Deadline Dmen in the WHL

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The WHL trade deadline is January 10th, just 5 days after the World Junior Championship. A player isn't supposed to be traded during the tournament, but it does happen, it's just not officially announced until after the event. Here are a few blueliners who will be available leading up to the deadline. Some of these players may have already been dealt, but as mentioned it can't be announced until they return to their WHL teams.

Sbisa Demoted... Again.

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For the second season in a row, Swiss defenceman Luca Sbisa has been cut from his NHL team. The official release from the Anaheim Ducks is HERE.

Sbisa was sent back to the WHL by the Philadelphia Flyers last year where he collected 15 points in 18 games. Philly's 1st round selection in the 2008 draft played 39 games in the NHL last season and has appeared in 8 games for the Ducks this year.

Interestingly the release does not state exactly where Sbisa is being sent but it would appear the options are fairly limited. Isn't he headed back to Lethbridge again? Having been drafted out of the WHL, Sbisa cannot play in the AHL until he is 20-years-old and he doesn't reach that age until the end of January.

The next question is, what do the rebuilding Hurricanes do? Do they instantly try and move him sooner as opposed to later like they did with Kyle Beach when sent back to them by Chicago earlier this fall? Do they wait longer and try and build a bidding war before the WHL trade deadline on January 10th? Do they keep him and use him as a tool in their rebuilding process with their young players?

Hurricanes decision blows

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Wow. That's all I could say when my Global Sports colleague John Sexsmith broke the news to me about Roy Stasiuk being let go in Lethbridge. I was on the golf course at Sturgeon Valley all day and zipped straight to a charity bowling function where John told me. I've had some time to digest it and read some comments from the organization and now I feel like spewing my opinion.

The guy on the left might summarize it with this. "Worst decision ever."

First of all I think this is a big mistake, and the board is blowing smoke up you know where with some of their comments.

“We had very high expectations going into this season,” Lethbridge president Brian McNaughton told the gathering. “We believed we had a very strong group of 1989-born players and coming off of last season our expectations were quite high. Those expectations were not met."

HUH?????

This is a team that started the season without 2008 first round draft picks Zack Boychuk (Carolina 14th overall) and Luca Sbisa (Philadelphia 19th overall) and while both came back Boychuk was still getting over a wrist injury while Sbisa played only 18 regular season games. How did the team not meet expectations??? After Stasiuk made a ballsy deal to bring in Kyle Beach, the poster child for bad reputations notched 33 points in 24 games. He did struggle with offence and discipline in the post season, but he was reportedly good in the dressing room. The Canes also knocked off the 2nd ranked Saskatoon Blades, then lost to Calgary who didn't lose a game until the WHL final. So to me the board is full of BS with those comments.

"We’ve gone through an extensive evaluation period here for the last several weeks and came to this decision in the middle of last week.”

Brilliant comment here. Why then did you let Roy tie the can to Michael Dyck? And why would you let him run your bantam draft? This is just my opinion, but I think something happened from the time Dyck was cut loose and today. Maybe it was how out spoken Stasiuk was, maybe it was a "backroom deal" he spoke about after getting fired. But I don't think the board is being honest about when they made this decision.

One thing I'm sure of, Rodeo Roy will get back in the saddle again. He was a key cog in building the Kootenay Ice when they were winning league and Memorial Cup titles, and has a great eye for talent. He also took the Hurricanes to the WHL final just last year, so the 'Canes decision today could be very premature and might come back to bite them in the....

Zabotel POW, 'Canes get a lift, CHL on the tube

Just a couple of quick hitters here with some links:

-Vancouver's Casey Pierro-Zabotel was named the WHL's top player for the month of January.

-It's like a trade after the league's deadline for Lethbridge G.M. Rodeo Roy Stasiuk, as the 'Canes received 2008 Philadelphia first round pick Luca Sbisa back from the Flyers, just in time for the stretch drive.

-WHL fans will get to watch some more of their favorite teams on the tube starting Wednesday. Not only is SHAW TV doing a great job covering the "dub" but Rogers Sportsnet is ramping up it's coverage of the CHL right now as well. The Edmonton Oil Kings hosting Saskatoon will be featured this Wednesday. For a complete broadcast schedule you can click here.

Staying Power

Now that every team has played atleast 10 games, it's time to look at those youngsters who have passed the magic mark of 9 games and look destined to stay in the NHL.

Oscar Moller, of the LA Kings scored twice, giving him 4 on the year and helping the Kings against Calgary Saturday night. Moller has 6 points in his 10 games with LA who weren't sure before the 9 game mark if they were going to keep the now former Chilliwack Bruin of the WHL. Saturday night Moller was all over the ice, and as usual shooting from every direction, which led to his 3rd tally this year. Unlike Moller, there wasn't much doubt about his teammate and Kings rookie blueliner Drew Doughty who had just one assist heading into action Saturday night, but a league leading (heading into Saturday) plus 6 when it comes to NHL freshmen.



The guy drafted 3 spots after Doughty this past June also isn't going back to Junior. Luke Schenn played his 12th game in comeback victory over New York Saturday, and picked up an assist, his 3rd on the season. Schenn has been physical, has racked up 17 minutes in penalties, and is playing more than 21 minutes a night. I was one of the guys who thought going back to Kelowna would have been a good move as the Rockets could be Memorial Cup contenders this year and Schenn would surely captain Team Canada at the World Juniors, but he certainly hasn't looked out of place in the NHL thus far.

Maybe the biggest surprise of this year's crop of rookies is Philadelphia D-man Luca Sbisa. Most (myself included) expected the 19th overall pick last June, to end up back in Lethbridge helping the Hurricanes to a 2nd straight WHL Eastern Conference Championship. But injuries in Philly and great play by the Italian born, and Swiss raised blueliner have kept in the city of brotherly love, where Sbisa has 5 assists and is averaging almost 25 shifts per game.

The Kitchener Rangers weren't likely expecting the Great Dane Mikkel Boedker back this season, in fact former Rangers head coach Peter Deboer told TPS before last year's Memorial Cup that Boedker was NHL ready, even before he was drafted. Boedker was drafted 8th overall and before Saturday night was averaging a point every 2nd game for Wayne Gretzky's EX-JETS. His terrific speed and vision on the ice has Boedker playing in the desert dogs top 6.

A couple of other notes, both Zach Bogosian and Alex Pieterangelo are hurt right now, and if their injuries linger on, would the Thrasher and Blues think of sending them back? I highly doubt it, but who knows. Brandon Sutter is also hurt, but he won't be returning to Red Deer, and the Saskatoon Blades are hoping to get Colton Gillies back, will it happen? Maybe. Gillies is playing less than 10 minutes a night for Jacques Lemaire's Wild and has only played 8 games. The Blades are a great team this year and Gillies might be better off leading the charge in toon town, rather than going into the wild and sitting on the bench.

There's a few others out there who have made it past the 9 game mark, let me know who has impressed you thus far.

Top 5 Tuesdays: 5 Youngest NHLers

Sam Gagner, born August 10th of 1989, was the youngest player in the NHL for the 2007-08 season and that's still younger than any of this season's rookies who were all born prior to August. Still, it is interesting to note that 3 of the youngest skaters in the NHL this season are defencemen, not what most people would expect. Here now are the 5 youngest players in the NHL at the start of the 2008-09 season.

5. Alex Pietrangelo D - St. Louis Blues
Born: January 18, 1990

The fourth player chosen in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft last June, Pietrangelo played three games before getting hurt with the ever-vague 'upper body injury'. He's expected to be out until early next month. The 6'2, 206 lb, blueliner didn't register a point in any of those games but did play a fair amount: (14:01, 15:54 and 19:30). The injury to Erik Johnson was a blow to the organization this year but it definitely opened a door for the former Mississauga/Niagara IceDog.

4. Luca Sbisa D - Philadelphia Flyers
Born: January 30, 1990

He's the best thing from Switzerland since chocolate and he's taken to Philly like a Cuckoo to a clock. The Lethbridge Hurricanes would love to have Sbisa back but probably shouldn't hold their breath. Sbisa has 2 points through 8 games with the Flyers but is playing in a top-4 role as the team deals with some injuries but also looks for offence. His ice time is contiually hovering in the 17-20 minute range and he's being asked to play well above his tender years might suggest he's ready for. But... he's how old again??

3. Steven Stamkos C - Tampa Bay Lightning
Born: February 7, 1990

The talk about Stamkos has been the lack of minutes he's been getting. Stealing a joke from Corey Graham... remember the 'Seen Stamkos?' promo ads that the Lighting were running in the summer? Well the fans are starting to ask the same thing and it's not in a positive way. Stamkos, the odds on favorite on every list to be the Calder Trophy winner this year, has zero points after 7 games and has played as little as 6:05 one night. No points for the poster boy has got to be a concern and although I highly doubt he gets sent back to Sarnia... someone somewhere is asking if it might be for the best.

2. Nikita Filatov LW - Columbus Blue Jackets
Born: May 25, 1990



He's got a goal and he hasn't even played over ten minutes in a game, in fact his ice time is dwindling as time goes on. Last time out against New York he played juse under 3 minutes... those are minutes usually reserved for knuckle chuckers, not budding superstars.

1. Zach Bogosian D - Atlanta Thrashers
Born: July 15, 1990

The youngest player in the NHL this year is the blueliner from Massena, NY. The 3rd overall pick of the Thrashers, Bogosian was expected by many as one of the leading candidates to make a quck jump to the NHL. He doesn't have any points yet in Atlanta but like Pietrangelo and Sbisa, Bogosian is playing a bunch of minutes usually in the 13:30-16:30 range. The Thrashers site indicates that he's partners with Mathieu Schneider so you have to think some good things are going to happen for Bogosian sooner or later if that duo stays together.

It's interesting to note that Sam Gagner is still the 12th youngest player in the NHL...

Ranking blatanly stolen from Mirtle.

Top 5 Tuesday

Today we take a look at some NHL rookies, not named Stamkos, Turris or Brunnstrom you should keep your eye on:

5. Oscar Moller-Los Angeles Kings
The super swede scored his first NHL goal Monday night against Colorado.
Playing on a line with Alexander Frolov and Michael Handzus, Frolov took a pass down low and from a bad angle fired in his first. It was a goal Peter Budaj should have stopped, but it was a goal Moller (pictured courtesy Getty Images) has likely scored many times in his career, simply because he loves to shoot the puck. He lit up the WHL with 39 goals last year, and could be doing the same thing with Chilliwack as a 19 year old, but he cracked the Kings roster. Moller said during an intermission Monday night that he was "a little surprised" about making the team, but now he's making the most of it. Along with 18 year old Drew Doughty (who also scored his first career NHL goal Monday night, and was undressed by Ryan Smyth on an Avs goal), and 20 year Wayne Simmonds Moller is fitting well as a young star in Hollywood playing almost 15 minutes a night.

4. Viktor Tikhonov-Phoenix Coyotes
At the 2008 NHL draft in Ottawa, the Coyotes took a player who Peter Deboer told TPS before the Memorial Cup - was the most NHL ready player in the draft, selecting Mikkel Boedker 8th overall. The "Great Dane" as TPS started calling him during the Memorial Cup has 2 goals in 5 Coyotes games as of Monday and joins an embarassment of riches when it comes to young players in the desert. Kyle Turris, Kevin Porter, Peter Meuller, and Martin Hanzal are all stars on the rise like Boedker. But Viktor Tikhonov (pictured left courtesy thehockeynews.com)is another guy to watch. The grandson of the legendary Soviet Union coach of the same name was acquired by the Coyotes with the 28th pick in the first round this past June, a pick they traded to get, and select the Russian who had twice been passed over in the draft. The 20 year old was born in Moscow but grew up in California before moving back to Russia and representing his country at the 2008 World Junior Championship where Russia won a bronze medal. The fact that the Coyotes used a first round pick on a 20 year old tells you how important they think Tikhonov can be to their organization immediately.

3. Luca Sbisa-Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers grabbed Italian born, and Switzlerand raised Luca Sbisa 19th overall last June, and most including myself expected him to play a second season with Lethbrige of the WHL. It looks like the Flyers have other ideas. Sbisa who started at the bottom of the defence pile in Philly, is now in the team's top 4, skating with Brayden Coburn on the 2nd pairing. The smooth skating rearguard ranks 5th among rookie D-men averaging 18:44 of ice time, but played a season high 21:05 recently against Montreal and has been on the ice in late game situations. Heading into action Tuesday the 18 year old had yet to register a point, but that will come in time. There's still a chance he could end up back in Lethbridge as he's yet to reach the magical 9 game mark, but it looks like the Flyers blueline of the future with Sbisa, Ryan Parent, and Brayden Coburn is in good hands.

2. Patrick Berglund-St. Louis Blues
Another Sweded on our list, the Blues 1st round pick, 25th overall in 2006 came over to St. Louis about a month before training camp to get used to the surroundings and make sure he was ready for the season. I'd say the plan worked. Berglund picked up his first goal, and assist in just his second NHL game, putting up 2 points versus the Leafs. He's since added another assist for 3 points in 4 games. Berglund has a ton of goal scoring potential, having netted 43 goals and 102 points in 81 games back in Swedend the past 2 years. He also has the size St. Louis is drooling over, at 6.04 and by his account was 210 pounds before training camp. While TJ Oshie might be more well known when it comes to Blues rookies, Berglund who's tied for 4th in rookie scoring heading into Tuesday night will soon be on the radar screen for hockey fans.

1. Derick Brassard
Quick, can you name the top scoring rookie in the NHL right now? If you raised your hand and answered Kris Versteeg of the Chicago Blackhawks, give yourself a gold star. With a goal and 5 helpers in 5 games, Versteeg has a 1 point lead on the Stars Fabian Brunnstrom. The question is will the 5th round pick of Boston from 2004 keep it up? Not likely. Only 2 points back of Versteeg is Columbus Centerman Derick Brassard, a player that is finally getting a shot in Columbus now that Gilbert Brule is no longer around. The 6th overall pick from 2006 played 17 games for the Jackets last season, and while he didn't dazzle with just 2 points, he reportedly did impress head coach Ken Hitchcock. This year he's been spotted with Jakub Voracek and Jason Chimera. Chimera told me at Perry Pearn's summer camp this year, he loved playing with the 2 young guys, and jokingly said he might get 50 goals with the rookies. Brassard almost reached the half century mark in junior with Drummondville in his draft year, potting 44 goals, and adding 72 assists in just 58 games. A shoulder injury limited him to just 14 games in 2006-2007, but Brassard (pictured right courtesy of syracusecrunch.com) rebounded with 51 points in 42 AHL games last season, which was his first as a pro, and included a few stints with the big club. Brassard has notched 2 goals and 2 assists in 5 games this year, 2 more points than he scored last year in 17 games.

A few others to keep your eye on are James Neal in Dallas, Ryan Jones of Nashville and Alex Goligoski in Pittsburgh.

(Pictures courtesy: Sbisa-Zimbia.com, Berglund-jamd.com,)