup rings. Add 'em all up, and you get the greatest goaltender the NHL has ever seen.

B'S RUMORS SWIRL AS DEADLINE NEARS

Some interesting rumors are swirling around Boston in preparation for Wednesday's NHL trade deadline (3:00pm). Both have the Bruins acquiring a big name blue liner, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see whether or not one of these two deals becomes a reality.

One trade, as reported here, has Boston sending Mark Stuart, last season's first round pick Joe Colbourne, a 2009 first round pick, and possibly another roster player to Anaheim in exchange for Chris Pronger. It's interesting to note that previous reports on this deal had Bruins forward Phil Kessel moving west as well, but that apparently is not the case. Pronger has one year remaining on his current deal with the Ducks, valued at $6.25 million.

The other trade, as mentioned on ESPN.com's Rumor Central page (Insider Only), has Boston acquiring Toronto's Tomas Kaberle in exchange for Colbourne, a 2009 first round pick, and a 2009 third round pick. It's currently unknown whether this rumor has legs because Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke has previously stated that he wants a pick, a prospect, and a roster player for his prized defenseman. The current deal has no roster player, and who knows what Peter Chiarelli would be willing to move to land Kaberle, certainly not a highly skilled player, as he would be dealt within the Northeast division.

Either one of these puck moving defenseman would look good in black and gold. If the price is too high though, Chiarelli can't pull the trigger. He won't want to mortgage his club's bright future for a better shot this year.