OTHL -- Interesting times in the OTHL right now. The first ever all-star game is just days away, and then we have the strech run down towards the playoffs. And in 20 days the trading deadline comes into effect, a deadline that is promising to be very interesting and active. As the $50 million dollar cap will become a reality at the same time as the deadline closes. And right now six teams in the league are just above the cap with more then a handful other teams just hovering below it. So if you are waiting for the playoffs, just to get excited over the OTHL, then you will get your moneys worth early.
In the east the New Jersey Devils are trying to make a run for the Presidents Trophy, but the Panthers and Boston are still putting up a fight for the trophy that nobody really wants. But the real interesting battle starts at 4th place and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs are just 1 point clear of the Penguins and 3 points ahead of the 6th placed Philadelphia Flyers. And from Philadelphia, its just 4 points down to 9th placed Montreal, a team that is tied with Buffalo. Right now 10 teams are fighting for 8 playoff places in the east. With the Thrashers still trying to get into the picture, despite a 7 point gap up to Buffalo. The Thrashers are a story of there own, adding top names like Pronger and Iginla. Just to see there season slip away at the same time. Atlanta had hopes of a cup run with there top name additions, but a Carolina esque plunge has put them in no-mans land in the east.
But, and it is a big but. 5 of the 6 teams that are above the $50 million dollar cap at the moment, are all playing in the east and are all among the ten teams that are fighting for the playoffs. So while the hope is slim, there is still hope for the Thrashers and the two New York teams that are still in with a shout. If they can find a massive winning streak, and get some luck with the above placed teams and there games.
In the west only the Detroit Red Wings are above the cap while top placed Colorado are under it by a couple of millions. And while the west is the weaker conference, the playoff race is not any less exciting then the one in the east. Insted, the race might be even more interesting in the west, as 2nd placed Phoenix are only 10 points ahead of 10th placed Dallas. And around the last playoff spot the heat is on with 7 teams within 4 points. Out in the west, only 33 point St Louis are out of the picture, while the rest of the teams are all in with a shot at the post-season.
So in the next couple of weeks, you can expect a lot of action in the OTHL both on the trade front and in the standings.