Derek......  I see your point about Vermette, but Vancouver would have to seriously and I mean seriously sweeten the pot to pry Spezza away. Ohlund is a decent puck-mover but nothing extrordinary by any stretch, where Spezza is a 90+ point center. Yes Hartsburg has harped on Spezza quite a bit, but so did Tortorella on Lecavalier and yes Lecavalier had to hear the rumours for many years as well. But Vancouver don't have enough assets to get a deal done for Spezza. That's not a slap in the face to the Canucks, I'm saying that for some reason Murray will not throw in the towel for this year so throwing a first rounder and someone like Mason Raymond won't be enough. However if Murray does decide to blow it up, well then Vancouver has a lot going for them. They have the cap space, their 1st rounder, Ohlund, and maybe a guy like Mason Raymond and maybe even more if Murray is able to get a bidding war going.

I know for a lot of you it sounds like a lot, but high scoring centers are very hard to come by, and look what Philly got for a broken down Peter Forsberg, Same for Marian Hossa last year...... Murray will want similar assets in return. However Vermette, it definitely on the block, and personally I'm hoping he goes to Florida as part of a package for Bouwmeester, and I'm sure none of you like the idea of Vermette for Ohlund. Regardless of what happens, hopefully Vermette and Ohlund get their respective teams the assets in return that the teams need.

Ohlund is a serious Norris trophy candidate this year . He's been a monster here out West . I don't see Canucks giving him up straight for Spezza . He is playing as good as Lidstrom , if not better !! I doubt if you thru in Vermette with Spezza , that Vancouver would bite to be honest - Ohlund is that dominate this season !! I'm not a big Canuck fan , but Ohlund is a much better player than a lot of you out East seem to realize . No way i'd give up Ohlund for Spezza - that would be a steal !!

MADJAM......Ohlund I'll agree is a decent defenseman. 2G 4A 6Pts is hardly Norris Trophy type numbers. Not to mention Ohlund is in the final year of his contract, Vancouver will be lucky to get Vermette for him, especially with Vermette signed through next season. But Jason Spezza? Come on that's not going to happen in this lifetime, Ohlund is alright but nothing spectacular to say the least.

I believe it's just a matter of time before Ottawa has to blow this team up, and besides Spezza, Heatley, and Alfy I can't see any other Senator being untouchable. Even Spezza and Heatley could probably be had, but it'll come for a king's randsom.

I believe Ottawa would be more interested in Bouwmeester than Ohlund. Bouwmeester is more familliar to Ottawa having played in the East, and Vermette alone might be enough to pry Bouwmeester out of Florida as Martin is a huge Vermette fan. No matter what happens, thimgs are definitely in motion, could get exciting before everything is over.

madjam...you're saying you wouldn't trade ohlund for spezza and vermette. wow. more like the senators wouldn't trade spezza for ohlund unless the nucks threw in something else as well. i live on the west coast so i know who ohlund is, and i'm a sens fan so i know what spezza's about and you're way off here man.

No i would not trade Ohlund for Spezza , and i doubt it even if you threw in Vermette .

Your giving Ohlund way to much credit there madjam either that or your on some real good drugs that makes you think he's that good. And to put him in the class of Lidstrom are you kidding me?

^^^

And you guys say us leaf fans are dilusional?

Hey , just trying to get you more for Ohlund - still don't think he'll come  as cheap as some of you think . I know he has sure been the mainstay in the games against Oilers and Flames - more so than even Phaneuf so far . I put him down for my  Western Allstar Defenceman ballot firstly ( my other choice was Lidstrom ), thats how dominant he has been against the Alberta teams this season so far . Mind you , i put down Luongo as my goalie on the  all star ballot - so what do i know ?

Clearly,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,not much. Same goes for me aswell I guess, everytime I say something aswell Mr Dicklick (Riddick) gets on my case too.

Oh hey Mr Homework, welcome back. BTW your problem Mr. Homework is you made an assumption. I didn't jump on your case about Spezza buying a house, You said FRisher and Phillips have roots in the community and have all bought houses in the area. How is Spezza different? Then you accused me of making the assumption you comment without doing your homework...... Well seeings you made it so nasty, I commended you on the homework you did before making the Naslund comment. Water under the bridge man, don't take it personally. New topic, past blogs stay in the past.

madjam I agree with you, ohlund is one of the top rated dmen in the league. but for some reason the east would never agree, because they can't see past the great lakes. I would not trade ohlund for spezza either, to much of a premadona for me. the canucks are great and proving every one wrong at every turn, this season, unlike the sens. when van and calgary are in the playoffs, and the sens are sitting on the golf course. then we out west will laugh the hardest. even think by the way T O is playing they will end with more points. lol but thats my opinion.

Cory Schneider was on fire in the preseason , and many felt he was going to be the next Luongo . Will he get any playing time now  that Luongo might be out for some time ?

I expect to see Cory Schneider make a start for us sometime next week. Remember the Canucks would like to showcase their Young talent, hoping to gain more interest in the hottest goalie in the AHL. Unless Stanford continues to win games and play the way he has his last 3 starts he could very well play till Lo is back.