Ghosts in the wind: First try at a 2010-11 rasta

                   Pardon my absence, continuing tech issues.

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                   OK, with a week before the Draft Combine in Toronto (more on that next week) and solely as an early first-go-round and starting point for discussion, the first Blue Notes "ghost" roster of 2010 is presented forthwith.

                  I'm not totally advocating any of this yet, except...the notion of keeping some space for the trade deadline...

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                   Here’s one loosely-constructed "ghost" based on a trade and RFA/UFA signings that’s about $58 million, yes, over the cap, for 21 players. New cap hit GUESS-timates in parens...Fill in the blanks, mix, match....

                  Brandon Dubinsky($1.85)-Erik Christensen ($875,000)-Marian Gaborik ($7.5) 

                  Kris Versteeg($3.3)-Chris Drury ($7)-Ryan Callahan ($2.3)

                  Sean Avery ($1.9)-Artem Anisimov($822,000)-Mats Zuccarello-Aasen ($900,000)

                  Jody Shelley ($800,000)-Brian Boyle($525,000)-Brandon Prust ($575,000)/Dale Weise ($700,000)

                  Marc Staal ($3.5)-Dan Girardi ($2.6)

                  Michal Rozsival ($5)- Michael Del Zotto ($1)

                  Wade Redden ($6.5)-Matt Gilroy ($1.65)

                  Henrik Lundqvist ($6.875)

                  Peter Budaj/Martin Biron/Jonas Hedberg ($1)

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                Note: Not taking into account Bobby Sanguinetti ($855,000, who this virtual GM packaged for Versteeg, who should be available), Aaron Voros, Vinny Prospal, Olli Jokinen, P.A. Parenteau, or an established No.1 center.

               Yep, you can see why many fans want more salary shed---or buried. With another six mill, you could have SAY, Matt Lombardi (or Lee Stempniak, (27), Marek Svatos (27) and a mid-range veteran D man. (Michalek, Tallinder, Mitchell, Morrisonn, Jurcina), or another combination from the menu.

                   Or do you wait until trade deadline and try to cut a deal for impending UFA 2011 centers such as yes, Brad Richards, my choice, or Mikko Koivu, Patrice Bergeron, Michal Handzus, which would move Drury to wing....

Thoughts?

               Time to skip this and enjoy a pre-summer day? Run under the sprinklers? Buy some soft ice cream with spinkles? Hey, it's your world.