Pete "Hat Trick" Colaninno has more than 20 years of fantasy hockey
experience. He was the fantasy hockey expert for NHL Extreme! and has written for a number of national magazines such as Pro Hockey Preview and has appeared on several radio sports talk shows around the country.
There
were a multitude of trades at the NHL trade deadline as teams try to jockey for
playoff positioning.Here’s my take on
the Wales Conference moves.
Chris Kunitzto Pittsburgh: Kunitz has shown offensive ability and now moves to
the very offensive Penguins.He has
potted three goals already since the move and now finds himself playing with Sydney Crosby.This will only add to his offensive
numbers.Grab him if he is still
available in your league.
Erik Cole to
Carolina: Cole
makes his return to the Canes, where he has had success.Clearly, the move to Edmonton did not pan out
for Cole as he only had 27 points in 63 games.It will be interesting to see what line he ends up on but he could get
back to solid numbers in Carolina.
Nik Antropov to
Rangers:
Antropov moves to the Rangers and immediately becomes the second leading scorer
on the team.In his first game, he lined
up on the second line with Chris Drury
and Brandon Dubinsky.He was playing on Toronto’s first line, so
his point totals could take a bit of a hit.
Mark Recchi to
Boston:
After notching five assists in a game last week for the Lightning, Recchi moves
from the outhouse to the penthouse in going to Boston.He should be able to put up some good numbers
playing on an energetic line with Chuck
Kobasew and Patrice Bergeron,
but his special teams play will be non-existent.
Niclas Havelid to New
Jersey: Havelid
does not offer much in the point scoring area but it is worthy to note that he
was a plus-4 on Atlanta.His plus/minus
should improve with the Devils.
Pascal Leclaire to
Ottawa:
With rookie Steve Mason playing well
in Columbus, Leclaire was expendable.He
is currently out for the rest of the season with an injury but is a solid
netminder who will be Ottawa’s starting goaltender next season.
Bill Guerin to
Pittsburgh: The
move to Pittsburgh should energize the veteran as he will line up with Sydney Crosby.Look for Guerin’s numbers to rise.
Derek Morris to
Rangers:
Morris is no longer the offensive player he was but should add stability to the
Rangers blueline.With Wade Redden and Michal Roszival playing on the first powerplay unit, Morris will
only get limited PP time.
Dominic Moore to
Buffalo:
Moore was having a career year in Toronto with 41 points and should continue
the trend in Buffalo.
Daniel Carcillo to
Philadelphia:
Carcillo fits in with the physical Flyers but with Riley Cote and Aaron Asham
on the team, he may not rack up the penalty minutes he was used to in Phoenix.
