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As the season comes to an end, teams are scrambling to make last minute changes to there line-ups to hopefully beef them up and carry them on through the playoffs to the final games of glory, for the Stanley Cup.

Yesterday (March 9th, 2006) was the trade deadline for all NHL teams. There were a few notable trades that would impact teams in a good (or negative) way. Some of the biggest trades were, Jose Theodore being traded to Colorado for David Aebischer, Los Angeles trading Denis Grebeshkov and Jeff Tambellini to New York Islanders for Brent Sopel and Mark Parrish. 2 more big deadline trades made were Luke Richardson goes to Toronto from the Columbus Blue Jackets for a 2006 5th round draft pick and a conditional 4th round draft pick, and Mark Recchi going to Carolina from Pittsburgh for Nordgren, Krystofer Kolanos and a second round pick in 2007.

Probably one of the most talked about trades in the NHL. Jose Theodore leaves the Montreal Canadiens. Jose started off his career as a goalie who came blasting through the scene as a superstar per say. He helped the Canadiens have one of there best years in a long time. As the years went on he seemed to lose his special talent and did nothing that superb. Now finally he has been moved to Colorado in exchange for goalie David Aebischer.

Personally, I feel this will have no effect on the Canadiens at this moment. With Theodore being out of the lineup for the past while the Canadiens had to resort to finding a new goalie, and a new goalie did they find! With there new goalie Huet in the lineup the Candiens have been winning more games, and getting rid of Theodore will have no effect on there game, being a Montreal citizen I know for a fact that many Montrealer's are in a way happy to see him gone and get a new goalie in between the pipes. Hopefully Colorado will see a change in Theodore, with him being on a new team he may revert back to his old ways. Overall this seems to have been a more fruitful trade for Montreal but pretty much neutral on both sides.

Then over in Los Angeles a 4 player and third round draft pick trade was made. The Kings aquired Mark Parrish on forward and defencemen Brent Sopel from the New York Islanders, in exchange for defenceman Denis Grebeshkov and forward Jeff Tambellini and a conditional 3rd round draft pick. Los Angeles looking to strengthen up there offence think this trade will be a win now trade and benefit them in the near future. "With the mix we have and the parity in the Western Conference, we think we have added a couple of very good hockey players to give us the depth and balance to make a good run," said Kings general manager Dave Taylor.

Then back in Canada, Toronto acquires Luke Richardson from Columbus in exchange for a 4th round draft pick. Richardson first started out on the Leafs at 18 years old after being drafted from the OHL in 1987. He is now 36, turning 37 on March 26th, and returning to Toronto from where it all started. With Toronto being in 22nd in the league and Columbus in 26th, this was more of a trade for next season if anything at all.

Then last but not least, veteran Mark Recchi went to Carolina in exchange for Nordgren, Krystofer Kolanos and a second round draft pick in 2007 from Pittsburgh. Even after Recchi said that he wanted to stay in Pittsburgh, when 1st place Carolina offered up the deal he could not refuse. With Mark Recchi putting up 57 points in 63 games, he should be able to give a boost to the Carolina offence now that their second top scorer (Cole) is injured. Working on a stronger team should also help him out as well.

All in all the 2006 trade deadline proved to be fruitful for most teams, now with just the 15 or so games to go for each team the end of the season is approaching and the race for the playoffs has begun! With the majority of teams having new players in there roster hopefully we will see some changes in the standings, for better or for worse!

Sean McKnight

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