Summer on Ice

Past the drama of the draft and the flurry of free agency, we now sit in late July with the major excitement being the anticipation of arbitration hearings. Will he or won’t he, avoid arbitration that is? With Mike Milbury working on TV and Tommy Salo back home in Sweden we are unlikely to be moved to tears. So in the time remaining before World Cup Fever grips us all, we wait to see if more trades take place. There are the rumored moves that have not occurred, the hoped for moves of fans that may be only pipe dreams, and the deals never dreamed of that happen anyway. Amongst the players still where they were in April, we are left to wonder if they will move on before opening day in October.

Cam Fowler

The Ducks have D depth at the NHL and prospect level, so Cam may be expendable. They would love more offense for a Stanley Cup push. Yet Fowler remains with the Fowl. Among the rumors are Fowler to Buffalo for Tyler Ennis. With Buffalo picking up Dmitry Kulikov this summer the idea of Cam to the Buff may be dead. However, Buffalo still needs more depth on D and the youth and skill Fowler offers may be too intriguing to pass up. Most other teams in the league would benefit from Fowler’s presence too, so there could be many suitors.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Edmonton has only gotten stronger this summer, especially at forward. They still need D to improve as a team though. Mr. Fowler may be a good fit with the Oilers and The Nuge could boost the Ducks offense. I have always suggested RNH to Winnipeg for Jacob Trouba would help both clubs. Nugent-Hopkins has developed into a good player, not yet #1 overall worthy, and he has an injury history – so there is plenty of potential along with some red flags.

Kevin Shattenkirk

This Blue was rumored to be traded by the draft just like Fowler, but St. Louis property he remains. The Blues lost David Backes at forward in free agency and have a stout D, especially with the emergence of Colton Parayko last season. Shattenkirk has elite skills and with the Penguins run of skating, speed, and possession he should be attractive to many teams. St. Louis wants a steep price and Shattenkirk will also be a hefty cap hit for years to come, so it may be a tough deal to pull off. This one should come down to if Blues GM Doug Armstrong feels his teams Cup chances are better with Kevin or with the proposed return from any suitors.

Now sit back, relax, and enjoy a colortini – these moves might take a while.