Eklund on Sportsnet’s “Deadline Bash”
January 1st, 2008 by HBH | Filed under Eklunds Wall of Shame.Taken from
The most entertaining part of Sportsnet’s “deadline bash” wasn’t the balloons, the Hansons or the table hockey games. It was Eklund, who fell just short of naming every NHL player in trade rumours.
Highlights of a combined 22 hours of coverage.
11:12 a.m. In one of his many “alerts,” Eklund reports that Craig Conklin has been traded to Buffalo. He quickly amends that to Ty Conklin.
11:34 a.m. Eklund reports that Jamal Mayers is on his way to Toronto. He isn’t.
12:08 p.m. Eklund reports that St. Louis’ Bill Guerin is part of a three-way trade. TSN reports, correctly, that it’s a two-team deal.
1:04 p.m. Eklund reports more rumours, this time citing “really, really good sources.”
2:08 p.m. Eklund reports that Edmonton has signed Ryan Smyth to a long-term deal.
2:35 p.m. Eklund says Dainius Zubrus has been traded to Buffalo, which amazingly turns out to be true.
3 p.m. Eklund reports that L.A. has dealt Mattias Norstrom to Anaheim, “but I may be wrong on that.” He was.
3:15 p.m. Eklund says rumour has Leafs trading Matt Stajan. They don’t.
3:29 p.m. Eklund’s moment of glory comes as he reports that Ryan Smyth hasn’t been signed after all but has been dealt to the Islanders. Unfortunately, he misidentifies him as the Edmonton captain. To his credit, he identifies his source: a New York blogger.
4:09 p.m. Score panel gets the first interview with Smyth’s agent, who describes how contract talks broke down.
4:50 p.m. More food is delivered to the Sportsnet set. It isn’t clear whether Eklund had predicted the arrival of more pizza.
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