Post by Derrick - Senators on Nov 7, 2010 3:53:40 GMT -5
Sunday, November 7, 2010
3:53 AM EST
NAFHL Press
Just two months ago, Simon Gagne was healthy and looking for a change of scenery. Now he is -8, suffering neck stiffness which has landed him on the IR, and has yet to record a point. After controversially being traded from Columbus to Winnipeg on July 12th, (in exchange for Alexander Frolov and a 1st Round Waiver Pick), Gagne finds himself on the move for a second time this season, this time, on the move to Atlanta where he hopes to find a home. Patrice Bergeron, Brandon Sutter, and Alex Pietrangelo will also join Gagne in Atlanta as they were acquired via trade from the Washington Capitals for Anze Kopitar, Nikolai Zherdev, and Sean Avery.
This trade comes as a bit of a surprise and has sent a shock wave through the NAFHL. Atlanta traded its best player in Kopitar (who most thought was being groomed for captaincy) in an apparent rebuilding of the franchise. Nobody is really sure if there was a falling out between Kopitar and Thrashers management or if this was something that has been in the works due to its slow start (12-19-5).
In any event, hold on all you Thrashers fans. Before you start to pull your hair out or profusely spew obscenities at news of this trade, step back and analyze, because it might not be the end of the world.
Say what?
That's right. Your Atlanta Thrashers just might be better off in the long run for moving Kopitar. If the Thrashers are indeed packing it up and calling it a season, it just obtained arguably the best defensive prospect in the world, a very good prospect who has proven himself at the NHL level in Sutter (21 goals as a rookie), and upgraded one of its keepers at LW, while getting a talent back at C. Not to mention, opening up a roster spot for highly touted Thrashers prospect Jakub Voracek. In addition, without Kopitar's production, Atlanta sets itself up nicely for a high 1st round draft pick in the 2011 Prospect Draft.
Lets not forget, Bergeron is just 3 years removed from back to back 70 point seasons (310 SOG in 2005) and Gagne is just 1 year removed from a 70 point season, and 3 seasons removed from back to back 40 goal campaigns (334 SOG in 2005). This trade then becomes the definition of high risk/high reward for the Atlanta Thrashers organization. On the other hand, the Washington Capitals come out smelling like a rose obtaining the best player in the deal (Kopitar), while adding something you can never get enough of in toughness (Avery), and a 25 goal guy with upside (Zherdev) as it moves toward its final phase of building a team to compete in the NAFHL playoffs.
This is only the second completed trade of the young 2010-2011 NAFHL season since the puck dropped on October 7th.
3:53 AM EST
NAFHL Press
Just two months ago, Simon Gagne was healthy and looking for a change of scenery. Now he is -8, suffering neck stiffness which has landed him on the IR, and has yet to record a point. After controversially being traded from Columbus to Winnipeg on July 12th, (in exchange for Alexander Frolov and a 1st Round Waiver Pick), Gagne finds himself on the move for a second time this season, this time, on the move to Atlanta where he hopes to find a home. Patrice Bergeron, Brandon Sutter, and Alex Pietrangelo will also join Gagne in Atlanta as they were acquired via trade from the Washington Capitals for Anze Kopitar, Nikolai Zherdev, and Sean Avery.
This trade comes as a bit of a surprise and has sent a shock wave through the NAFHL. Atlanta traded its best player in Kopitar (who most thought was being groomed for captaincy) in an apparent rebuilding of the franchise. Nobody is really sure if there was a falling out between Kopitar and Thrashers management or if this was something that has been in the works due to its slow start (12-19-5).
In any event, hold on all you Thrashers fans. Before you start to pull your hair out or profusely spew obscenities at news of this trade, step back and analyze, because it might not be the end of the world.
Say what?
That's right. Your Atlanta Thrashers just might be better off in the long run for moving Kopitar. If the Thrashers are indeed packing it up and calling it a season, it just obtained arguably the best defensive prospect in the world, a very good prospect who has proven himself at the NHL level in Sutter (21 goals as a rookie), and upgraded one of its keepers at LW, while getting a talent back at C. Not to mention, opening up a roster spot for highly touted Thrashers prospect Jakub Voracek. In addition, without Kopitar's production, Atlanta sets itself up nicely for a high 1st round draft pick in the 2011 Prospect Draft.
Lets not forget, Bergeron is just 3 years removed from back to back 70 point seasons (310 SOG in 2005) and Gagne is just 1 year removed from a 70 point season, and 3 seasons removed from back to back 40 goal campaigns (334 SOG in 2005). This trade then becomes the definition of high risk/high reward for the Atlanta Thrashers organization. On the other hand, the Washington Capitals come out smelling like a rose obtaining the best player in the deal (Kopitar), while adding something you can never get enough of in toughness (Avery), and a 25 goal guy with upside (Zherdev) as it moves toward its final phase of building a team to compete in the NAFHL playoffs.
This is only the second completed trade of the young 2010-2011 NAFHL season since the puck dropped on October 7th.