As the Los
Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils prepare for game two of the 2012 Stanley
Cup Final, the rest of the NHL is trying its hardest to act as though it has no
idea what is going on in the league.
Some teams have taken to the NHL 13
EA Sports Cover Vote to help ease their sorrows. Others, such as the Columbus
Blue Jackets, have responded to tweets with snarky answers to keep its fans
entertained.
But, as
always, it was the efforts of the players themselves, namely Tim Thomas and
Marian Gaborik, who provided despondent fans with the best distraction from the
Final.
On Friday
afternoon Boston Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli confirmed rumors of Thomas’ plans to
sit out the 2012-2013 season. This news broke around the time the National
Hockey League reported that New York Rangers forward Marian Gaborik would undergo
surgery for an injury he sustained in the beginning of the playoffs.
Back in
Columbus at the Rick Nash Derby, the positions at the starting gates shifted.
Boston moved to the outside lane and New York stole the inside track.
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| Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images |
Bruins
Boston is considered
a viable destination for Nash because of its depth in goal and the Blue Jackets’
desire to replace Steve Mason.
Thomas
earned the majority of the starts last year, but it is a well-known fact that
Tuuka Rask is close to taking his place.
If the Bruins were to trade one of their masked men, it is unlikely that
they would release the 25-year old Rask and keep the 38-year old Thomas. The
difference in skill is minimal.
History predicts that Columbus
would have taken Thomas in part of a deal had Chiarelli not confirmed the
rumors. The Blue Jackets have never shown a reluctance to acquire players in
the twilight of their careers (i.e. Sergei Fedorov, Adam Foote).
However, with Thomas’ announcing of
the uncertainty of his return he is also diminishing the chances the Bruins
will be selling Nash’s jersey at TD Garden. Without putting a goalie in the
package, Boston is unlikely to strike a deal with Columbus.
Rangers
The Blueshirts are
after Nash. During the trade deadline, they were one of the most active teams
in trying to land him and add him to their already lethal band of forwards.
Gaborik’s
injury will only add to the Ranger’s persistence. Last season, the forward
notched 41 goals and 76 points playing under the often-critical eye of coach John
Tortorella. His torn labrum surgery will
keep him off the ice for up to six months.
In
trade talks, New York and Columbus have reportedly thrown around names such as
Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan McDonagh, and Michael Del Zotto. Chris Kreider is
apparently off the table, though with Gaborik’s setback, the Rangers may be
forced to reconsider.
Nash
and Gaborik are each right-wingers and New York is in dire need of a power
forward who can put the biscuit in the basket. It’s a recipe for a trade.
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