TSN Hockey Insiders Bob McKenzie, Pierre LeBrun and Darren Dreger gathered for the latest installment of Insider Trading and the topics discussed were the deal that sent Thomas Vanek to the Islanders, Rick DiPietros NHL future, the Dion Phaneuf contract negotiations and more. The Thomas Vanek trade to the Islanders was interesting enough, but even more intriguing is where Vanek could have gone. The Sabres did offer him to the Toronto Maple Leafs, but was the asking price too high? Darren Dreger: Yes. The Sabres were believed to be asking for a key forward from the Toronto Maple Leafs and financially the deal didnt work either, even though the Buffalo Sabres were willing to retain salary as they did in making the deal with the New York Islanders. Theyre believed to have retained somewhere between $1.3 and $1.4 million. It was not a fit for the Leafs, so the negotiation or conversation between Darcy Regier and Dave Nonis didnt take all that long. It was not a good fit from a player perspective, either, with Vanek being a winger. Pierre LeBrun: The other wrinkle that came out today from that deal was not only that the Islanders got Buffalo to eat some of the salary but also they got some protection on that first round pick that they sent to the Sabres, or at least perceived protection. If its a top-10 pick come June, they can defer for the Sabres to draft in 2015 instead, a decision that the Islanders can make at that draft. Who gets drafted in 2015? I think Connor McDavid … is that his name? Weve heard about him. So, really, to me, even if it is a top-10 pick for Garth Snow that hes giving away to the Sabres, I just dont know how you can defer that to 2015. James Duthie: Almost everybody wants to hold onto that pick, just in case theyre down there and, remember, every team that doesnt make the playoffs has a shot at that number one pick. What about Ryan Miller now? LeBrun: Hes the next big name that the Buffalo Sabres will move between now and the March 5 trade deadline, but right now theres just no real market. I spoke to Darcy Regier on Monday and he said that theres absolutely nothing going on that front right now. Thats going to change. At some point theres going to be a key injury to a top netminder or someones not going to play well, but right now that market is very soft. The team that I keep coming back to, guys, is the St. Louis Blues. I think if Jaroslav Halak - whos had a lot of injuries the last few years – gets hurt again or is not playing well, to me thats a perfect fit. But, right now Jaroslav Halak has been absolutely spectacular for the St. Louis Blues so right now theres no plan to change anything there. Meanwhile, another goalie is trying to get back to the NHL. Rick DiPietro got the second largest buyout in NHL history, $24 million. Hell never see that kind of money again, but will he get another shot in the NHL? Bob McKenzie: Its a possibility. The Carolina Hurricanes are having problems in net. Obviously, Cam Ward is out for the next few weeks with an injury and Anton Khudobin is out for at least another week. So, they signed DiPietro to an AHL tryout contract on the weekend and whats going to happen now is that they want to see him in action. On Wednesday and Thursday night, DiPietro is scheduled to play for the Charlotte Checkers in the American Hockey league, on the road in Grand Rapids and Rockford. How he performs in those games, coupled with how Justin Peters plays for the Hurricanes in their next game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night will determine how quickly or if Rick DiPietro can get back up. If he has two games where hes really good in the American Hockey League and Peters stumbles at all, then the Hurricanes would look at putting DiPietro on an NHL contract. Theyre doing the same thing with Manny Malhotra, but they would probably need an injury before they could open up a roster spot for him. Five of the Montreal Canadiens six top defencemen will be without a contract at the end of this season. So, what is Marc Bergevins game plan? McKenzie: The high profile guys are obviously P.K. Subban, the one restricted free agent and then youve got Andrei Markov, Raphael Diaz, Francis Bouillon and Alexei Emelin. It might surprise some people that Emelin of that group - whos not even in the line-up, hes out with an ACL injury and probably wont be back until Christmas or later – is the guy thats probably first up and most likely to get a deal done in the next little while. Nothings done to this point, but the conversations are headed in that direction and it could get done fairly soon. Everybodys talking about Dion Phaneuf in Toronto. What are we looking at, in terms of size of that contract and length? LeBrun: First of all, no numbers have been exchanged between the two sides. They had a brief meeting last week, just to sort of set up the timetable over the next month. I dont think the Leafs are comfortable going north of $7 million, hes making $6.5 million this year, but the term will be interesting. I would suspect that Newport Sports Management would start at eight years and that the Leafs would be more comfortable at six and at some point youve got to find the middle. Two months from now, Canada will be in the midst of group play at the World Junior Hockey Championship in Sweden. Are we likely to see Sean Monahan, Morgan Rielly, Mathew Dumba and guys like that making the trip? Dreger: It all depends on the flexibility that Hockey Canada presents. Its been strong policy that all players invited to training camp need to be there at the start of camp on Dec. 13, but theres policy in place that could be changed by the policy committee so that those NHL players like Monahan, Rielly, Dumba or Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson could come in late, perhaps as late in certain situations as the exhibition run in late December. Uchenna Nwosu Jersey . It was the most lopsided loss in Lakers history. Darren Collison had a team-high 24 points while starting at shooting guard for the injured Jamal Crawford. Chris Paul added 13 points and 11 assists for the Clippers, who apparently are trying to make up for decades of humiliation at the hands of the Lakers all in one season; theyve won the last two meetings by a combined 84 points. 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The Raptors, who have auditioned dozens of players over the past couple of weeks, have the 20th overall pick in the first round, as well as the 37th and 58th picks in the second.Each week, The Three-Man Weave will fill the lanes and Weave To Achieve on the News, Views and Truths of the NBA and beyond. The unit will be led by Will Strickland and Duane Watson, hosts of TSN 1050s basketball radio show, 1 On 1 with Will & Duane. This week, the first overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Toronto native and Cleveland Cavaliers forward Anthony Bennett joins the discussion, where The #3MW discusses the Raptors looking to win their first playoff series in over a decade, Commissioner Adam Silvers ruling on Donald Sterling and of course the NBA Playoffs. What Do The Raptors Have To Do To Win Game 6 in Brooklyn? Bennett: Its good to see the Raptors back in the playoffs and have the whole city of Toronto behind them. Brooklyn is a tough and experienced team. I think the Raptors will have to limit turnovers, rebound efficiently and contain Deron Williams and Joe Johnson. Watson: Defense, defense, defense. If the Raptors can muster up that defense presence they used at the end of Game 4, the game is theirs. The quick double-teams on scorers like Joe Johnson and more importantly the second man rotations, have proven to limit the Nets opportunities. problems. Offensively, they have to continue to move the ball and use their size to their advantage with the solid play of their big men of Jonas Valanciunas, Amir Johnson and Patrick Patterson. Strickland: Protect The Pumpkin. Value Every Possession On Both Ends. Win Every Quarter By One Point. Be Not Afraid Of The Moment. Then And Only Then Will The World Unfold As It Should... #WeTheNorthNBA Commissioner Adam Silvers Lifetime Ban Of Clippers Owner Donald Sterling Was...? Bennett: The Commissioners lifetime ban of Donald Sterling was very fitting. The NBA is a very diverse league with players from all over the world. The league continues to grow and it is my belief that this ban will help to grow the NBA. Watson: Swift and fair. Knowing the past pandering of former Commissioner David Stern, the league office has been known to favour its owners. Commissioner Silver unequivocally established himself as his own man in the most important decision of his young tenure. He did exactly what he was supposed to do, but truth be told, I was a little surprised that he did it, based on the history of the league. Strickland: Adroit and Resolute. It was far more than Id initially expected, but Silvers playing the long game. Any equivocation outside of Sterlings expulsion from the league as an owner would have possibly done irreparable damage to the NBA... and he and the other 29 owners knew it. Silver officially became the Commissioner of the NBA once he planted this flag. It will be a defining moment in his legacy. Adam Silvers decision didnt end racism in sports, ownership or the world. But it did set a very important precedent and protocol in dealing with issues like this in sport. Most Surprising Player In The Eastern Conference Playoffs Thus Far? Bennett: The most surprising player in the East hasnt been a surprise to me because I have played against him in Las Vegas, but it would have to be Kyle Lowry. He is just incredible for what he brings to the game for his size. Watson: Washington Wizards big man Nene missed 22 games down the stretch of the season with a sprained MCL and only played in four regular season matches before the post-season. He not only came back averaging 17.8 points per game in the playoffs on .548 % from the field, spacing the floor, but outplayed Defensive Plaayer of the Year Joakim Noah.dddddddddddd In his 11th season, hes showing he still has it and is a perfect compliment to the the speed and shooting of the Wizards wings in John Wall, Bradley Beal and Trevor Ariza. Strickland: Nene, easily. The talents always been there. Sounds a little oxymoronic to say "Wizards fans", but... They should revel in the fact that Nenes finally put it all together when it counted most, destroying the 2013-2014 Defensive Player of The Year, Joakim Noah. He must also not become a #BrainCrampChamp during the playoffs by getting ejected/suspended for working on his MMA skills during NBA games! Most Surprising Player In The Western Conference Playoffs Thus Far? Bennett: In the West, it would have to be Damian Lillard. Scary that this is the first go around in the NBA Playoffs and he looks like hes been there for years. Watson: LaMarcus Aldridge of the Trail Blazers has been in discussion as one of the best power forwards in the NBA, but he is ending those talks with his post season play right now. The power forward is averaging 29.8 points per game with 10.8 rebounds, carrying his team on his back. His ability to consistently knock down the mid-range jumper at a clip of .500% has forced the Houston big men to come out and contest him or get beat off the dribble. He has shown another level to his game, particularly when it matters. Strickland: La Marcus Aldridge. He felt like he should have started in the All-Star this past season and hes proving why he should be considered without question one of the best players in the NBA, if not the best power forward in the game. 30 ppg and 11 rpg are monster numbers that can only aid this young Portland Trail Blazers team in securing a first round defeat of the highly touted Houston Rockets of James Harden and Dwight Howard. Aldridge can have those guys reaching for the tackleboxes early to start their summers of lament and woe with a legendary Game 7 performance. The 2014-2015 Anthony Bennett Will Be...? Bennett: Next season, I will finally be a healthy me again who gets to play in summer league and contribute to my teams success in the regular season and we will hopefully be in the playoffs next year.Watson: Whatever he wants himself to be. The Toronto, ON native faced intense criticism last year after recovering from shoulder surgery, which forced him to miss summer league and parts of training camp. He wont have those obstacles this year, which should all help his growth, he showed flashes of the talent that earned him the #1 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft and has tons of motivation to prove all of his critics wrong. Look for Bennett to bounce back. Strickland: A Year Better. A Year Stronger. A Year Wiser. Bennett, who I chose as Rookie Of The Year in our Pre-Season #UNO Awards on #1On1, fell far short of that lofty goal. It was a difficult year of ridicule, doubt, injury, second-guessing and hand wringing for Cavs fans and media pundits. Bramptons very own Anthony Bennett should shed the weight of expectation and go into training camp next season armed with knowledge of the effort it takes to be a top flight NBA player and work to achieve all of his goals and not ours. The Three-Man Weave contributors are co-hosts of TSN Radio 1050s 1-on-1 with Will and Duane, Will Strickland (@WallStrizzle1) and Duane Watson (@byDuaneWatson) and special guest 68", 250 lb Weave Achiever, Cleveland Cavaliers SF Anthony Bennett (@AnthonyBennett) Cheap Warriors JerseysAuthentic Cavaliers JerseysCheap Spurs StoreCeltics Jerseys OnlineCheap Bulls JerseysCheap Nets JerseysCheap Thunder JerseysCheap 76ers JerseysCheap Knicks JerseysWholesale Raptors JerseysCyber Monday Pistons JerseysWholesale Team USA Basketball JerseysCheap Celtics JerseysCheap Nets JerseysCheap Knicks JerseysCheap 76ers JerseysRaptors Jerseys From ChinaCheap Bulls JerseysCavaliers Jerseys From ChinaWholesale Pistons JerseysBucks Jerseys From ChinaPacers Jerseys OutletAuthentic Hawks JerseysCheap Hornets JerseysCheap Heat JerseysCheap Magic JerseysAuthentic Wizards JerseysCheap Nuggets JerseysTimberwolves Jerseys OutletWholesale Thunder JerseysCheap Blazers JerseysCheap Jazz JerseysDiscount Warriors JerseysWholesale Clippers JerseysWholesale Lakers JerseysCheap Suns JerseysCheap Kings JerseysDiscount Mavericks JerseysAuthentic Rockets JerseysDiscount Grizzlies JerseysCheap Pelicans JerseysSpurs Jerseys From China ' ' '