[Izulde]

870k profit last month.

Canadiens offer us a straight up trade of D Karlis Skrastins for D Stephane Quintal. I think about it for a moment, but Quintal is 33 years old and owed $1.95 mil. for the next 3 years.

Pierre Turgeon of Dallas is Player of the Month, Pascal Dupuis Rookie of the Month.

Los Angeles 3 Nashville 3
Another blown 3-1 lead, but at least it wasn't a loss. Petr Sykora in all 3 scores with a goal and 2 assists. He's really helped elevate our team.

And one of the long rumored players is finally traded.

Phoenix Coyotes receive
G Roman Cechmanek

Philadelphia Flyers receive
D Matthew Spiller
C Krys Kolanos

What this means for the Coyotes
$3.3 million a year for 4 years is quite a long contract for Cechmanek, but he's a starter quality goalie, who, most significantly, is a comparatively spring chicken 30 to Sean Burke's 35. Two starter capable goalies is critical for both the postseason push and the playoffs. Great going for it move while ensuring staying strong the next few seasons.

What this means for the Flyers
20 year old Kolanos is some much needed youth at center when everyone else is 30+. Spiller is a whatever prospect. Nice salary reduction for Philadelphia, too.

Winner: Draw
Benefits for each team, but the measure of this trade for the Coyotes will be if they can get into the playoffs the next few years.

Alain Gosselin is praised by Barry Trotz and he does look like a great offensive defenseman so we add him to the list.

We also execute a trade

Nashville Predators receive
D Zdeno Chara

Ottawa Senators receive
D Sheldon Souray
R Denis Platonov
C Oliver Setzinger
C Gustav Grasberg

What this means for the Predators
Chara, 24, immediately becomes Nashville's top defenseman on the defensive side of things, and the Predators' best overall D. Picking him up at his reasonable $1.1 million a year for the next 3 years also allows for team worst +/- Mark Eaton to finally be pushed out of the regular lineup. 1st line/2nd line PP/1st line SH for Chara.

What this means for the Senators
Chara was -8 and Ottawa is just picking up prospects here to see if any of them pan out. The Senators appear to be high on Grasberg and they're hoping to get some sort of pick compensation from impending RFA Souray, who should also see some ice time again.

Winner: Nashville
The reason the Predators are in this playoff hunt is because of GM Izulde Jestor's aggressive pursuit of talent, and this is another case of it.

Oliver Setzinger is thrilled about getting his rights traded to the Senators. Glad to make you happy, Ollie.

Pierre Turgeon of the Stars wins Player of the Week.

Columbus 0 Nashville 3
Simon Gagne gets in all 3 points with a goal and two assists. I think this is the first shutout we've had in a long time, maybe even all season. Zdeno Chara paying off already. Gagne gets point 60 today, setting a new season career high.

Mattias Ohlund trade rumors are back on after months of silence. Montreal's the new speculated destination.

Alexei Vasiliev wants to be a regular player. Not happening, buddy.

6 game losing streak for the Rangers.

Nashville 3 Columbus 3
Disappointing tie against a team we should have beaten handily, but it's another blown 3-1 lead. Petr Sykora now has 47 assists, a career high. We're rumored for Mattias Ohlund.

North America 13 World 8
A goal and 2 assists for Petr Sykora, but the North Americans embarrassed the overseas players. Keith Tkachuk (St. Louis Blues) continues his fantastic season, winning MVP.

The defenseman rumors continue, us now linked to Bryce Salvador of St. Louis.

Rod Brind'Amour of Carolina wins Player of the Week.

Power just went out and we're getting major thunderstorm coming in sounds like, so I'll take a break here.