Thursday, January 19, 2012

Is Ben Bishop's time in St. Louis done?

Ben Bishop's name has been thrown around a lot  in trade talks. Young goalies, even if unproven have been a hot commodity this year. Players like Josh Harding and Johnathan Bernier have become players of high price. With the extension of Brian Elliot, and the long contract of Jaroslav Halak, Ben Bishop doesn't have much of an opportunity to be a NHL goalie in St. Louis. What happens between now and trade deadline date remains to be seen. If he doesn't get traded, and becomes a free agent, this is where it gets interesting. If Bishop plays 17 or less games in the NHL this season, he becomes a UFA, but if he plays 17 or more, he becomes a RFA. This is sure to get interesting.

Antero Niittymaki traded?

Antero Niittymaki no longer has a locker stall in the HP pavillion. The official statement is that he is on a conditioning stint. I talked to my sources and they are saying that a trade is probably imminent.

Brandon Yip Claimed By The Nashville Predators

Winger Brandon Yip has been clamied on waivers by the Nashville Predators. The winger has been having a bad season with the Colorado Avalanche playing only ten games this season with zero points, eight PIM and a +/- of 1. This move by the Predators is more of a depth move, making the team depth and wing a bit more deep.

Talent Analysis:
He is a tough versatile winger that does go in to the dirty spots. His type of "dirty" is different from most players as he uses his stick to get the puck instead of using the body. He has the offensive talents needed to play as a full time second winger. He needs to be a bit more disciplined though. I see him as a third line winger.

Is the Winter Classic in trouble?

Could next year's winter classic be in trouble? The big question about next year's Winter Classic is the amount of profit that the NHL is making for the Winter Classic. According to sources, the NHL did not make a lot of money this year from the Winter Classic. I had a chat with my sources and they told me that this could be the one hurdle from making the actual thing official.