3 Days and Counting til Doomsday.

For what has been called the "deepest draft in years", the GM's of the NHL sure did put us through a real snooze fest this weekend. Sure, I understand the excitement of prospects and the anticipation of Tyler .vs. Taylor, but personally I was really hoping the Draft would be dominated by blockbuster trades! And I was rewarded with a couple small deals with Keith Ballard being the biggest name dealt. Great....

So here we find ourselves, 3 days until July 1st and the opening of free agency in the NHL. So here is what we have to look forward to over the next 2 weeks:

- Let's start at the top, Kovalchuk. The writing has been on the wall for a while with the Russian winger that the Kings were going to take a serious run at him. The only question remains if Los Angeles is the "hockey market" Ilya is going for (I thought he hated the spot light?), because if not, there are still people crazy enough to imagine Kovalchuk as a Leaf. Sure, Toronto has the cap space, but I don't see a dressing room with Kovalchuk and Phaneuf going well, and apparently Brian Burke agrees with me. But speaking of the Leafs, if Kovalchuk does not sign in Los Angeles, they may be interested in Kaberle (If Kopitar is coming the other way, I AM DOWN!). 

- Dan Hamhuis has become everyone's favourite hot potato recently. Being dealt from Nashville to Philly, and now again to Pittsburgh, everyone seems to want a shot at Hamhuis. The unfortunate part to this story seems that Hamhuis seems pretty intent on hitting the open market July 1st. Hamhuis seemed like a replacement for Sergei Gonchar, who seems to also be hitting the road for greener pastures. If the Penguins are unable to sign either of these players, the Penguins could be looking very thin on the back end, which would add another team looking into Tomas Kaberle's services. 

- Now for the goalies. Due to their inability to sign Hamhuis, the Flyers will use their extra cap space for their obvious weakness in goal (and no it's not you Michael Leighton!). Rumors have Evgeni Nabokov coming to the city of Brotherly Love to the tune of $6 million/year. I'm not sure, but something about that signing makes me feel a little uneasy. Maybe it's the fact that Nabokov can't win the big game. Oh wait, yeah, that is it. 

- Other major goalies in play include Chris Mason, Marty Turco, and apparently now Tim Thomas. Turco apparently has already turned down the Flyers, leaving a  "Goodness knows where" feel to the future destination of the former Dallas keeper. On the other hand, both Chris Mason and Tim Thomas have been speculated to possibly be heading to Tampa Bay, where Steve Yzerman needs a goalie and will probably take one of the two. Mason seems like the most likely as the trade price seems too high for Tampa to draw in Thomas. But speaking of Boston.....

- Marc Savard. The Bruins centre has apparently said he will waive his no trade to go to either Ottawa or Toronto. The rumor of the Kaberle for Savard deal has been running 24/7 for the last week in Toronto, and I hate to ruin the story, but it's not happening. If Savard is coming to Toronto, Kaberle will not be going the other way. Injury fears about Savard have turned this deal into a kind of salary dump for the Bruins. Meaning if this deal does happen, names like Beauchemin or Grabovski will be going to Boston. 

- Speaking of our good friend Kaberle, he's still here. If Brian Burke plays his cards right he can make the Savard deal and leave Kaberle open for another trade for a top 6 forward. Now where to depends on the next few weeks. In Los Angeles, if the Kings don't pick up Ilya Kovalchuk, they would definitely be interested in Kaberle. While in Pittsburgh, if the Hamhuis and Gonchar negotiations go wrong, the Penguins will definitely need a #1 defender, and a name like Jordan Staal coming back in return might seem fair. The only problem with Pittsburgh is that past their centres (Staal), they don't have much to offer anyone (Except Malkin), and if the Leafs make a deal to get Savard, the log jam in the middle begins.

The bottom line remains that the next 2 weeks will shape next season, but as a Leaf fan, Brian Burke has some options. If I were Mr.Burke, dealing for Marc Savard for a bucket of pucks (Grabovski/Beauchemin?) is the first step. If that is succesful, Tomas Kaberle can be dealt for a winger, leaving pay open for even Ilya Kovalchuk. I know it seems a little ridiculous, and another recipe for Leaf disaster, BUT if Burke was able to get Giguere for our 2 worst players, it could work out.