Well now he’s posted that the trade is on hold and he’s not sure why yet.

Can someone please explain to me how Kotalik, a recent healthy scratch with a team that has serious trouble scoring goals, is a whit better than Jokinen? Even the salaries are essentially a wash — Jokinen’s is higher, but Kotalik’s is for a longer term.

I was listening to the Ranger game earlier — such a masterpiece, btw, Auger was one of the referees and he called five minor penalties in the first five and a half minutes, but I digress — and the Ranger broadcast crew mentioned that Kotalik had been given permission to go home after being informed of a trade. It sounded like he needed time to process the trade and decide if he wanted to accept it. Though, if his limited no trade does not cover a trade to the Flames, it’s difficult to see how he could refuse.

Not really sure how this improves either of the teams involved, frankly. Pretty much a shake up for the teams and the players – all of which are massively under performing, though Prust seems a straight-up guy. Jokinen is the most talented, but he has the worst facial hair in the league, so that’s a wash.

Looks like a case of kicking asses and seeing if anyone wakes up. Burke sounds like he isn’t done, either, but that’s Burke…

Check out Matchsticks and Gasoline — they seem to believe a Jokinen for Kotalik swap is a precursor to a Kotalik for either Kovalchuck or Lecvalier swap. Which honestly beggers my brain. If Waddel will take that little for Kovalchuck, Gillis should be in that line for sure.

If Waddel trades Kovalchuck and doesn’t receive a first rounder I’ll be shocked. I would really think Boston (because of all their picks) and LA (because of their young talent) are still the front runners there despite what deluded Flames/Rangers fans think.

Also if this deal goes down that will basically mean Calgary traded a 1st, Lombardi, and Prust for Kotaliksballls and Higgins. Terrible.