Let’s Make A Deal!

In central Alberta, everybody hates Joffrey and the Oilers need a veteran defenseman.

In. T.O., two co-future Norris Trophy winners (Tomas Kaberle and Bryan McCabe), and two rising future superstar backliners in the making (Ian White and Carlo Colaiacovo) mean that the Buds probably could afford to part with a certain veteran blueliner. Meantime, up front, the right side is populated with more left wings and centres than natural right wingers.

Allow Johnny Bluebud to toss out a kill-two-birds-with-one-puck solution. That’s right, we’re talking a good old-fashioned, man-for-man swap: one J. Lupul for one H. Gill.

What the Oilers give up in age and potential, they more than get back in…size!

Silver Lining A-Plenty

Okay, so last night’s tilt vs. Florida wasn’t exactly a perfect 60 minutes of hockey from the Toronto perspective. From the mug-is-half-full side of the bar, however, the positives are as easy to spot as empty seats at a Blackhawks home game. A sampling:

The Leafs, who had every reason to pack it in after being down 6-1 after two, checked their guts and took the third period, 2-1, out-shooting the Panthers 18-10 in the process.

Jean-Sebastien Aubin boosted his season save percentage .001, to .883, with nine saves on 10 shots in the final frame.

Carlo Colaiacovo potted his second goal in four games since making his season debut, putting him on a 25-goal pace for the year. (For perspective’s sake, 2005-06 Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom had a mere 16 goals.)

Just a thought: Considering Colaiacovo’s Orr-esque pace and continued excellence of Messrs. Kaberle and McCabe, it’s conceivable that this season, for the first time ever, the NHL will have to award the Norris Trophy in thirds.