Blogger GM vs. Real-life GM: Southeast Division

To wrap up our Trade Deadline coverage, we'll take a look at the big moves (and non-moves) in each division one-by-one. Did our contributors and their respective GMs see eye-to-eye? Would those guest posts provide a better reality than what really came about? Let's take a look with the Southeast leading off:

Real Life: Jay Bouwmeester stays put.

What our Florida correspondent, Whale4ever from Litterbox Cats said:

"If I were running the show, Jay Bouwmeester would be a Panther until July 1st. I understand the potential lunacy of allowing the guy to walk for nothing, but I'm firmly in the camp that demands keeping the team intact through the end of the season."

You are correct, sir.

Real Life: Ilya Kovalchuk stays put, the Thrashers trade Niclas Havelid to the New Jersey Devils.

Here's what on of our Atlanta correspondents, Mortimer Peacock from Blueland Chronicle said:

"Niclas Havelid and Marty Reasoner to playoff contenders for draft picks. One of the goalies needs to be moved; what we get depends on whether we move Lehtonen, Hedberg, or Pavelec."

Half-right. The Thrashers did, indeed, move Havelid but did not trade their goalies.

Real Life (or was it ... seriously was this trade an acid dream or something?): the Lightning trade Olaf Kolzig, Jamie Heward, Andy Rogers, and a 4th round pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Richard Petiot.

We're not going to count that one. Brian Burke, you dirty dog.

Real life: Washington Capitals do nothing.

CAPS chick from DC Cheap Seats wanted the Capitals to find a way to get rid of Michael Nylander. If not, she felt the team could use a vocal veteran presence, a puck moving D or a solid backup goalie.

Wrong, but time will tell if CAPS chick's instinct was better.

Real life: Carolina Hurricanes trade Justin Williams for Erik Cole in a three-team trade that also involved Patrick O'Sullivan.

Cory from Canes Country said:

"If the Hurricanes were going to win, it would be riding the waves of Cam Ward and Eric Staal, not on some mid-level rental player. With the farm system improving, it wouldn't be prudent to sacrifice a prospect or draft pick for a player like that."

Actually, my post might have been the closest in that I perceived GM Jim Rutherford's taste for nostalgia:

"Maybe go after Doug Weight, Cory Stillman or Mark Recchi just for old times sake?"

Nonetheless, we were wrong. The Hurricanes went after a young rental player. Wow.