Friedman's 30 Thoughts - March 6

[sureLoss]

Lots of juicy rumors on the trades and almost trades at the deadline:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/3...another-level/

Phanuef vs Coburn

2. Everyone’s weighed in on what happened with Dion Phaneuf, so allow two more theories. First, there wasn’t enough time for the Maple Leafs and Red Wings to put together such a complex deal on short notice. Second, the Braydon Coburn trade changed everything. Whatever the two teams may have considered, that was altered by Philadelphia’s return for the non-rental defenceman (Radko Gudas, a first-round pick and a third-rounder).

Toronto considers Phaneuf a better player than Coburn, so it would look at that return and say, “We’ve got to have at least that.” Coburn’s contract is nowhere near as onerous as Phaneuf’s, though.

3. My guess is the pre-Coburn plan centred around Phaneuf, Stephen Weiss and Brendan Smith. The Maple Leafs understood they’d have to take Weiss’s contract to make it work. Smith makes sense because, like the Toronto captain, he’s a left-shot. He’s also due for a raise so adding salary means someone has to go.

There were reports the Maple Leafs asked for Anthony Mantha, but I’m not sure that was a major sticking point.

You should ask high, understanding your trade partner will probably say no. The bigger issue might be draft picks. GM Ken Holland made it very clear he wasn’t trading his first-rounder and their second went to Nashville in the David Legwand trade. So, any draft considerations would have had to wait until 2016. If the two teams want to re-visit this after the season, some groundwork has been done.

No doubt Toronto will try to see if anyone who loses in the playoffs decides Phaneuf can help them.

7. When you look at the cost of rentals, it shouldn’t be surprising Tampa paid that price for Coburn. At the 2013 NHL Draft, Edmonton thought it was getting Coburn for three second-round draft picks, only to have then-Flyers GM Paul Holmgren change his mind at the last minute.

Holmgren, who acquired the defender from Atlanta, has great affinity for him. At his best, Coburn could really skate with the puck. Whatever the reason (confidence, injuries), he’s struggled with that. If the Lightning can get him back to that level, he’s going to be a big help.

Connolly

8. There’s no doubt Tampa looked at how it lost Richard Panik on waivers and felt there was no way to allow the same possibility with Brett Connolly. They’ve developed so many good young forwards there just isn’t room for them all. There were a few GMs disappointed they didn’t get a chance to make the same offer Boston did. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bryan Murray was one of them. Connolly is exactly the kind of player the Senators are looking for.

Yandle to the Islanders?

11. Received an interesting note from a source who indicated that last June he’d heard the Islanders offered the fifth overall selection in the draft to Arizona for Keith Yandle. Both teams denied that, but when you pencil in how things would be different, it’s better for both organizations it never happened.

If the Islanders get Yandle and Dan Boyle (who they also wanted), they don’t acquire Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy and the Coyotes don’t receive the extra picks and prospects from the Rangers. Apparently, it was a Glen Sather phone call three days before the deadline that ignited Yandle talks.

also stuff on why the Coyotes couldn't move Erat, Bernier, Despres, and the upcoming goaltending market.