February 22, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Brian Campbell (51) skates on the ice before playing the Pittsburgh Penguins at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Pittsburgh Penguins won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

As we approach the April 3rd trade deadline, rumors of all shapes and sizes find their way onto the internet. Some have more credence than others but all are fun to speculate on. The recent news that the Panthers are willing to trade any player not named Erik Gudbranson, Jonathan Huberdeau, Drew Shore or Jacob Markstrom, has led to much speculation about which players exactly will be moved.

The latest name to pop up in rumorville is Brian Campbell. You can read the rumors here and here. In terms of cold hard fact, there is not much there but it is still worth taking a look at whether the Panthers would really trade Brian Campbell.

Why Florida Doesn’t Move Campbell:

• His Contract: Brian Campbell is signed with the Panthers through the 2015-16 season and he will make $7,142,875 per year. For any team to trade for Campbell they would not only have to give up some talented players but would also need to have a very flexible salary cap situation. I do not think that there are a lot of teams out there willing to add another $7 million to their payroll at the deadline. Campbell also has a no trade clause which he could exercise if he does not approve of any trade the Panthers come up with.
• Florida Panthers asking price: We have seen how a trade can stall when a team has an asking price for a player that other teams in the league are reluctant to meet (ahem.. Roberto Luongo). Could this occur with the Panthers and Dale Tallon? One factor again would be Campbell’s contract. Teams would already feel like they are doing Florida a favor by taking the $7 million per year off the teams’ hands and they might be reticent to give up the kind of talent Florida would be asking for in addition to taking on the big cap hit.
• Dale Tallon-Brian Campbell Bromance: Could Dale Tallon really trade Brian Campbell? When Campbell signed his 8 year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, with Dale Tallon as the GM, it was reportedly for less money than he could have received elsewhere. When Tallon traded for Campbell as the GM of the Panthers before the 11-12 season, the Panthers were not on the list of 8 teams Campbell had that he would be willing to waive his no-trade clause for. He waived his no trade clause anyway, was reunited by Dale Tallon and the rest is history. While they may not be at the point where they have their own celebrity couple name (Tambell anyone?) it is clear that Campbell likes playing for Dale Tallon run teams and Tallon likes having Cambell on his teams. That may not be reason enough not to trade Campbell but it could be a factor.

Why Florida Does Move Campbell:

February 21, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Florida Panthers center Tomas Kopecky (82) celebrates his goal with teammates defenseman Mike Weaver (43) and defenseman Brian Campbell (51) against the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

• His contract: Campbell’s contract works in both directions. While many teams would not love the idea of taking on a $7 million cap hit, the Panthers would probably be pretty excited about shaving a cool $7 million from their payroll. Campbell is a very good player and could very well be worth the money but if the Panthers are serious about possibly trading him, one of the reason they would go through with a trade would be to save some money that they could spend elsewhere.
• Florida’s miserable season: The Panthers have been terrible this year. Yes they have been devastated by injury but even before the injuries they were playing terrible. After the success of Florida’s 11-12 season, many thought the team would continue to improve or at least play at the same level again this year. Well that hasn’t happened, the other shoe dropped and the cruel truth is the Panthers still have a ways to go to get back to respectability and franchise stability. While I personally believe that Brian Campbell is part of the solution, I can see how the teams struggles this year may convince the team to move him.
• Campbell may be a bad fit for the Panthers: I know I can hardly believe I just wrote such blasphemy, but when you think about it, maybe there is some truth to that statement. If you think about Campbell’s style of play does it really mesh with what the Panthers need right now? Campbell is a defenseman but more than that he is an offensive quarterback who happens to play defense. Right now Campbell ranks dead last in the NHL in plus minus at -18. While that stat probably has to do with the fact the he logs the most minutes on a team with porous goaltending that has given up a league high 110 goals, it also can lead one to question whether the Panthers are more in need of a lock down defenseman than a player who is giving just as much if not more thought to the offensive end of things. Again, I would prefer it if Campbell stays in Florida but I could see how the Panthers organization could start to question if they might be better off moving Campbell.

So What Happens?

I think the Florida Panthers will not trade Brian Campbell at the deadline. I honestly do not believe that the team is sincerely trying to move him, the rumors may be just that, rumors. I believe that the Panthers’ see Campbell as a big part of the team going forward and I think that when some more of Florida’s young talent makes it to the NHL and starts making an impact we will see Campbell become a much better fit. Even if the team wants to trade Campbell I do not see them getting an offer they like or any teams willing to take on his unruly contract. Having said all that, if a team steps up and makes a killer offer for Campbell I think the Panthers would go through with it, hard as it might be to split up Tambell.

Jan. 16, 2012: Sunrise, FL, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Milan Lucic (17) and Florida Panthers defenseman Brian Campbell (51) both battle a loose puck against he \boards during the first period at the BankAtlantic Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

Do you know the saying, “Defense wins championships.”? Well for the most part that quote is as true as they come. Year in and year out, teams rely on their defense to help carry them on the long path to success. At the end of the day, only one team can say that they’ve had the best season in the league and normally, they turn to their defense and thank them for what they have to put their body through throughout the length of a season and for their sacrifice displayed in order to win.

The Southeast Division has a great balance of offensive players, defensive players, and goalies. The division is filled with both young talent and experienced veterans. On Tuesday I did an article about the top five offensive players in the division. With that being said it is only fair that I show the defense some love, so, here we’re going to take a look at who I believe are the top five defenders in the Southeast Division.

Number 5-Zach Bogosian, Winnipeg Jets

Dec 09, 2011; Winnipeg, MB, CANADA; Winnipeg Jets defenseman Zach Bogosian (4) checks Carolina Hurricanes forward Jiri Tlusty (19) into the boards during the first period at the MTS Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-US PRESSWIRE

When Zach Bogosian was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers (now Winnipeg Jets), the expectations were through the roof. At just 18 years old, Bogosian was given an entry level contract with the team and was put in the starting lineup on opening day. On opening night, Bogosian became the youngest player to play for the Atlanta Thrashers at 18 years and 87 days. An immense amount of pressure was put on Bogosian quickly. However, a lot of eyes slowly came off of Zach as he broke his leg just eight games into the season. The next two seasons Bogosian was bothered by multiple injuries. Although he was injured for the most part of the 09-10 season, he only missed one game. The 10-11 season was a bit different as Bogosian missed a total of 10 games. Prior to last season, Zach resigned with the Jets. The contract was for two years and was worth five millions dollars. Although missing significant time last season, Bogosian proved his worth while he was on the ice. In the 65 games he played last year, he set career highs for assist (25) and points in a season (30). It is no secret that injuries have definitely held Bogosian back from his full potential. However, if he could remain healthy this year, Bogosian is in line to have a tremendous year.

Number 4-John Carlson, Washington Capitals

When the Capitals took Carlson 27^th overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, they had hopes that he can be a key part in what was already an average, but rebuilding defense. After spending some time in the NHL, it didn’t take long for Carlson to fit in. In just his second season with the Capitals, and his first full season with the team, Carlson was able to make the All-Star team. With the future already looking bright for Carlson, he returned in his second full season Carlson not only had almost identical numbers, but he also improved his defense and cut down his penalty minutes in half. Entering his third full season with the Caps, Carlson should finally have a breakout season. The past few years for John have definitely been good ones, and now the much more mature Carlson will look to take this defense by storm.

Number 3-Matt Carle, Tampa Bay Lightning

After being traded by the Tampa Bay Lightning just 12 games into his tenure with them, Matt Carle has been displaying his talents for the Philadelphia Flyers. For the past four years, Carle has been dominating, not only offensively, but defensively as well.  During his time with the Flyers, Carle has been showing off his offensive skills and the ability to dish the puck to his teammates in order for them to score goals. Over the past four years, he has accounted for 122 assists. This past offseason many teams wanted the services of Carle. Many teams lobbied to get him on their squad, however, the Lightning were the lucky ones to win his services. Carle hopes that his time with Tampa will be a little bit different than the last one and with a newly signed six year contract worth 33 million dollars; I don’t think that Carle will be going anywhere anytime soon.

Number 2-Mike Green, Washington Capitals

February 20, 2012; Raleigh, NC, USA; Washington Capitals defensemen Mike Green (52) against the Carolina Hurricanes at the RBC center. The Hurricanes defeated the Capitals 5-0. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-US PRESSWIRE

Every year when a team drafts a player, they hope they can turn around and be a great one. Although it is not easy to find the great ones, the Capitals drafted a good one with Green. It took a couple of years for Green to fully develop, but when he did, he was one of the best defenders in the league. During the 08-09 season, Green missed a total of 14 games. That is certainly a lot of games; however, despite missing 14 games, he still was able to score a total of 73 points. After a fantastic season, he was nominated to the All-Star game. The next season was just as good for Green. He not only played in seven more games, he also improved his point total as he reached a career high for point total in a season at 76. Unfortunately for Green and Washington, Green has missed a ton of games of the past two seasons. During the last two years, he missed a total of 83 games. His absence has certainly showed on the ice as the Capitals are still having struggles in the playoffs as they lost yet again in the Conference Semifinals for the third time in the last four years. If Green can find a way to stay healthy, he could easily return to being one of the best defenders in the league.

Number 1-Brian Campbell, Florida Panthers

If you were a general manager and needed a defender on your team, Brian Campell is normally a really good fit for your team. Although his contract might be on the pricey side, Campbell is definitely worth it. Campbell is basically the complete package; he’ll contribute offensively, play great defense, stay on the ice, and importantly, won’t commit any stupid penalties. In fact, last year Campbell led both the Panthers and the league in certain categories. When it came to assist, Campbell led the Florida Panthers with 49 of them. When it came to average time on the ice, Campbell led the league, and in the 82 games that Campbell played last year, he only had to be sat down by the refs for a total of six minutes. Campbell was also key in the Panthers capturing their first ever division title and without Campbell on this team, who knows where our defense and offense would’ve been at. Brian Campbell is not only one of the most complete defenders in the division; he is one of the most complete defenders in the National Hockey League.

So there you have it, my list of the top five defensive players in the Southeast division. I would love to see who you guys think should’ve either have been taking off this list or should’ve made this list.

Thanks For Reading!

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Apr 21, 2012; Sunrise, FL, USA; Florida Panthers head coach Kevin Dineen during the third period against the New Jersey Devils in game five of the 2012 Eastern Conference quarterfinals at BankAtlantic Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-US PRESSWIRE

Fans of the EA Sports NHL franchise have grown accustomed to enjoying new improvements to each game, year by year.  Whether there is new game modes one year or enhanced player models the next year or even more animations the year after that, it seems like EA Sports makes it their duty to continuously improve their NHL simulation until their game is as close to the real thing as it can get.

Unfortunately, yet again EA Sports has apparently overlooked the team closest to my heart, the Florida Panthers.  For yet another year, EA has pretty much screwed the Panthers within their own game.  This year, it has to do with the player ratings, but it hasn’t been limited to that in recent years.

Consider last year’s game, NHL 12.  The Panthers’ uniforms looked like an absolute joke.  For some reason beyond me, the numbers, letters, and logos were all too small.  How small?  This small.  Compared to teams like the Rangers, Bruins, or even the Jets (whose uniforms were released later than the Panthers’), our jerseys looked flat-out ridiculous.  All the little numbers just ate at my head until I could no longer play the game as my favorite team.

This year, hopefully EA got the uniforms right.  But they already screwed up the player ratings.  Case in point was the absolute snubbing of two different players: Brian Campbell and Jose Theodore.  Brian Campbell last year was tied for second in the league for scoring by defensemen, with 53 points.  He was given a measly 83 overall rating.  Players with a better rating?  Zach Bogosian, Adam Larsson, Fedor Tyutin, Nick Schultz, Ian White.  Huh?

Another example is Jose Theodore.  With a .917 save percentage and a 2,46 GAA, Theodore had a very above-average year for an NHL goalie.  His NHL 13 rating is only 78.  Roberto Luongo, with very similar statistics last year while simultaneously losing his starting job to Cory Schneider as the season wore on, is ranked an 89.  Where is the justice?

There could be some sort of conspiracy afoot, where EA makes the Panthers terrible so the average player can go against the Rangers and Penguins and Bruins in the playoffs.  There could also be a programmer for the game who is the biggest Capitals fan in the world, and nobody checks him.  Or maybe nobody even looked to see how much the Panthers improved from two years ago to now, and assumed the team was still one of the bottom-feeders of the East.  These are the only reasons I can think of as to why we get shafted so much by EA Sports.  Add these injuries to suspect AI, poor game modes, too frequent one-time goals, and constant freezing of the screen, and I’m just about done with EA Sports and their NHL franchise.

Thanks for reading!  Be sure to comment!

Follow the Rat Pack on Twitter: me @GreatScottsman, Frank Rekas @TheRatTrick, David Lasseter@davidlasseter, Josh Luecht @joshluecht, Patrick McLaughlin @PatrickRattrick, Gabrielle Kiger@gabbykiger, Paige Lewis @RattrickLewiz, Chrissy Parente @chrissaay44, Adam Reid@adamreid_,David Rodriguez @davidbub_2, and Justin Rosenberg @justinrosenberg.  Also, please joinour Facebook Fan Page and hit the like button, send us photos, and make some comments.