Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Don’t want to be a richer man
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes

Thanks to the trade deadline that expired hours ago, changes rippled through the NHL as teams parted with players, made deals, and surprised few. Fans were left wondering if their $200 investment in their hero's jersey will stay current because no one wants to be “that guy.”

Plus, fans just want to know if their team is going to invest in a playoff run, invest in the future, or just stay put.

However, if one is an employee of Rogers Sportsnet, trade deadline day is also an excuse to act like idiots and distract the fans because they had nothing at all to work with – very sad really.

For me, I had to work, which made it difficult to concentrate. I wanted to be part of the spectacle, the frenzy, the disappointment, the moments of boredom interrupted by the moments of crazy excitement.

I really just wanted an excuse to read hockey blogs all day long.

As expected, Georges Laraque is a Pittsburgh Penguin. They get an enforcer that has the ability to play hockey. He can pass, shoot, protect the puck, but the only difficulty is getting him to do that on a consistent level of intensity. Rest assured Penguins fans, you get a quality guy for the community that will protect your assets. It's a shame he didn't work out over here.

The unfortunate loss comes in the form of Yanic Perreault. He single handedly resurrected the season of the Phoenix Coyotes, and I am not sure why he was dealt. It could be his age, and the failure to come to terms financially with the contract he wanted, but it is clear that the Coyotes are loading up on picks and future considerations and Perreault's presence in Toronto will help an ailing Maple Leafs team contend for the playoffs. I respect Paul Maurice as a coach, and the Leafs organization, so I am very confident he will work out just fine.

The surprise of the day to me was Oleg Saprykin. I didn't see that trade coming. Here is a skater that improved and worked hard during the second half of the season. After a rough season last year, I saw a different player this year. The Senators may be able to refine his defensive play.

So, the fabled and short lived OMG line gets broken up leaving only Mike Zigomanis to carry the torch of dedication, work ethic, and belief that if one works hard, one can be rewarded.

Kevyn Adams signs a one-year contract with the Coyotes which I think is a very wise move. He is now just getting healthy and has seen the highs and lows that come with playing in the NHL with a franchise that comes real close to winning the Stanley Cup, tumble into the despair of losing seasons, only to rise like the Phoenix and win it all with a Carolina Hurricanes team that resembles, in his mind, the current Coyotes squad.

The scouting staff of the Coyotes, along with the development systems that hold our current prospects, must see something in the next year's draft that I do not at this point. If we use the Tampa Bay Lightning, Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, and Buffalo Sabres, who built their teams through the draft, we could see some impact; hopefully sooner than later since it is clear that investing in prospects and youth is better than investing in veterans holding on to one last shot at glory.

Oh, and Jeremy Roenick stays in Phoenix – it seems that no one asked for his services.

I encourage Coyotes fans (or anyone else) to watch this video. The video is a fund raiser to benefit charities associated with the Coyotes organization that was held at Jillian’s. The fans were able to play games and mill about with the players. What do you notice about Roenick that is different from all the other Coyotes players? Trust me, you won't miss it.

Today, I focused on what we lost through trade deadline day. Later, I will focus on what the Coyotes gain for the future.

Original post by PB and software by Elliott Back

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