The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
If I were a luggage salesman right now, I'd be traveling to the dressing rooms of the non-contending NHL squads. Where else would I find so many people (rich people, too) who are likely to end up in a different city very, very soon. With the league's trade deadline now just six days away, speculation is, as usual at this time, flying about whom the playoff-bound teams will pick up and whom the outsiders would like to dump. So who's on the block? Some of the names are obvious. If you're a member of the Washington Capitals, particularly one named Olaf Kolzig or Sergei Gonchar, you're on the block. The Chicago Blackhawks are also ready to do more than just talk and have no doubt had inquiries about defencemen Bryan Berard and Alexander Karpovtsev. If a GM can find something of interest on the lowly Pittsburgh Penguins' roster not named Mario Lemieux or Marc-Andre Fleury, it's his for the taking. Supporting cast guys like Kelly Buchberger and Marc Bergevin might elicit attention. The New York Rangers remain a question mark. Will GM Glen Sather admit that his "stars only" approach to filling out his roster has failed miserably and start dumping salaries? Many have speculated he will. If the Blueshirts do go into fire sale mode, the likes of Alexei Kovalev, Brian Leetch, Petr Nedved, and Boris Mironov could find themselves actually playing beyond the 82-game schedule. Sather might even do the unthinkable and ship team legend and captain Mark Messier, in his last NHL season, to a contender. One problem Sather would find in this scenario is that only a select few teams can afford to pay the outrageous salaries he has happily afforded to his dismal club. It's not obvious which path the Edmonton Oilers will take, either. As of press time, the Oil stood eight points back of a playoff spot. If GM Kevin Lowe gives up on his post-season aspirations, he'll be all ears to offers. Should that happen, Lowe is reportedly ready to ship off fan favourites Ryan Smyth, Steve Staios, Jason Smith, and Georges Laraque. It would stand to reason that aging Adam Oates would also be moved. The next question is, who's looking? Probably about a dozen teams, most notably the Detroit Red Wings, Colorado Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers and Ottawa Senators. Each of those clubs has a legitimate shot at the Stanley Cup, and each has its own area of perceived weakness. What separates this trade deadline from those past is that GMs may not be overly concerned about what players are scheduled to earn in 2004-05. After all, that season may very well not happen in light of the collective bargaining agreement mess. Now If you'll excuse me, I've got some luggage to hawk.
