It figures: Just when I bitch about how the National Hockey League’s new salary cap environment dampens trade possibilities and dooms teams to subpar seasons, the league’s GMs managed to find their trade-trigger fingers.
And, in the proc…

My gripe’s no so much about the Bolts as it is about how the cap limits teams in general. The St. Louis Blues are an even better example: They had to gut their defense by trading Chris Pronger for very little, because most of their cash is tied up in Doug Weight and Keith Tkachuk — two former offensive powerhouses. Now, it’s hard to see them make the moves they need to make on the blueline and in goal to get back to respectability, because a trade would likely have to match up dollar-wise for cap balance.

Of course, just after I write all this, the Ducks manage to dump Sergei Fedorov’s contract on the Blue Jackets. So the cap doesn’t totally squelch trades. But it does make them harder to pull off. And we’ll see if it affects the usual deadline deals that tune up playoff-bound teams.

I’m not at all sold on Grahame. Stats notwithstanding, he lacks the requisite intensity. Khabby was a money goalie because he came up with the critical saves; Grahame doesn’t. Without the two of them on the same team, pushing each other, they’ve both suffered this year. (Khabibulin’s also had to play behind a weaker defense this year.)

And I think keeping everyone but Khabibulin was a good call. With the new rules going into effect I think going with offense over defense was a good call. There’s no telling which goalies were going to adjust to the smaller pads and scoring-minded changes. Take a look at the stats of last year’s best goalies this year. Heck, take a look at our goalie last year. Grahame’s GAA and SA% are both better than Khabibulin’s.

It’s frustrating right now, but I think we’ll be fine. I’m not sure if anyone can beat Ottawa in a playoff series (more proof that in the new NHL, offense will probably win championships), but we should at least get there.