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By Oscar Madrid 







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ST.LOUIS (July 18) -- Well, it wasn't exactly as he had planned. But KeithPrimeau was indeed traded this week. The disgruntled Carolina forward was dealt to the Boston Bruins in exchange for wingers Joe Thornton, Kris King, and Tony Twist. The move is just a prelude to the house cleaning that will likely ensue under the Bruins new GM Shaun Grenier. The addition of Primeau will undoubtedly enhance Boston's chances of contending in the Eastern Conference.

So fans in Carolina must be asking, "Why the urgency to deal Keith Primeau?" Primeau is widely regarded as a high caliber player, yet he is under contract as a non-star player. This is an advantage to any team with his rights. The Hurricanes would have been able to retain his rights in the upcoming expansion draft without question. Yet in exchange for this valuable commodity, the Canes received only young talent Joe Thornton, and bruisers Tony Twist and Kris King.

Twist was a cast-off of the St. Louis Blues organization, granted his unconditional release in June. Kris King is also a minimal impact player. What is even more intriguing is the fact the original deal was sending Primeau to Edmonton, where none other than Adam Grenier is director of hockey operations.

Is there a deal that we're not aware of? Did Edmonton back off the deal to allow Boston to move in on Primeau? These are interesting questions. It will be even more interesting to see what other changes are made in Boston. A rumor has been floating along the newswire that indicate Jaromir Jagr is headed to bean town. Yet it is obvious that the Bruins have very little talent which would be required in attaining the services of the BHL's best player. We'll have to wait and see, because the truth is definitely out there...

ST.LOUIS (July 11th) -- The Dominator is not an Oiler, but Mike Vernon is. Reports out of San Jose confirm the Sharks have reached a deal with Edmonton GM Adam Grenier. Sniper Alexander Mogilny and veteran goalie Bob Essensa will be headed to San Jose in exchange for Mike Vernon and tough guy Brian Marchment. The deal has been in the works for the past week and should be finalized sometime on Tuesday afternoon.

"It's a real thrill for me. I know I'll have a chance to compete for the BHL cup in Edmonton. I want to thank San Jose for giving me the opportunity to contend this season. They're a class organization," Vernon told reports via phone. The Sharks hope Alexander "The Great" Mogilny can provide enough offensive punch to propel the team from last overall in team offense. "I wasn't in the spot light in Edmonton. Now the pressure will be much more intense. But I'm ready to be a leader for this club," Mogilny explained.

In other trade news, Keith Primeau actually had to leave the Oilers practice facility on Friday after BHL officials ruled his transaction illegal. The Oilers faxed the BHL front office an article that stated forwards Pat Falloon and Alexei Yashin were being sent to Carolina for Keith Primeau. Apparently this was news to Hurricanes General Manager Jason Pereira, who most recently dealt Ron Francis to Anaheim. Details of the incident are sketchy by at press time the players remain with their respective clubs. "I've never been traded and traded back within 24 hours. I feel like a human boomerang," Falloon told reporters.

The Vancouver Canucks are the Cinderella team of the BHL this season. Netminder Eric Fichaud is among the league leaders with his five wins, and the team is off to an amazing 7-2-0 start. "It's a little ridiculous isn't it? I mean we're playing with the Oilers atop the division. We actually own the season series between us. In fact, I think Kariya will make a little more than our entire roster this season," Fichaud quipped.

In the Eastern Conference the New York Rangers have hit their stride at a 7-3-0 clip. While Dominik Hasek has been fighting off opponent's shots and trade rumors to lead the Panthers in the Atlantic division. The playoff picture is slowly developing nearing the halfway mark of the season. Look for the underachieving Dallas Stars to improve on their lackluster 3-7-0 record. The Stars have placed superstar Eric Lindros on the trade block as they are scrambling to rejoin the playoff hunt. Anything can happen in the BHL. Just ask Jaromir Jagr who might be changing his mailing address forms next season to read Calgary, Alberta.

ST.LOUIS (July 4th) -- Some blockbuster trades have been in negotiations over the weekend in the BHL. Both involving the Edmonton Oilers and their ambitious General Manager Adam Grenier. The first reported deal has rumors swirling like a pack of sharks around the San Jose clubhouse. Goaltender Mike Vernon has been the subject of several trade rumors this week. Vernon has not been impressive in his two starts for the Sharks, posting an 0-2-0 record, with a 90.8 save percentage. "I haven't played like I know I'm capable of, but at the same time I haven't received a whole lot of support," Vernon told the BHL press.

Comments like those haven't won him any fans either. Sharks General Manager Jamie Bittick has turned to Steve Shields to lead San Jose in net. "I'm happy to have the opportunity to start, but I'm not a fan of the controversy," Shields said. Shields has posted a higher save percentage than Vernon, at 92.4. He has also recorded the team's only win this season. "Steve can be a starting goalie in this league. I don't doubt that. But so can I, and I want to have that chance this season," Vernon added.

Edmonton, St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Vancouver, and Anaheim are all possible destinations for Vernon. Edmonton being the front-runner. "I'd like to play for a contender. I feel I have a lot of ability to offer a club that wants to make a playoff run," Vernon said. Vernon could be a gamble but more than likely he should pay dividends for a team looking for the BHL cup.

The second deal involving Edmonton deals with another netminder. Dominik Hasek has been placed on the trade block by Florida Panthers General Manager Alan Edenfield, and could have a new home by the end of the week. Edenfield was reached by phone in San Jose where the team is set to play. Edenfield confirmed that the Panthers and the Oilers were in negotiations in a deal that would send Hasek to Edmonton for Tony Amonte and Curtis Joseph. The Panthers would also ship Roman Hamrlik and Bobby Holik in the trade as well. The deal would surely bolster the Oilers chances at a second BHL cup.

The season saw it's second trade announced on Friday. The St. Louis Blues sent veteran forward Rob Niedermayer to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for young defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky. Niedermayer contributed immediately for the Lightning with a helper in his first game with his new club. "It was a nice feeling, this organization is just getting ready to take off. I'm elated to be a part of it," Niedermayer told reporters. Tverdovsky will team up with fellow countryman Sergei Zubov to form a pairing on the Blues defense. "He has a tremendous upside, I think we'll click well," Zubov commented.

The New York Rangers have suddenly fallen under investigation. Reports came out of the BHL front office that the club was carrying too many players on their roster. The Rangers quickly handed out pink slips to several players on Saturday. One of the recently released players included winger Todd Harvey. "I'm shocked. I had no idea that something like this would develop," Harvey told the press as he left the Rangers practice facility. The Rangers were given a slap on the wrist, and are under probation by the BHL.

Most teams in the league have completed five to six games at this point in the season. With 1/4 of the season completed, the divisional races are starting to take shape. In the Northeast is appears that the Rangers are in control, as the Islanders continue to slump. In the Atlantic, Buffalo has taken charge. The Sabres are 4-1-1 and have a three point lead over second place Florida. The race for first place in the Central couldn't be any tighter. The Nashville Predators and the St. Louis Blues have posted identical 5-1-0 records in a battle for control of the division. The Detroit Red Wings are a surprising 4-2-0 to land in third place.

In the Pacific division it's no surprise that the Edmonton Oilers are in first place at a 5-1-0 clip. Although the Colorado Avalanche are not to be ignored as they trail by only one point in the standings. The biggest shocker of the season is the 4-1-0 record of the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks are putting together a magical season thus far. "I can't say we expected to stay this hot. We have no star players on our roster, but we play like a team," netminder Eric Fichaud commented.

On the injury front is appears the bug has bitten several teams this week. Mathieu Dandenault will miss the rest of the season for the Red Wings with a concussion, as will Bobby Dollas of the Ottawa Senators. The defenseman tore his ACL in a game and will begin rehab almost immediately. Martin Straka of the Penguins tore his rotator cuff this week and will sit out for at least a month. Jeff Daniels of the first place Nashville Predators was devastated when an MRI revealed he has torn knee cartilage and will miss the season.

The winners are being separated from the losers. And teams are at the point of no return in the division cellars. If the Maple Leafs don't heat up soon, their cup dreams could diminish. And if the Canucks fail to stay hot, this could be a devastating season for the franchise. As always, anything can happen. Just ask the BHL Champion Edmonton Oilers who were shut out cold by the expansion Blues.

Islanders And Sabres Off To Surprising Starts

ST.LOUIS (June 28) -- The biggest surprise early this season is the play of two overachieving clubs, the New York Islanders and the Buffalo Sabres. The Isles have collected six points and stand atop the Northeast division with a record of 3-1-0. Robert Reichel has been on fire tallying seven points in just four games, including a power play goal. Ted Donato added five helpers in those contests. Eric Fichaud and Marcel Cousineau have been equally as sharp, allowing just six goals combined over 240 minutes. In Buffalo, Miroslav Satan has been the story. Satan has scored twice and added two assists to help the Sabres remain in first place in the Atlantic division.

The Vancouver Canucks are to be mentioned as well. They are 3-0-0 and challenging the superpower Edmonton and Colorado clubs in the Pacific. Corey Schwab looked solid, allowing just one goal and posting 19 saves in a Canuck victory. "I think people wrote us off before we even took the ice. They don't expect us to compete, but we've got a group of hungry guys. We'll be there in September," Schwab predicted.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are the biggest disappointment in the first week of BHL action. The Leafs have scored just two goals as a team, and have allowed ten. With that formula it will be tough for the team to regain their footing in the Atlantic. "This is a talented hockey club. It's the first week of an eight week season. I have no doubts we'll be contenders. We just need to focus and the pucks will start going into the net," Joe Nieuwendyk told reporters.

The first trade in the BHL this season took place on Saturday. The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim shipped speedy forward Tomas Sandstrom, and young defenseman Jamie Pushor to Carolina for playmaking center Ron Francis. "I'm shocked, but pleased. They needed some scoring punch, so I'm their answer. I don't want to let them down, that's for sure," Francis told the BHL press. The move is also a good one for the expansion Hurricanes. "The influence of these two players will bring our team to a new and higher level of hockey," Carolina General Manager Jason Pereira told reporters at a press conference on Sunday.

The Ducks have also been addressing some needs via free-agency this week. Adding center Steve Rucchin, who was subsequently offered as trade bait. Anaheim also signed veteran centerman Brian Bradley, Vaclav Prospal, and Darryl Shannon. The most controversial signing of the week was their decision to sign Steve Chiasson. The transaction is currently under review by league officials.

Although the Ducks have made some savvy deals, they suffered a huge loss this week losing star center Pierre Turgeon to injury. Turgeon underwent an MRI by team doctors, results confirmed a shattered right heel that will sideline Turgeon for two weeks. Philadelphia sniper Rick Tocchet took a tough hip check that will put him out of action for two weeks as well. He will be reevaluated by Flyers team doctors on Monday. Brian Bellows of the Ottawa Senators caught a stick in the back of his head and will miss at least a month's worth of hockey. "It's tough to miss half the season, but I hope to be fully recovered for the playoffs," Bellows told the BHL press via phone.

The most devastating loss on the injury front was that of the Colorado Avalanche. Forward Nicklas Sundstrom fell victim to a huge check and will miss up to nine months of action with a concussion. "I just want to get back for next season, that's my goal," a dejected Sundstrom commented. Also of note, defenseman Igor Ulanov had ligaments in his knee torn and will miss a month for the Canadiens.

All in all, it's been an exciting week of hockey in the BHL. Seven weeks remain in what should be the most magical season in the history of the league. Anything can happen, just ask the fans that witnessed their expansion San Jose Sharks tie the mighty Colorado Avalanche on Friday.

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