.JPG)
I should be able to follow up all the recent Kings trades (once I finally get a grasp of all the draft picks Dean Lombardi has accumulated recently), but here's just a snippet from a Stars blog, called Grapevine Sports.It's regarding Dallas trading for the Kings captain Mattias Norstrom:
[...] The Stars grabbed Mattias Norstrom from the Kings in a deal totalling four players and five draft picks. While Dallas surrendered a first rounder to get him, I still like the deal.I’d argue that the Stars haven’t had a defensive defenseman like Norstrom since Derian Hatcher suited up for them. And they didn’t have to give up any players in their current rotation to get the deal done.
Down the road might be a different matter.
I would assume that it was precisely the "down the road" (meaning age, deteriorating positional defense and hefty contract worth 1 and 1/4 years) that got Lombardi to pull the trigger on Matty. Plus, he may have his final shot at the Stanley with the Stars. This year or the next. Much earlier than in LA.
On a similar trading deadline note, I love it how truthful our GM proved when he announced some three weeks ago he was not shopping Aaron Miller (pending UFA) in hopes to extend him for reasonable money. Some non-West Coast media were really surprised Miller was not traded ;).
3 comments:
I was pretty surprised they dealt Norstrom because I thought he would be a good guy to mold Jack Johnson. At least they got 1st 08 pick for him...everyone seems to agree that the 08 draft is going to be deep.
Peakie, when you consider the cap implications and Matty's age plus the fact that it was really Blake who JJ was mostly looking up to as future mentor, trading Norstrom now was a necessity to make the team younger (by definition) and stronger (by regaining ca 4.2 mln under the cap). While at the same time, which you rigthly point out, getting something of value in return for our captain.
I'm sorry to see him go, but understand the thinking of the management.
By the way, who do you think should be the next captain?
Good points all around. It's so important for teams to user their cap wisely now, and it wouldn't make any sense for the Kings to spend that much money on Norstrom when they're in year 2 (next season) of rebuilding.
Captiain? Blake...I guess. I looked at the current roster and I don't see anyone who could fill the captain's role. I see a lot of players who could wear the "A" (Miller, Thornton, McCauley, Anze in the not too distant future), but I think Blake is the only C material they have.
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