Lastly, I want to talk about trades. Trades are an important part of hockey for one reason: buzz! This is something that the hockey world is missing right now. Last year, we had 11 trades by this time. This year…zero. GMs are groaning that it has to do with the collective bargaining agreement, but I have no sympathy. A year without hockey was the punishment we fans had to endure. All that to say, the rumors have started to fly; the best being Marian Hossa. Would Atlanta really let this guy go? They just picked up Mark Recchi off the waiver wire. If Recchi scores goals on the powerplay for them, Hossa might be in a new sweater before the end of January. Likely contenders: The New York Rangers!!! The New York post spoke of the deep development system now in place and Atlanta would love to have some young blood. Gomez, Hossa and Hossa?? It is too sick on paper, therefore as all New York Ranger fans know, it will never work.
