Je sens que c ase concrétise!!!
**UPDATED: 11:10 AM EST.
HABS, AVS, JACKETS IN THREE-WAY TRADE TALKS?
CYBERPRESSE. CA: reports a rumour of the Montreal Canadiens shopping Jose Theodore to the Colorado Avalanche, who in turn would trade forward Dan Hinote and prospect winger Tom Fritsche to the Columbus Blue Jacket, who in turn would trade goalie Marc Denis and forward Ian Laperierre to the Canadiens. The source of the rumour is said to be Fritsche himself who posted it to a blog, apparently claiming Blue Jackets GM Doug MacLean called him to inquire if he'd quit school (he's currently playing for the University of Ohio) to turn pro right now. Draft picks could also form part of this package.
Spector's Note: My thanks to everyone who sent this in and to those who first e-mailed me the link to the hockey forum (not a blog) that it first appeared in. Considering that Beckett Media deals with hockey cards, I couldn't help but wonder if this was what was really being discussed. Anyway, since it now appeared in the media, I'll address it.
First, this move would leave the Avs with three goalies, meaning they'd have to move David Aebischer, but that seems unlikely since his performance has improved noticeably since late December. Indeed, he's outperforming Theodore right now and would be considerably cheaper to the Avs payroll, considering they've got several key players (Sakic, Blake, Skrastins, Liles, Tanguay, Svatos and Aebischer himself) to re-sign. And given Theodore's woeful performance and high salary, why would Pierre Lacroix want to take a chance on him now that his team, and Aebischer, have turned things around?
Next, I'm assuming Laperierre is either being dealt to Columbus from the Avs and then to the Habs, or else maybe he'll go directly to Montreal from Colorado, since he doesn't belong to the Jacket? Hmmm, there's a bit of a hole there. As for moving Denis, MacLean has apparently said he won't trade him this season, although it's every GM's perogative to change his mind, but MacLean may not be convinced that Pascal Leclaire is ready to take over full time as his starter. Maybe MacLean is trying to bring Fritsche to Columbus, as his brother Dan plays for the Jackets, but who said it would involve such a complex deal?
Maybe this assessment will blow up in my face, but I just don't see this three-way happening. Too many holes in it, too many questions raised rather than answered.
Si Spectors (un site tres respectable pour les rumeurs...la preuve yécrit une chronique sur les rumeurs a chaque semaine sur foxsports) a fait un update sur se srumeurs hebdomadaires, C'est que c'est du sérieux. Si on donne juste Théo pour avoir Denis et Laperriere, c un coup de maitre dla part de Gainey!