On XM radio last night Bill Watters claimed that Jim Rutherford and Brian Burke had a deal in place involving Eric Staal that was on hold because of Brian Burke's roster freeze. Bill Watters went on to claim that the deal would be completed after the roster freeze was lifted.

This is nonsensical for about twelve reasons, but most notably if Brian Burke has a roster freeze for the holidays he isn't talking about trading players. No NHL GM is going to agree to a trade and then keep playing the guys he moved for weeks; it's poor risk management. If Eric Staal gets hurt, despite it being a short term effect on the deal, the trade is likely off.

Bob McKenzie did what an actual media member with access should do and went to the source. He asked Jim Rutherford about a potential Eric Staal trade:

"I have no interest whatsoever in trading Eric Staal or Cam Ward. That's not going to happen." -- Jim Rutherford

Nice try Billo. It seems when it comes to rumors, much like Eklund or Incarcerated Bob, Bill Watters is a first of April credibility kind of guy.

Your links over the jump. Thanks for reading PPP.

Laughs courtesy of Chemmy, links via JP Nikota:

Leafs Links:

Questionable Qorrelations: 16 Wins and Cup Championships
Danny Gray has a neat little post over at The Leafs Nation.

Leafs PK: Who’s good, who’s not.
It's a less definitive set of conclusions than the title suggests, but there are some eyebrow-raising numbers, no doubt. From David Johnson at Hockey Analysis.

Being Bad on the PK Means You're Bad Defensively... or Does It?
In case you weren't all aware, one of our own, BCapp, has started his own blog called Bleeding Blue And White. He's come up with two solid posts to kick things off, and his final conclusions in this post offer some great context to David Johnson's above-linked post today.

Wilson's Leafs by the Defense
Another post from BCapp at BBAW.

Vintage Leaf Memories-800 posts and counting...
A round of applause for Michael Langlois! Probably our most regularly-linked blog.

Connolly heads for old stomping grounds
I link this story only because I know that people will watch Connolly to see how he does against his old team. The quotes David Shoals managed to get out of him aren't exactly compelling.

Other Hockey Links:

Just watch this.
That is all.

Zone entries and scoring chances
Looks like dumping the puck in doesn't lead to much offensive production. OK, it's a small sample size, but still interesting. From Eric T. (with help from BSH contributor Todd The Fox).

NHL’s all-concussion team would be lock for Stanley Cup
Roy MacGregor cobbles together the core of a pretty good team.

Canada's World Junior Team Is Set
Dirty Dangle has the list and a bit of commentary.

The Quiet Room: The Week of Weird Injuries
Well, I'd never heard of staphylococcus aureus before. From Jo Innes at Backhand Shelf.

Advanced Statistics: for dummies
PPP member pho king awesome has his say over at his own blog The Silver Fox.

Buffalo Sabres F Ville Leino out for 'weeks' with lower body injury
Link is just from the CP via The Hockey News. Just 'cause it's relevant for the Leafs' game today.

From The Branches