- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: At least 10 teams have been looking for a defenseman, with league sources saying, “if you’ve got an extra defenceman, you might want to hold onto him.” The Canadiens, Rangers, Oilers, Canucks, Blues, Jets, Coyotes, Lightning, Jackets and Islanders have been looking for help. Garrioch thinks teams should be calling Predators GM David Poile as the belief is that he won’t be signing Ryan Suter to an extension and will become available. The Canucks and Flames have more interest than the Senators for Kyle Turris. Rene Bourque’s name pops up as trade bait, but the Coyotes are also looking for a 1st round pick as part of a deal. There are whispers that this could be the last season in Phoenix since no one has stepped up to by the team. Quebec City and Kansas City are the leading candidates. Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau could be on a short leash. Islanders GM Garth Snow has been working the phones trying to move the pointless (8 games) Blake Comeau and his $2.5 million salary. He’ll be a RFA after the season. Comeau had 46 points last year. The Isles may be looking for a 2nd line center. Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke is willing to move defenseman Cody Franson. Garrioch wonders if it’s time for the Blue Jackets to consider trading Rick Nash.
- Steve MacFarlane of the Calgary Sun: Change may be coming in Calgary. Flames GM Jay Feaster:
“Every option that’s available and open to is going to be explored.”
“I’m not going to get into specifics on what my intent is, but I can assure you we don’t have a lot of patience organizationally right now. The goal is we expect to be a playoff team.
“My job is to improve the hockey team every day, and I’m going to avail myself with every possible means of doing that.”
“I have had some conversations with teams, that you’re kicking some ideas around and all of a sudden they reel off three or four straight wins and it’s, ‘We’re just going to sit for now,’ “ Feaster said. “That’s the reality of the business.
Feaster has no interest in trading draft picks. He won’t sacrifice long-term for a short-term fix.
- Aaron Portzline via twitter: Portzline, “it’s hard to imagine there aren’t big changes coming” in Columbus. Word is that LA Kings assistant GM Ron Heztall could be headed to Columbus. Helene Elliott via twitter: Kings GM Dean Lombardi has said that no one has contacted him about Hextall. Teams would need permission to speak with Hextall. Ron Hextall on the Blue Jackets job: “I have not heard anything.” Aaron Portzline via twitter: The Blue Jackets may have to compensate a team with draft picks if they take a ‘high-ranking official’ part way through the season.
- Darren Dreger of TSN: (Mailbag) There’s a market for Kyle Turris despite his limited success as he’s only 22 and still has potential. There is interest, but teams aren’t willing to overpay. Coyotes GM Don Maloney is still saying he won’t trade him until he signs, but some think he’s talking in code for not going to trade him for what he’s being offered. The Canucks aren’t putting Cory Schneider’s name out there as GM Mike Gillis likes the 1-1A theory. There may be a point in the season that Gillis deems he’s a movable asset, and teams will line up. The Blue Jackets and Devils will be in line. Moving Roberto Luongo would be more difficult task since his deal goes into his 40’s. He does have a couple of clauses in his deal that allows for a trade. There isn’t a sense in Edmonton that they need to acquire a defenseman right away. The Lightning could also be looking for a defenseman. The Maple Leafs and Hurricanes are willing to move a defenseman. The Flames aren’t shopping Rene Bourque but if the right deal came along for a young center they may consider. If the Canadiens were to consider buying out Scott Gomez it would cost them: 2012-13: $3,523,810, 2013-14: $4,523,810, 2014-15: $1,666,667, 2015-16: $1,666,667.
- Dennis Bernstein via twitter: Look for Jonathan Quick to start on Monday.