Yesterday, we urged FOF readers to put credibility in Larry Brooks' rumors on Pavel Bure because of the link between Bure's agent and the scribe. Nice to know our hunch came through.

Now, we will publicly eat crow over our criticism of Sather's second year at the helm soon after the trade deadline. But first, there's one day left before the trade deadline and the Bure deal is not likely the last move of this season…

Edmonton Dealings?

The most talked-about rumor seems to have all the pieces for completion. So far, the one with the most substance is Mike York/Bryan Berard for Tom Poti/Jochen Hecht. So let's analyze it…

Sather's boys

If Sather has a pattern, it's bringing in his Edmonton boys; from management, to coaching staff, to Messier, to numerous players. So bringing in his former Oilers to make a last dash to the playoffs is a likely option.

Mike York

Both Edmonton and Florida wanted Mike York. That Sather was able to exclude York from the Panther deal is both a credit to York's value to the team, and an indication that he could be the centerpiece of another deal.

Tom Poti

Sather's regard both for offensive defensemen in general, and Tom Poti in particular, is well documented. And as of now, no one has stepped forward to take the mantle from Leetch.

Bryan Berard

If Poti arrives, Berard goes. Not a concern here at FOF, since Berard's play has made a delightful comeback story into a nightly comedy of blueline errors. And his skating and skill would fare better on Edmonton ice and in the Western Conference.

Jochen Hecht

Maybe. Hecht seems to fill an adequate need for the Rangers, and was a key player in their Doug Weight deal. But something seems wrong with his inclusion, from both sides.

For Kevin Lowe, why deal a major player in your Doug Weight trade if you don't need to? He only makes $850,000, and still must have the talent and potential that Lowe scouted before dealing for him.

And for NY, Hecht isn't a Sather guy. He arrived in Edmonton only last year. He is also repetitively redundant with similar Ranger players like Mikael Samuelsson, Roman Lyashenko, Andreas Johansson, etc.

With a current mandate to win now, it seems more likely that Sather would bring in either Todd Marchant or Mike Grier, both of whom are his boys and make approximately $1.4 million per year. Marchant would be the third line defensive center, whereas Grier could be the grinding third line defensive winger.

FOF guess?

Marchant gets the nod because he fills an immediate need of third line defensive center.

Mike York and Bryan Berard for Todd Marchant and Tom Poti.

Theo Fleury

Also, though there have been no rumors, it seems plausible that Theo Fleury has played his last game in a Ranger uniform.

With Bure in the mix, and free agents on the horizon, it seems likely that Sather has no intention of renewing the $7 million option for next season. Rather than lose him for nothing, and with Bure now in the fold for offense, Fleury may see himself in a new uniform as early as tomorrow.

Yes, Theo has a no-trade clause. But Sather was willing to ask Theo to waive it last season, and there's nothing to prevent him from doing the same again. And, Sather has a way of strong-arming players to get his way. A number of options, such as a "Quintal waiver scenario," or outright poor treatment, could lead Fleury to accept a trade.

It's likely that the return would be prospects or draft picks to replace the ones lost in the Pavel Bure trade.

Stay tuned…

-Gabe

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