Well, two weeks after the trade deadline and it's time to take stock of the last minute wheeling and dealing. The biggest deal of the day had to be Phoenix moving Keith Tkachuk to the Blues. Obviously, Blues GM Larry Pleau was tired of watching the opposing teams in the conference getting better and pulled the trigger on a blockbuster. The Capitals/Canadiens deal was a biggie – helping both teams in our view. The Calgary Flames trading Cory Stillman for Craig Conroy still has us scratching our heads.

But perhaps the bigger news was the names that did not move. No Lindros, no Peca, and no Roenick. In this article, we analyze why.

Philadelphia: Well…the first place to point a finger and wonder why no trade for the Big E was made at the deadline is squarely at Lindros himself. His camp's reportedly ridiculous demand for a four year, 30 million dollar deal - with this year being one of the years at full salary - is simply ludicrous. But, it's what we have come to expect from the Lindros folks. When Eric does pull on another NHL jersey he could play ten years or ten minutes; it is literally a crapshoot. No doctor worth his salt is going to guarantee that when – and not if – Lindros takes another blow to the noggin, it won’t be the one that puts him out of hockey for good.

No NHL team is going to give up blue-chip prospects in the hope of Lindros being the player he once was.

Which leads us to the second finger to be pointed – and that’s at Bobby Clarke. Kudos to him for not giving in to the Lindros clan and trading the Big E as requested (and most likely, demanded, behind closed doors), but also boo on Clarke for getting nothing this year to help this team win. Yes they have played well, despite the distractions, but how much more can the players stomach before they simply melt down. Lindros has been an albatross around their neck, and so far they have been able to handle the pressure, but having Lindros still lingering and no player help to replace him, must be almost too much for the players and coaching staff to bear. If the team fades in the playoffs, the blame falls squarely on Bobby Clarke. Clarke’s penchant for moving the goal posts when teams did come a-callin' for Lindros merely scared teams away, rather than help to drive up the price. All in all – a bad situation was made worse with Lindros not moving. Lindros will be traded in the summer, but that will be too late to help this year’s version of the Flyers.

Fantasy Impact: If you have the guy and waited for him to come back…well…you are stuck. If you dealt the Big E, pursuant to our advice, you likely did quite well for yourself. Toast your good fortune and sympathize with the poor schlock that you dealt him to.

Buffalo: Simply said – the asking price for a potential gritty 20 goals guy was too high. Reports are that Buffalo GM Darcy Regier wanted a bona fide NHL'er and a blue chip prospect for Peca – and then the receiving team would have to sign him. Kudos to Regier for telling Peca’s agent Don Meehan to go get stuffed and that Peca would play for the Sabres or he will not play at all. We told you two weeks ago, that our insider reports have this being a far bigger battle than between player and team; more a case of NHL versus NHLPA. Rumors still abound that the Player's Association is urging Meehan and Peca to stay put until they get their $4 million per, because that will establish a new benchmark for all 20 goal guys – a figure that most teams simply would not be able to afford (definitely not in Canada). For Peca we have to wonder about his own commitment to his team. This will be the third time that he will have played chicken with Sabres management – and it looks as though the ownership is digging in. If Peca does get moved, it will be for a bunch of bona fide prospects in the off season – but you just never know. Come September, Peca could find himself right back in the same scenario.

Fantasy Impact: Actually, not having to pay Peca for this year allowed the Sabres to save some dough and rent Donald Audette and Steve Heinze for the playoff run. Expect Heinze to keep banging and shoveling in goals but Audette’s numbers will drop on the defense-first Sabres. As well, Audette won’t see as much ice time as Ruff is a fan of rolling all four lines.

Phoenix: This one is not that hard to understand. On the one hand they moved Tkachuk – a talent, making a lot of money, in an end loaded contract. However, with that comes the almost cyclical ritual where Tkachuk pouts and complains about his contract, or his endorsement deals, or his lack of ice in his drinks…you get the picture. This is a case of a new ownership team cutting salary, building for the future and adding via subtraction. On the other hand is the playoffs – if the Coyotes can make it. We think Fletcher would have loved to move Roenick, but the simple fact the ‘Yotes are holding down the 8^th and final playoff spot means more dough for the new owners – at least two home playoff dates – and that’s pretty much clear profit which they are in need of. Trading Tkachuk would have meant they were throwing in the towel on this season. A bad image to their fans, their players and their bankers.

Fantasy Impact: Look for JR to do his best, despite Tkachuk’s absence, to ensure that his effort sustains –  along with his numbers – as he tries to squeeze every penny he can for likely his last hockey contract.