AJC > Sports > Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2007 > July > 30
Monday, July 30, 2007
Would you trade Marian Hossa?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
While I was spraying myself down with some 30 SPF sunblock before heading out to Flowery Branch for more Falcons training camp coverage, I grew to appreciate the conditions covering hockey. Sure it gets a little cold at the IceForum in Duluth, and that “heater” they have blows even more cold air. But it’s nothing like covering a football practice outside in the middle of a hot Georgia humid day.
But before I get too heavy into Falcons stuff today, I wanted to give the Thrashers beat blog a quick update.
Alls quiet on the Thrashers front for now, but that doesn’t mean we can’t speculate about possible roster tweaks now does it? The NHL is hitting its arbitration period pretty heavy and there are some interesting stories going on that may indirectly have an impact on the Thrashers.
If Don Waddell is to make another trade before the season starts, there’s always the possibility that he could try and take advantage of teams who lose their arbitration cases and find themselves paying more for a player than they’d prefer. Or a team could find itself in salary cap trouble after its arbitration cases are settled. That’s when your crafty GM could swoop in and land the center he denies the team needs.
The best stuff right now is coming from New York where Larry Brooks reported that the Rangers called Sean Avery a detriment to the team in its brief for arbitration. That’s an interesting choice of words for the Rangers brass considering the team was 17-6-6 after acquiring Avery from the Kings. Just ask Ilya Kovalchuk if Avery was a detriment to the Rangers during the first round of the playoffs. Or Johan Hedberg for that matter.
That story is interesting because when I talked to Waddell about the potential Thrashers arbitration cases (before he signed Exelby and Slater) he said that comments like that are in the past. He said that most of the arbitration cases were settled strictly on stats. But then again, if the Rangers depended on stats, Avery would get the raise he likely deserved.
Now I’m not saying that the Thrashers are interested in Avery (or Marcel Hossa, another Rangers RFA headed to arbitration). But its cases like these that are interesting to watch, especially with a team so tight against the salary cap. At some point these teams will have to move someone, and the Thrashers might be able to take advantage.
Now a trade I don’t think the Thrashers are inclined to make anytime soon is anything involving Marian Hossa. But since there’s little else to talk about during the dog days of summer, it makes for some fun debate, which I see you guys already started on the last blog.
Anytime I’ve asked Waddell about trading Hossa, he says it’s something that doesn’t even cross his mind. He said negotiations with Hossa’s agent are right where they need to be right now. “There’s no timetable, no rush.” Waddell said last week about the Hossa negotiations.
But I see that hasn’t stopped the trade speculation. So I’m curious - where do you fall in a possible Hossa trade? And when do you think he’d have more trade value - right now or at the trade deadline?
