Deadline

Newsday has the headline to scare us that 5 Western Conference teams are sniffing around Jason Blake's locker. Let's hope that the new dad doesn't have any soiled diapers laying around in there.

The trade deadline is tomorrow at 3. Right now it looks like Gary Roberts has to decide whether or not to waive his no-trade clause with the Panthers to ride shotgun on the #87 train in Pittsburgh. Gare, let me make the decision for you. Last place and Jacques Martin--who always looks like he spent the last few days sleeping in the trunk of his car--or the lightning express with the kids on the Penguins. It's a Bob's Discount No-Brainer, dude!

I don't know any more than anyone else, but my guess is that the Isles are done tweaking the team for the stretch run. They've gone 10-2-4 in this last little bit and from all accounts, the guys are playing for each other and for the organization. Can't ask for a whole heck of a lot more than that. As a fan, I think I would be happy going with what they have. Let's face it, these guys are a scrappy and exceedingly-likable bunch. They play hard and compete night after night. Besides, getting Yashin and Bates back is like adding two players at the deadline anyway.

Newsday is offering that old "Blake wants 5 years for 18 million" line that we've been reading and hearing about. Look--I am the last guy to begrudge anyone from making money but in my opinion, five years is too long to go with a guy who is 33 years old. I'd personally be more comfortable in the 3 years for 11 million plus incentives. But then, what do I know? I'd have never given Ricky a fifteen-year deal!

Seriously, though, Garth Snow is looking more and more like a GM genius. The trades with Philly in December were out-and-out robbery and the deal with Edmonton for Marc-Andre Bergeron has paid dividends in every game the guy has played for us. His big shot is exactly what the PP has needed. Bergeron forces the defending wingers to play up higher toward their own bluelines out of respect for The Shot. This makes it more difficult to clog the zone down low. Sure, he scares the heck out of me on the defensive side of things at times but when playing with a partner who can back him up, his high-risk offense is exciting. And doesn't he remind anyone else of Tomas Jonsson from The Glory Days. Kind of the same type of player if you ask me. Both had shots that belied their sizes and has the swift shiftiness that you need for a proper transition game.

Well, tomorrow we pick it back up with the Flyers. Keep near a computer so you can stay on top of all of the movement today and tomorrow leading up to game time!