EHM The Blue Line

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID ... ubName=nhl

Jaroslav Spacek from CHI
Tony Salmelainen to CHI (currently playing for HIFK in Finland)

Dick Tärnström from PIT
Jani Rita & Cory Cross to PIT

I'd say that Chicago won by ALOT on that trade. Salmelainen is one of the fastest skaters in the world, if not the fastest. His starting speed is lightning fast, two steps and there's no one who can keep up with him and that's a fact. He's also leading the finnish league in both goals and points (41 games, 22+19) and is more than likely to be ready for a big role in the NHL also. I'm basing this on over 100 games I've seen him play in

As for Pittsburgh, can't say much else than this; let the salary dump begin, though Rita could in theory be a relatively good acquisition

Edmonton wins for right now though, since Salmelainen is in Europe. Spacek can come in and contribute right away.

Sort of true, I'm assuming Chicago is doing this more as a salary dump also considering they're pretty far away from a playoff spot. And as such, they didn't get any salary back for this season, which is a huge plus for the.

Now they just need a goaler and they're set.

I hope Edmonton doesnt think they are going to solve defensive problems with Tarnstrom. He is playing horrible on D. He has not adjusted to the new rules by any means and worst of all it looks like his offense is not getting up to pre-lockout.

While it is no doubt a salary dump it actually points to one of the only positives to come from this year in Chicago and that is that Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith have officially taken ownership of this defense. Both are just playing amazing hockey especially for such young guys. I was fearing they'd both fall into that 'will always have better talent than results' thing but both have really come into their own this year.

Cam Barker looks like he will soon add to what will be a very young and highly skilled Hawk D before long. Other prospects are tearing it up all over as well so while I'd usually bemoan the Hawks moving another solid veteran contributor for salary this one doesn't bother me so much.

The goal situation shows how historically bad the team has been at drafting and then at identifying player's talent levels once in the system. Before Thibault went down at the end of the previous NHL season Leighton was considered the most NHL ready but he played himself out of the job by seasons end. This year again a 'tender goes down and Anderson gets the call since he's taken on that 'Most NHL ready' tag and he plays himself out of the job.

So, while it used to be we always saw a move coming with Thibault, Leighton and Anderson all in the system it turns out the goalie that they drafted and didn't even decide to sign, Adam Munro may be the best of all of them. Most recently he shut out the Flames 2-0 stopping 26 shots. The only reason he is still in the system is that he was eventually offered a contract directly by Norfolk the Hawks' AHL team

I am not really impressed with the trade, tbh. I don't think either team really improved for this season. Tarnstrom is not a whole lot better than Cross, although Spacek might get more ice time than Cross did.

Edmonton still has to get rid of a blue-liner to make room for the 2 new D-men, so I am wondering if these aren't trades with a bigger trade in mind, possibly a goalie for the Oilers?

I live in Edmonton, and the word on the street about this trade is...............meh. No one seems to care, as they replaced players who never play with players who will rarely play. Nice trade.

I must say that I, too, am very confused as to what the Oilers got out of this one. Maybe you're right about it being part of a bigger trade. At the moment, I'd say they've lost out: They've traded two mediocre D's for another two mediocre D's and they've lost the rights to Tony Salmelainen. I guess Spacek is ok but, like Fifafan said, meh

The Hawks did well, though

I'm pretty sure that both Tärnström and Spacek are going to be regular players for them and that some of their older defensemen will be traded out, most likely for a goalie. That's just about the only way that these trades would make any sense.

As for what those two players bring to the table...

Well, Tärnström is more than capable of running the powerplay for them and that would give Pronger some time to rest, not to mention more depth in that department. Spacek can also play PP though Tärnström, Pronger and Bergeron are all better offensively. It would also make sense to move Stoll back to playing forward for PP's, though he's done a good job with that this season from the blueline.

What good is a defense, when you dont have a goalie . Ofc if Oilers actually get a decent goaltender, they will be scary with that highly entertaining/effective offense.

Whatever happens I'm sure that Dallas somewhere in the back of their unconscious mind is muttering "I just hope we don't play Edmonton in the playoffs again"

bah, Calgary will play Edmonton in the playoffs for a renewal of the Battle of Alberta.

GO FLAMES!!!!