Biltong, if Minnesota or Phoenix is well out of it, or if they have a player or two that has fallen out of favor in their camp, they might try moving that player to us. But we’ve got to be careful.

The first thing we have to do is evaluate what’s in our system. If that can be recalled, safely, say without a waiver claim, then that’s a great option. Second, if we trade for a player who is anything other than a pending UFA, we have to look at whose ascention we are potentially blocking. In other words, if we really like Kulda, Postma, Grant Lewis, or want to ink Popovic/Salmela to a multi-year deal, that would make us think twice about taking a player with 3-4 more years on his contract. The only Wild player that comes to mind, like that, would be Nick Schultz. Schultz, 26 years old, is a cap hit of $3.5 million. He logs 21:30 in average ice time, he’s 1G, 3A, for 4-points and is a -8. But he’s a +22 career defender in the NHL, including being a +2 in the playoffs. Now, I don’t know why the Wild would consider trading him, especially with 4 years left on the deal, but this is just a “for instance” example of … better be careful before you pull the trigger. You could be blocking someone. And just what on Earth would we have give up to make Minnesota “happy?”

On Phoenix, a guy I kinda like is Keith Yandle, age 22, a pending RFA in 2011-12. He’s a $1.2 million cap hit. 3G, 7A, for 10-points, and is a +3. But he’s a career -13. He logs 19:16 in ice time. And Phoenix probably tells us to go jump in a lake, if we attempt to trade for him. Again, giving up 1st round picks is not a good idea, unless you’re somebody like the Red Wings or Penguins or Sharks, whose pick is likely to be #27, #28, #29, or #30 in the draft. I affectionately call that portion of the draft, “The crapshoot area.” It’s where, as an arm-chair GM, I’d pick a goalie, if I thought I needed one. Or some depth defender or a depth RW, if I felt my roster was a little weak at RW in the pipeline.

Nate – I dunno…but I’d guess never. But while we are on the subject of hight SA/G and making the playoffs, check this out…

The Flyers allowed 32.5 SA/G last year…6th highest in the NHL…and made the playoffs.
Montreal surrendered 31.7 SA/G…7th highest…and barely slipped in.
Boston allowed 30.8 SA/G…10th highest and got in.

Of all the 16 teams that qualified for the playoffs, 7 allowed more shots on goal then they took…including the Stanley Cup champ Penguins.

Boston: 30.3 S/G – 30.8 SA/G
Vancouver: 28.5 S/G – 29.2 SA/G
Philadelphia: 29.8 S/G – 32.5 SA/G
Pittsburgh: 29.0 S/G – 30.3 SA/G
Montreal: 30.0 S/G – 31.7 SA/G
St. Louis: 27.7 S/G – 28.5 SA/G
Anaheim: 30.2 S/G 30.5 S/G

Currently, the Thrashers are averaging 28.9 S/G and allow a league-worst 35.4 SA/G.

Rawhide – When was the last time the team that gave up the most shots on goal per game in the league made the playoffs?