Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province: Teams have called the Canucks about Zack Kassian, but his trade value has been sliding. He has just two goals in 23 games and has gone 18 games without scoring. Trading Kassian would make them a lot smaller, unless they are able to get another big forward back. Size is needed when playing against teams from California. There is that fear that Kassian would turn things around if they trade him. He has the tools to become a 20-goal scorer but hasn’t been able to put it together. He has another year left on his contract at $2 million.
A multi-year deal for Chris Tanev is on the front-burner for the Canucks. The pending RFA is making $2 million this season. On the back-burner are contracts for Derek Dorsett, Shawn Matthias and Brad Richardson.
Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Eric Staal on his situation in Carolina.
“Not really focused on it, to be honest, right now,” Staal told a scrum of Toronto media on Monday ahead of his team’s game with the Maple Leafs. “I have a no-movement in my contract and, as of right now, no one has asked me whether I’d be willing to move it or not. My focus is on what we have here and helping this team take steps in the right direction.”
Staal couldn’t totally shut the door on a future trade because of: “How would he react if he gets the feeling that the franchise wants to recoup assets for him in its efforts to go younger?” The Hurricanes may not be thinking about it, but they can’t totally discount it. If Staal wants to remain with the Hurricanes beyond next season, they may need to talk contract extension this summer.
Nichols on Hockey: Oilers GM Craig MacTavish on having a late first round pick and an early second round pick and if he’d trade them.
“Well, we’ll be evaluating all those potential deals. We’d be willing to make a deal to get a younger player a little further along than an 18-year-old. But at the same time, we hold those picks in very high value. We’re going to get some good players.
“I’ve said before – our mandate has always been to build a championship-calibre team. And I know we’re not on schedule on the timeline that we’ve all wanted, but that doesn’t mean that we’re not recognizing the position we’re in. Our mandate has always been to build a sustainable, long-term successful franchise, and a big part of that is going to be through the draft.
