The Tennessean and Ottawa newspapers have been floating rumors about interest
in Mike Dunham. Ottawa's general manager has already made two or three trips
to Nashville supposedly to examine Dunham in action. He told an Ottawa paper that
they are interested in a goaltender since newly acquired Tom Barrasso will
become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Patrick Lalime is being groomed
for the starting slot but is believed to still be a season or two away.
Mike Dunham has been an important part of the Predators success in year two. He
has shown consistency and has squashed thoughts of long term problems from two
previous groin injuries. If Nashville was to trade him they should receive something
significant in return.
In my opinion, certain things must happen before this prospective deal could go
through. Currently (April 6th) Barrasso is on the bench with a bruised finger.
Lalime has stepped up to the plate and registered a 4-0 shutout against division
leader Washington. If Lalime can continue to perform, especially into the playoffs
if necessary, Ottawa will have less incentive to acquire a goaltender.
However, if there is an early playoff exit the Sens will be looking to strengthen
their netminder position. Dunham would be a great choice since he is still a young
goaltender who has put up excellent numbers on an expansion team.
Why would Nashville want to give him up? Well, one theory is that Vokoun is a
better player, superior to Dunham, when he is assured the number one spot. Another
idea is that the cascade effect will bring Mason as a back-up and free up full time
duties in Milwaukee for ECHL star Jan Lasak. Nashville needs young and fast goal scorers
which Ottawa can provide in either Marian Hossa or Wade Redden.
Acquiring goaltender Mike Fountain would also be a good move as either an IHL or NHL
back-up. Draft picks or prospects would not be good compensation unless there is a
good quantity and quality of them.
If the Senators believe goaltending is a big weakness, a deal for Dunham would
likely occur after the expansion draft when they won't have to worry about
protecting a new acquisition and where Nashville is exempt from the draft. Poile
told the Tennessean that a trade involving either Dunham or Vokoun is still
two seasons away or more. Then again, he also said Nashville would not be
active at the trade deadline (see below).
Trade Deadline 2000
In the inaugural season, Nashville was fairly quiet at the trade deadline.
The only trade conducted was sending Blair Atcheynum back to
St Louis for a sixth round 2000 draft pick. Not so with year
two. Now that the dust has settled and the rosters have been locked in
until after the playoffs, we can see just how Nashville's
moves occurred.
The Boughner trade on Monday, March 13th set two other teams in motion which
eventually led to a second Nashville trade. GM David Poile
traded Boughner to Pittsburgh for one of their top prospects,
Pavel Skrbec. Nashville wanted to stock up on young talent
while Pittsburgh was looking for a player with grit for the
post season.
With the acquisition of Boughner, the Penguins considered D
Brad Werenka expendable. They shipped him off to Calgary for
G Tyler Moss and LW Rene Corbet. Pittsburgh liked Corbet's ability
to score timely goals in important games.
With the addition of Werenka and the loss of a good forward,
the Flames were willing to deal injured defenseman Cale Hulse
to Nashville for former scorer Sergei Krivokrasov. Nashville
gained a physical defenseman with more size and less age than
Boughner. The Predators didn't consider Krivokrasov as much
of a loss given his lack of goal scoring this season.