Much like last year, CLS thought it would be best to poll some of our favorite team-specific bloggers and ask, "What would you do if you were your team's general manager?"

With the deadline approaching on Wednesday, these posts will be updated up until early Wednesday afternoon so keep an eye on the blog during that time. Feel free to tell us what you would do if you were the GM in the comments.

(And, as always, thanks to our contributors.)

Click read more for some great hockey writing ...

(Jump)

Tampa Bay Lightning

John Fontana from Raw Charge:

First off, if I had been GM the coaching situation would not have been further muddied during the Olympic break... But we're not talking about coaching here, we're talking about the roster.

And yet the roster and the trade deadline is going to be effected bycoaching and what strengths and weaknesses Rick Tocchet covets. The Lightning need a scoring wing and yet Tocchet would probably press any acquired goal-scorer or forward depth to play like a grinder to adhere to his "dog the puck" hockey-mutt philosophy.

But to get back to the point: As GM: Anything I'd be looking at in trade acquisition would be a long term cog at any position (on wing and on the blue line). A young player who can grow with the team. Not a rent-a-player to make the playoffs. I'm also not going to disasemble the team either to "get young" and throw in the towel on the season. It's a hunt for the right pieces, and I'd be content to stand pat if the right offer didn't fall into my lap.

Alex Tanguay would indeed be on the block (as some people have inquired about him and think he may fit), but again: I'd be content to keep him unless the deal wows me.

Every Waddell photo is pure comedy

Atlanta Thrashers

Laura/hildymac from Thrashing the Blues, many other hockey endeavors:

The Thrashers will be active at the deadline.  At least that's what we've been told by web guru/Twitter guy Ben Wright.  Now, whether this is a selling or a buying active remains to be seen.  Don Waddell has some decisions to make that, as usual, I kind of pity him for.  The Thrash are just barely out of a playoff spot, and could benefit from getting some prime talent to push them over that edge.  They also have quite a few UFAs who may or may not re-sign, two of which we will need if we want to succeed.

Waddell and Kubina both gave statements to Chris Vivlamore of the AJC regarding their situation.  Kubina gave the standard answer - focused on playoffs, one thing at a time, enjoys the city, etc.  Thrashers fans have heard it before from Kovy and Hossa, but without that one special word - "playoffs."  Expect Kubina to not waive his NTC .  The Thrashers need him on the blueline if we'd like to win a game in the playoffs, and I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that we do.  As to whether or not he re-ups with us, that'll be seen in the summer.  Atlanta can give him a sizeable raise and still be ok now that the potential $101 million weight's gone.

Offensively it'll be tough to lose Max Afinogenov.  He has cooled down of late, but his early season output is still waiting to come back.  If it does depends on line placement - preferably not with checkers like Armstrong and Reasoner - misuse will drive him away.  He'll expect a raise over his $800,000 salary, and again we can afford it, but the playoffs and line placement'll decide it for him.  If he's gone, we have to replace his offense with a top 6 player somewhere along the way.

See?

Personally, I'm all about the Thrashers making a serious play for Alexei Ponikarovsky.  His best bud Antropov is here for three more seasons (and seems to enjoy it, for what that's worth).  Burke's bandied about that the asking price is a 3rd line guy and a 2nd round pick.  Well, we managed to get an extra first rounder, and Armstrong is in VERY high demand league wide.  If we can talk to Poni's agent before the trade and secure something (big if, and probably a no), then Army and a 1st for a signed Poni would be fairly fair.  Too much?  In case you don't read my blog (shameless plug), I'm not a huge Armstrong fan, as far as him being a player this year.  He's been very unproductive, and very slow.  He'd fit pretty well into Burke's system, and quite frankly I would consider him for Poni straight up to be a deal, despite the fact that Poni's a UFA.  If Waddell wants to be a buyer, we're going to have to give some stuff to get what we need to push us into the playoffs.  Poni's a bigger asset than Armstrong.

Slava's gone, if DW can find a taker, probably for some later picks.  It's sad to see Kozzie go because he's been such an important part of the team for 8 seasons, but I guess it's time.  Anderson's sat him too much recently, because he's movable and Todd White isn't, plain and simple.

Defensively, I'd be shocked if anyone moved other than Kubina, and I'd be mildly surprised if he went too.  Goaltending wise, well, we already dumped our albatross onto Dallas - have fun with 'Splodey Groin.  Pavs is the new Goalie Of Tomorrow™ and I remember catching something somewhere (must must find it) about an extension being in the works for Hedberg.  God knows he deserves it after this season, and he's always been a good mentor to the kids.  He's too old to really go anywhere, and we don't need to lose our best locker room guy and the only goalie with playoff experience.

If Waddell tells us we'll be active, then we'll be active.  Actively what, who knows, but his track record of late has improved dramatically (still think that the Kovy deal was a great one, b/c he'll walk away from Jersey anyway, and dumping Christensen for O'Dell was hysterical).  At least this trade deadline we won't be sitting on pins and needles to see how much we'll get for our stars.  We'll just have to wait to see how much we'll spend for a few.

***

Washington Capitals

Krafty from new bloguin Caps blog RocktheRed.net:

One area the Caps have not been able to shore up is adding a pure Defensive player, one who is effective in puck-movement, blocking, hitting, and speed. Sure, Washington’s defensive roster seems bottomless, but it is filled with youth (Karl Alzner, Tyler Sloan), penalty prone members (Shaone Morrison, Mike Green), and little offensive upside (John Erskine). While there are several viable options available on the market, some would not be a long term option due to age (Scott Niedermayer, the return of Sergei Gonchar), overpaying for offensive abilities that are already filled by Green and Brian Pothier (Cam Barker), or would not be a visible upgrade (Andrew Ference, Chris Campoli). That being said if I were able to suggest a player to McPhee it would have to be Anton Volchenkov, who carries a pretty price tag for his hitting and shot-blocking abilities, but is worth every penny. At 27, the current Senator would fit in nicely as a long-term stay-at-home defenceman for the Capitals. Although The Capitals might have to pinch some pennies to make Volchenkov’s potential bidding-war friendly salary fit, they would have more room next season as Pothier, Morrisonn, and Jose Theodore are all defensive unrestricted free agents, and have the potential to come off the books.

The one major flaw in acquiring Volchenkov, however, is the Senators current top seed in the Northeast Division. A team that is equally as hot as the Capitals, and primed for a deep playoff run, might not be interested in moving their prized blueliner. Other d-men on the market that could fill this role include Barrett Jackman of the St. Louis Blues or Dan Hamhuis of the Nashville Predators. Both players can the player pass the puck, spark the transition game, create plays while backstopping the blueline and, even better, will come at a cheaper price than Volchenkov.

I would also like to see George McPhee strengthen the roster at center. While one of the top catalysts of a long playoff run, I don't see the Capitals having a sure-fire point man beyond Nick Backstrom.  Especially with Backstrom heading to the locker room with his history of migranes, the Caps need another man on the dot with more of an offensive upswing than Dave Steckle, Brendan Morrison, and Boyd Gordon.

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