I got this off of the Stars web blog from one of the announcers and i was wondering if any of you guys saw this as a feasible future endeavor for Dallas



With Forsberg traded/rented to Nashville and others like Tkachuk, Guerin and Brewer sure to follow, it brings to mind the governances of this annual garage sale and loaner car auction.

One thing to keep in mind is that last year a player who was bought out by a club couldn't be resigned or traded back to that club for one year. It was a rule that was meant to keep teams from getting under the cap by buying out a player then resigning him to a lower salary. Its believed that rule was just for the one year coming out of the lockout, therefore the potential of a Bill Guerin back to Dallas trade is a feasible one. (How likely? Anyone’s guess)

To me, a similar rule to the lockout year should be adopted for players traded in the final say, two and a half months of the end of the season during the last year of their existing contract. That way the league would look less "garage" and deals like Doug Weight and Mark Recchi to Carolina last spring would have a different ending. A team and the individual couldn't forge these "nudge, nudge, wink, wink" deals that look and smell like mercenary employment. You trade a player under the afore mentioned circumstances, you have to keep your mitts off him for 12 months.

Its ironic that this practice is currently allowed and thriving while the ability to make a "hockey trade" has been made infinitely more difficult because of the new CBA's rule that a team can't retain money in a deal. For example, say the Stars wanted to trade for former captain Derian Hatcher. They would have to absorb his entire $3.5 (approx.) million salary for next season, and with that comes the cap implications, etc. The Flyers couldn't pay any of Hatchers salary like they would have been allowed under the old CBA and therefore Derian is tough to move.

There are reports that Anaheim GM Brian Burke is spearheading efforts to get that amended. I hope he and others succeed.

But no word on curtailing veteran player "swinging" near the deadline anytime soon.

I hear they are talking about a few changes like the instigator rule and 3 pts for a regulation win, both of which are good ideas. I haven't heard anything about this trading situation but it is a good idea. It is crazy that a team can do what Carolina did last year and get 2 very good veterans for a playoff run and then have those players re-sign with their old team in the summer.