The Carolina Hurricanes have acquired Doug Weight from the St. Louis Blues but it is just one part of a much larger trade involving other players and draft picks that won't be made official until after the Hurricanes and Blues complete the official trade conference call with the NHL.
Weight, though, has waived his no trade clause and will be joining the Hurricanes, who outbid Nashville, Calgary and Ottawa, amongst other teams, for his services.
"I believe I now have as good a chance as any to win a Stanley Cup and there was no way I was going to pass this up."
Canes get:
-Doug Weight
-27-year-old Finnish forward Erkki Rajamaki
Blues get:
- Carolina's first-round pick in 2006.
- Toronto's fourth-round pick in 2006, previously acquired by the Hurricanes.
- Chicago's fourth-round pick in 2007, previously acquired by the Hurricanes.
- Tough guy forward Jesse Boulerice, a 27-year-old eighth-year pro
- Forward Mike Zigomanis, a 25-year-old fifth-year pro
- Magnus Kahnberg, 25, an unsigned Carolina draftee from Sweden who will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1
Canes get:
-Doug Weight
-27-year-old Finnish forward Erkki Rajamaki
Blues get:
- Carolina's first-round pick in 2006.
- Toronto's fourth-round pick in 2006, previously acquired by the Hurricanes.
- Chicago's fourth-round pick in 2007, previously acquired by the Hurricanes.
- Tough guy forward Jesse Boulerice, a 27-year-old eighth-year pro
- Forward Mike Zigomanis, a 25-year-old fifth-year pro
- Magnus Kahnberg, 25, an unsigned Carolina draftee from Sweden who will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1
Strictly to keep him from going to Ottowa? That's far fetched.
When Matt Cullen and Josef Vasicek come back, hopefully shortly after the Olympic break, the Canes will likely be carrying 6 centers (Eric Staal, Rod Brind'Amour, Doug Weight, Matt Cullen, Josef Vasicek, Kevyn Adams). I would assume that Staal, Brindy, and Weight will keep playing center. Vasicek has played on the wing a lot before, so I imagine he will again, and then either Adams or Cullen.
I mean this season before the playoffs. The NCAA Frozen Four is at the beginning of April, just before the NHL playoffs begin. There is speculation that as soon as Michigan's season ends, the Hurricanes could try to sign Johnson for the playoffs. I am not sure if that would be a good idea to throw a guy with no NHL experience immediately into the playoffs, but he is a force on the blueline who can really knock guys around, so I'm sure he could be some help in the playoffs.
If the Hurricanes do indeed manage to finish the season with the best record in the league and win the President's Trophy, it will still be a long road to winning it all. I looked up past President's Trophy winners and whether they were able to fare as well in the playoffs as they did in the regular season. Only 6 of 19 teams were able to win the Cup.
2004 Detroit Red Wings - eliminated in playoffs
2003 Ottawa Senators - eliminated in playoffs
2002 Detroit Red Wings - won the Stanley Cup
2001 Colorado Avalanche - won the Stanley Cup
2000 St. Louis Blues - eliminated in playoffs
1999 Dallas Stars - won the Stanley Cup
1998 Dallas Stars - eliminated in playoffs
1997 Colorado Avalanche - eliminated in playoffs
1996 Detroit Red Wings - eliminated in playoffs
1995 Detroit Red Wings - eliminated in playoffs
1994 New York Rangers - won the Stanley Cup
1993 Pittsburgh Penguins - eliminated in playoffs
1992 New York Rangers - eliminated in playoffs
1991 Chicago Blackhawks - eliminated in playoffs
1990 Boston Bruins - eliminated in playoffs
1989 Calgary Flames - won the Stanley Cup
1988 Calgary Flames - eliminated in playoffs
1987 Edmonton Oilers - won the Stanley Cup
1986 Edmonton Oilers - eliminated in playoffs
