Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Deadline Eve Scratches

Back to the press box it was for Frank Kaberle. Kaberle, a Box 28 defenseman, may very well be on the block for today's deadline, since he has been a regular scratch for the Hurricanes this season. The Hurricanes are in need of a little more help to clinch their playoff spot this season.

The Blue Jackets lost the services of Box 4 forward, Mike Peca, on Sunday, after suffering a jaw injury against Vancouver and wasn't in the line-up for the Jackets against the Kings at home. Peca definitely won't be in play today at the deadline, as the Blue Jackets are thought to be buyers today.

After missing two games due to a neck injury, Marian Hossa was thought to be 100% coming back to the Red Wings line-up against the Blues. Unfortunately, in his return, he was checked while off-balance, head-first into the boards and had to be carried off the ice on a stretcher. The good news is that Hossa was alright when he left the ice and got a good bill of health at the hospital. Hossa may miss one or two games while they make sure that he is 100%.

Two days before the deadline, the Devils went out and acquired Niclas Havelid from the Thrashers, but he was not ready to join his new team's line-up on Tuesday night. Expect Havelid to suit up for the Devils later on in the week. The Devils are in Long Island on Saturday.

Well, you have to keep your pieces in trade deadline deals healthy or else they are worthless to you on the day of. Mark Recchi and Gary Roberts were both held out of the Lightning line-up on Tuesday night, as the Lightning took on the Penguins. Recchi, the only Draft player of the two, will garner the most interest, as he is a little bit younger than Roberts, but they are definitely both good veterans to have on your team.

The Leafs also held a couple of their trade bait players out of the line-up on Tuesday night, as both Nikolai Antropov and Domenic Moore were not playing against the Devils. Antropov is the only pool player of the two and but they are both valuable pieces to the deadline puzzle. Tomas Kaberle was also held out of the third period, this due to a hand injury suffered in the second period. Kaberle will be re-evaluated this afternoon.

Finally, the Capitals held Michael Nylander out of their line-up for his fourth straight game and also Tom Poti was held out of their line-up on Tuesday night against the Hurricanes. Both players could very well be in play to help bolst the Capitals line-up, as they have been a bit shaky of late. Stay tuned.

Click here to see an updated injury page.

No comments: