If you were the GM (Northeast division)

(With the trade deadline upon us, Cycle like the Sedins decided to ask about 30 or so friends in the blogosphere to represent his or her team and answer the question: "What would you do if you were the GM during the trade deadline?

Since things change in a heartbeat, the date of each person's submission is listed next to each entry. So before you start screaming "BUT THEY TRADED HIM!" while food spills out of your mouth, we're showing what they thought at the time.

Don't like it? Psh.)

Montreal Canadiens

HF29 of Four Habs Fans

(submitted: March 2)

"If I were Bob Gainey, I'd stick my finger up my ass and not do anything. We are not in a position to win a cup with the addition of a rent-a-player, we are about to lose half our team to free agency this summer, and we can't dump all our great prospects who will be replacing the UFA's. So I'd go find a beach that has no Blackberry service."

Chris Kontos: This is the easiest move for any NHL GM to make. Suspend the entire team for 2 games. They'll come back and the team will go undefeated into the playoffs.

James O'Brien: It almost seems like the Habs are in a comfortably uncomfortable spot. They're not the not new thing this year. But it still looks like they should make the playoffs. The obvious move is simply to stay put. They traded for Mathieu Schneider. That should be good again.

Let that whole scandal "blow" over. Ha ha. Ho Ho. *wipes tear*

***

Ottawa Senators
Dany Heatley Speedwagon from Scarlett Ice.
(March 1)

If I were the Sens GM right now... I'd start filling out job applications.

Chris Kontos: If laughing at the misfortunes of Bryan Murray is wrong... then I never want to be right.

James O'Brien: You know, Jay Bouwmeester for Jason Spezza might just be idiotic enough to not work for both parties. So maybe, give that 10-1 odds? (I mean, if you trade a first-rounder for Chris Campoli and Mr. Hillary Duff, why start making sense?)

***

Boston Bruins
Evan from Stanley Cup of Chowder
(2/24)

Manny Fernandez:

Chiarelli has indicated that Manny won't be moved, which I think is the right move. I'm a lot more comfortable with the Bruins having two veteran goaltenders heading into the playoffs. We have seen so many goalies get injured around the league this year, so depth at the goaltending position is always a plus. Some B's fans have lobbied for Fernandez to get traded and promote Tuukka Rask to be the backup, but I don't see how having Rask rot on the bench while the Bruins take on his $3.2 million cap number for a few months helps him or the organization.

Cole or Tkachuk?

Neither. I think both of those guys will cost the Bruins too much, both in terms of player assets and the cap hit. The B's want to keep as much of the current big league roster in place and I'm not sure they could do that and still bring in either of these guys. I'm not sure Cole is the answer for the Bruins. He was struggled out in Edmonton this season and appears to be in the decline stage of his career at only the age of 30. As for Tkachuk, a return to his hometown would make a great story and all but I'm not sure it is the best move for the Bruins. I would rather see them make one or two smaller deals. Ideally one for a big winger with a left-hand shot and one for a puck-moving defenseman. The more I look into Nik Antropov, the more I like him as an option. I think he has a lot of what the Bruins are looking to add at the deadline. Someone like Jordan Leopold would also be a nice addition to the Bruins blue line.

Chris Kontos:Tkachuk to the Bruins would be a major get. But I don't think the Blues are giving up Uncle Walt. The Bruins are a fantastic team, I would keep both goalies and look forward to battling Washington in the semi-finals.

James O'Brien: If the Bruins can make a Chris Pronger deal work, then do it. This is a fantastic opportunity for the Bruins to make a Stanley Cup run and let's face it: there's going to be a bit of a drop off since it would be hard to keep David Krejci, Phil Kessel, Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez under the cap next year.

Somehow, if the B's were the team with the two biggest meanest D in the league ... they would probably be OK. Do it!

***

Buffalo Sabres

Vance from Bangin' Panger
(Mar. 2)

1. Trade Maxim Afinogenov for anything...anything at all. At this point, I would accept "Future Considerations."

2. Trade Nate Gerbe, Drew Stafford, & a 1st for Olli Jokinen, Derek Morris, and a 3rd. Oh wait, that's too serious.

3. Sign Tim Connolly. Then in turn, announce that the "Future Considerations" is in fact the purchase of a Chinese facility which genetically engineers single body parts for the recently signed Tim Connolly. Win - Win situation.

This trade rumor mongering is too much for me, Let's leave it to the experts...like Eklund

Chris Kontos: Sign Tim Connolly and then put him in a plastic bubble to be worn at all times, especially on the ice. This is the same Buffalo team we've seen for the last few years except for one. They are going to do anything to change it.

James O'Brien: Something needs to happen to the city of Buffalo, already. They had such a great run but of course ... it's Buffalo. Heart break was inevitable. Here's a dream scenario that would restore some harmony to the universe:

Flyers put Danny Briere on waivers. Briere comes back up and is claimed by the Sabres. The Sabres get one half of their likable-before-their-idiotic-contracts duo at what Briere should make in a season. (Half of what he's making now, you see.) Make it happen, universe.

***

Toronto Maple Leafs

Loser Domi from Pension Plan Puppets
(2/27)

If I were the Toronto GM, stock in vodka would go through the roof. You may also find me passed out in the sewer (like a boss).

From Bitter Leaf Fan
(3/03)

Under the current CBA, it strikes me that teams have a limited window to compete before increasing player compensation makes it a challenge for teams to hold on to the requisite pieces to remain among the elite (Ottawa, Pittsburgh, Tampa have all had to shed key parts in order to retain their top tier players).

If I was Brian Burke, pretty much the entire Leafs roster would be for sale. In return I'd put an emphasis on getting back prospects over picks. Prospects are a bit more of a known quantity, are further along in their development and therefore closer to stepping up to the NHL.

The Leafs have a very small nucleus (of sadly moderate talent) to build around: Schenn ('89), Tlusty ('88), Stralman ('86), Pogge ('86) and Mitchell ('85), Grabovski ('84). It's this sad sack lot that the Leafs need to build around by acquiring more players born between 1986 to '89. Players who are still three or four years removed from RFA status and five or six or so from UFA status.

By building around cost-controlled, younger players the Leafs can hopefully dip into the UFA pool in a few years when they're competitive again (fingers crossed) for a star or two to help push them over the top.

Chris Kontos: Guaranteed, Brian Burke turns this franchise around in a season and half. I saw it with my own eyes across town. I hate you Brian Burke. He will pounce on any other GM who is willing to overpay in the slightest... and then get him to overpay even more. This is a man who found a way to get rid of Fedorov and that horrible contract.

James O'Brien: Getting out of that Fedorov contract was quite masterful, indeed. If Tomas Kaberle, Nik Antropov and any plus-$3 million isn't in danger of being moved, then check Burke's pulse.

Although I will say: Kaberle's contract is a steal. (Also: there is not a single Burke photo that fails to make me laugh. That's pretty impressive)