If parent club Columbus makes moves at the deadline it could impact the Falcons roster in Springfield.
Springfield Falcons president Bruce Landon.If you follow hockey closely, you know that Feb. 27 at 3 p.m. is the NHL trading deadline.
This means that teams are trying to determine if they are buyers or sellers, depending on their current place in the standings, and their specific needs. If you are a team that feels you have a real good chance of making the playoffs, you may opt to make a deal, giving up a draft pick or a prospect in order to get that one player that can have an impact right away.
If you are a team like the Boston Bruins or New York Rangers who feel they are close to being able to win a Stanley Cup, you also may be willing to make a move to find that one last piece of the puzzle, one that will give you a chance to winning it all, but you have to be careful that you don't destroy the chemistry of the team that you had success with all year long.
If you are a team such as Columbus, that has had a miserable year, you have to make a decision as to whether to trade your big name players - Rick Nash, Jeff Carter or RJ Umberger to reel in some draft picks, players and prospects and start a rebuilding campaign. These decisions are never easy and it takes the entire brain trust of an organization, including ownership, to determine which path they want to take.
The deals that will take place in the NHL, as we approach the Feb. 27 deadline usually have an impact on their AHL partner. If a high profile player in the NHL is traded, it normally brings in a couple of players and the AHL team can benefit from the trickle down effect, where these new players will bump a player on the current roster down to the AHL.
Some teams who are in a rebuilding stage will seek out future prospects who could go directly to the AHL team. However, NHL deals as we have seen in the past can have an adverse affect on the AHL affiliate. If an NHL team trades a veteran player who does not fit into their long term plans, often times it can be for just a draft pick. That normally means a player from the AHL team will be recalled to fill the roster spot on the parent team.
Players at the AHL level pay a lot of attention to the NHL trading deadline. For some, they may feel if a certain move is made it may give them a chance to go to the NHL, either with their current NHL team, or maybe as part of a package where they get a chance with a new team. The next several days are going to be interesting to sit back and see which NHL teams make drastic moves and how it plays out in the AHL.
The American Hockey League has their clear day period set for 3 p.m. on Monday, March 5. At this time all AHL teams have to submit their clear day roster to the league office. After this date the NHL teams are allowed up to four free recalls or can call up a player at any time under emergency conditions. After the AHL team submits their clear day roster they are only allowed to make changes to their roster under emergency conditions, and these new players must come from a lower league. AHL teams are also allowed to bring in college or junior players whose season is over and they are allowed to play at anytime during the clear day period. If you recall Springfield did this last year with players like Aaron Bogosian, Wade McLeod and Paul Dainton.
Also from Feb. 27 until Monday, March 5 at 3 p.m. AHL teams can also make deals with players who are under AHL contracts. Often you will see a team that is going to make the playoffs pluck a player off a roster of a team that is not going to make the playoffs.
Over the next several days we'll see what moves Springfield's NHL parent, the Columbus Blue Jackets, make and what impact those roster decisions have on the Falcons. I always hope for the best, but I realize it is something we have little control over. The NHL teams are going to do what they feel is necessary for the short or long-term success of their franchise.
Finally, just a couple of closing comments about two hockey friends of mine. When Bruce Boudreau was fired as coach of the Washington Capitals, he exited with class and dignity, thanking the Caps for giving him an opportunity to be an NHL coach. He was quickly hired by the Anaheim Ducks, and although it took him a few games to make adjustments, "Gabby" now has Anaheim as one of the hottest teams in the NHL. This man is simply a very good hockey coach.
When is Springfield native Paul Fenton going to get a chance to be an NHL general manager? Fenton has played a major part in the ongoing success of a small market, small budget team in Nashville. Nashville's AHL affiliate Milwaukee Admirals have always been a competitive team. I am sure it will happen soon and there is no doubt in this old hockey guy's mind that Paul will do a great job.
Bruce Landon is president and general manager of the Springfield Falcons. He can be reached by commenting on this blog or sending him an e-mail at blandon@falconsahl.com. For more information visit the team website.