Do you believe Colorados Ryan Smyth and Anaheims Chris Pronger will be moved before Wednesday?
No, I don’t. Smyth is well respected around the hockey world, but I just can’t believe many teams are willing to bring aboard his $6.25 million cap hit for three more seasons, especially with the salary cap expected to fall in 2010-11. If I were the Ducks, I wouldn’t be looking to move Pronger. But they are considering that because of salary cap issues. They will listen to offers, and if someone pays a significant price, they would do it now. But more likely, they would wait until the summer when they could probably get a better deal. Just as important, they would know what Scott Niedermayer is planning to do. Will the defending champion Detroit Red Wings do anything at the deadline? I can’t see it unless someone significant gets hurt before next Wednesday. Ville Leino and Darren Helm will essentially be their fresh faces for the playoffs. Leino is a highly skilled Finnish prospect who has five goals in his first 10 NHL games. Helm is among the NHL’s fastest players, and he was a contr
