Posted by Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun
[Editor's note: As we count down to the trade deadline, our experts will debate the possibilities and shed some reality on those rumors. Check out our Faceoff: Trade Deadline Edition all this week and next heading into March 4.]
Scott Burnside: Hello, Pierre. Have you recovered from that boo-hoo fest at the Air Canada Centre on Saturday night? Poor Mats Sundin, all overcome by emotion. Or were those tears of laughter at Leafs fans who will enjoy a 42nd straight year of Stanley Cup futility this spring? But I digress. As usual.
Just about a week until the trade deadline and some interesting names are popping up out of the woodwork, including your old friend, Ryan Smyth, aka Captain Canada. Rumors that he was headed to Buffalo were quashed, but Smyth is an interesting player because he has the intangibles teams are looking for in getting over the hump and into the playoffs. Still, he also comes with a whopper price tag, the balance of a $7.25 million salary this season and three more years totaling $16.5 million. Plus, he has a no-trade clause. That's a lot, even if he still has 20 goals, including three game-winners.
Pierre LeBrun: That was a neat evening Saturday, even for jaded wretches like us. But it was during that game the Smyth-to-Buffalo thing started to swirl in the press box. Turned out it was completely wrong. Sabres GM Darcy Regier vehemently and quickly denied it to me via text message. But it's the silly season. Unfortunately, some people in our business throw it out there to see if it sticks. Makes my hair go grey.
Smyth wasn't too happy either when the rumors started this weekend. We exchanged text messages and he said he was "shocked." After all, he signed his five-year deal with the thought of playing it out in Denver. It must be pointed out he's in control with a no-movement clause and, at this point, a source tells me Avs GM Francois Giguere still hasn't broached the subject of a possible deal with Smyth's powerful agent Don Meehan. But given what other GMs have told me, Smyth is "possibly" available. I guess that's a conversation that will soon take place.
Burnside: Interesting dilemma for Smyth. He's a terrific competitor, and the Avs might not get anywhere near a playoff spot during the remainder of Smyth's contract. Does he want to stay with a team that is finally paying the price for years of excess? And if he was willing to go, which team has the need, and wherewithal financially, to go after Smyth? Dallas has the need given its injuries up front, but it's hard to imagine the Stars taking on that kind of financial burden (especially with the Sean Avery deal still hanging over their heads). He'd look interesting in a Habs uniform, no? Kind of the anti-Alexei Kovalev in terms of heart and desire. And Montreal has lots of young pieces to deal.
LeBrun: This is just me talking, but I'm betting the Los Angeles Kings would take a run at Smyth if their young squad can get back on track. They've got a lot of cap room, and I think GM Dean Lombardi wants to add a big piece up front, one with experience. Keep in mind, the other thing about Smyth's deal is that while the cap number every year is fairly high at $6.25 million, his actual salary drops to $5.5 million in 2010-11 and $4.5 million in 2011-12, the last two years of the deal. Those are the kind of deals that GMs are telling me some franchises will be on the lookout for.
I think you can forget Dallas, Scotty. I was told over the weekend that despite losing Sergei Zubov for the rest of the season and playoffs, the Stars aren't going to use the LTI cap relief on his $5 million-plus salary; owner Tom Hicks doesn't want to spend the extra cash in this economic climate. You know when a traditionally big-spending team like Dallas is being a little cost-conscious, that tells you everyone is nervous. Of course, that's exactly why the Avs, I believe, are toying with the idea of dealing Smyth; for the first time in Denver's Avs history, ownership is seeing empty seats in the stands. Time to cut costs.
Burnside: If I'm Lombardi (and I rarely, if ever, pretend I am), Smyth is attractive because he provides leadership, not just this season, but in 2009-10, when the playoffs should really be on the radar (I don't think they've got it for this season). And you're right, they're one of the few teams with enough cashola to make such a deal happen. And let's be honest, if the Avs are looking at clearing money, no one is going to have to pony up much in the way of assets for Smyth. Would he go to Los Angeles, though? What's your best guess? Me, I think he stays in Colorado and dons the red and white for Canada at the World Championships once again.
LeBrun: As a reporter, I've known Smyth for a long time because of all those World Championships I've covered that he played in … but I really don't have a feel for this one. On the one hand, I know he's upset right now at all the rumors; he's not a quitter and wants to finish what he started. But as the shock of first hearing about the trade rumors wears off, maybe he'll see it in a different light. That's where a guy like Meehan comes in and has that type of discussion with him. What's best for his career? In the end, it really depends on the kind of teams that show serious interest. If San Jose, for example, showed some interest (and, by the way, they've got some cap room to make a trade next week), you'd have to think long and hard if you're Smyth. It's that time of year, Scotty!
For more on the trade deadline, check out NHL Rumor Central. 
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