Giguere to Detroit?

RUMOUR			2009/2010 NHL Statistics			2010 Cap Hit
To Detroit	Position	Age	GP/MIN	Goals/Wins	Points	Years	Per Year
J-S Giguere	Goaltender	32	213	0	0	2	$6 million
Erik Christensen	Forward	25	7	0	0	1	$750,000
Luca Sbisa	Defenseman	19	9	0	0	2	$875,000
--------
To Anaheim	Position	Age	GP/MIN	Goals/Wins	Points	Years	Per Year
Brian Rafalski	Defenseman	36	15	1	8	3	$6 million
Jimmy Howard	Goaltender	25	322	2	4	2	$717,000

Well, I love crazy rumours and I love looking at them on a numbers basis. Today's rumour came from my Twitter feed, so I thought I would give it a link and see how it pans out.

This one sees the reportedly disgruntled J-S Giguere making his way out of Anaheim and heading to Detroit, who has been a part of many Giguere rumours, for a defenseman of equal cap value in Brian Rafalski and then some even out type players.

The element of this deal, which I find most interesting is the inclusion of Luca Sbisa, a prized young defenseman, who was sent back down to juniors again this season, as to think that the Ducks are so desperate to unload Gigure, that they would throw in a young player of this calibre. I would suggest that a high pick would go instead of Sbisa, just because the Ducks love their defensemen, which is shown by their desire to have Rafalski in return.

Erik Christensen and Jimmy Howard can make some sense, as Christensen is a healthy scratch all the time for the Ducks and Howard is a prepared back-up goalie for Jonas Hiller. I think that's a pretty suave move.

Cap-wise, this is a pretty straight-swap. Both teams were dealing with cap issues to start the season, but if all the books are equal here, then this deal could work in cap principle. Whether or not the Red Wings would be willing to move Rafalski, that would be the real question.