The trade deadline looms nearer each day, and NHL analysts are already tearing apart the rosters of the bottom-dwellers of each conference. The Blue Jackets, the Hurricanes, and the Ducks have been deconstructed and sold off in fantasy draft fashion by pundits nearing February 27th, and that includes the members of this site.
But one of the more intriguing deadline scenarios concerned the future of Zach Parise in New Jersey. Friday's acquisition of Alexei Ponikarovsky should put an end to any trade speculation concerning Parise.
Ponikarovsky, despite having a rather disappointing season for the Carolina Hurricanes with seven goals and 15 points in 49 games, was a popular candidate in deadline to his past success. His awful production the past two seasons overshadows the fact that he has four 20-goal seasons in his career. It makes him worth taking a chance on for the right price.
For a fourth-round pick and an ECHL defenseman, the price was right for Lou Lamoriello.
But wh...
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