Trade,Trade Come This Way!

It’s the most anticipated day in all of hockey, that is, if you’re not playing in the NHL.


February 27th has been marked on all the calendars and it is fast approaching. The NHL trade deadline is the biggest deadline day in all of sports. With TSN’s extensive coverage, along with Sportsnet and The Score, each deal is broken down to the tenth degree. For some players, it’s a nightmare. Many have grown accustomed to their surroundings and their families are settled in, but some players can’t escape the rumours. Ah yes, those excellent colourful yet not accurate in the slightest rumours. These are the words of experts that might result in players picking up there stuff and moving to another team. Some players are rentals because their contracts either expire at the end of the season, or they are near the end of their careers. General Managers spend every day analyzing their teams, but on this occasion and the night before (you have to think) they are making calls and staying on top of the action.
Last year was a disappointing deadline with only sixteen trades and thirty-five players moved. That might not be so bad, but the year before the trade record was broken, with thirty-one deals and fifty-five players swapping places. The expectations were high as they are every year, but this year poses the most interesting of deadlines, as the CBA agreement expires at the conclusion of the season. The standings are as log-jammed as they can possibly get. Fifth and twelfth place in the Eastern conference are only separated by a mere 13 points, which is not a lot when you consider there are over 20 odd games to be played. In the West it is a similar story, eight points separate sixth and thirteenth place. For teams like Carolina and Columbus, their seasons have been nothing short of disastrous. Both have fired and hired coaches mid-season, and sit in last place in their respective conferences. Both teams have key players, in Jarkko Ruutu and Rick Nash, that are at the centre of discussions. Nash’s resume far outweighs that of Ruutu’s, and consequently will demand a higher price. Toronto and Calgary hold down the 8th and final playoff spots and are looking to get over the hump. Toronto has some pieces but what Brian Burke decides to do with them will be analyzed and scrutinized until the end of time.
Whether it’s a good deadline or a bad deadline truly depends on a fan’s opinion. People all over North America will be on some sort of news feeding device to receive the most up-to-date information on the latest trades.

Déjà Blue

Mario Manningham makes David Tyree-like catch to win Super Bowl XLVI
By:Sam Mendelsohn

After the final whistle was blown and the champagne was popped, the New York Giants celebrated another Super bowl win over their Boston rivals the New England Patriots. Once again it was Eli Manning who took home the game's MVP award and another spectacular catch stole the show.

Wide Receiver Mario Manningham known as the ³Forgotten Man²in New York had his own version of the David Tyree improbable catch. (see attached video) Manningham caught 5 passes for 73 yards, but none was bigger then the 38yd reception he made deep in Giants
territory with under 5 minutes to play. In 2008 when the Giants needed a spark it was Eli Manning ability to escape the pressure and David Tyree using his helmet to make a catch 30yds down field. Fast-forward to February5th 2012, down by two deep in Giant territory Eli Manning stepped up in the pocket and threw the ball too Manningham. Similar to Tyree¹s catch four years earlier, the play was a key part of the game winning drive. The nine-play, 88-yard drive eventually led to the Giants 21-17 win.

The game shaped up to be exactly the same as it was the first time around, relatively low-scoring, with defense shutting the offense down in the red-zone. Once again Tom Brady had the ball for a chance to win the game and could not get it done. The Giants
defensive line did just enough to keep Brady off tempo and out of the
end-zone.

Bill Belichick and Tom Brady had two weeks to prepare which is usually bad
news for the opposition, but it appears the Giants have the Patriots number.
The game was more then just Football, it was New York vs. Boston and it was
New York victorious and Boston shaking there heads.


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