- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: The tumbling Canadian and the uncertainty of next year’s salary cap has some teams concerned about taking on players with term.
“Nobody is sure where it’s going to go and that means you don’t want to get involved in long-term deals,” a league executive said Friday. “That could change the face of the deadline.”
The Islanders are looking to sign Nick Leddy to a contract extension and are interested in buying up some of his UFA years. Leddy’s camp could be looking at $5.5 million deal that Brooks Orpik signed with the Capitals last summer. The Islanders will also make a pitch to Johnny Boychuk.
Coyotes Keith Yandle is still being shopped.
The Flames are still interested in Sabres Chris Stewart. The Bruins have made an offer for Stewart, but the Sabres are holding in hopes of increase the offers.
GMs are holding pat in hopes of getting a little more from teams: “They think they have to wait because they think they’ll get the most,” a league executive said. “We think we gotta wait because the price will come down.”
The Oilers are trying to sign Jeff Petry to an contract extension, but he’ll likely be traded.
Cody Franson will most certainly be traded.
The Senators are trying to sign Marc Methot to an extension, and talks are heating up. The Senators are thought to be looking for a four year deal, with Methot looking for a six year deal. It’s believed a five year, $25 million deal would get it done quickly.
The Jets will try to sign newly acquired Drew Stafford to a contract extension.
The Blackhawks made a hard push for Antoine Vermette, but nobody is sure how they would fit his salary into their lineup since they are tight to the cap.
The Wild would be interested in Vermette if they could move Kyle Brodziak.
The Jets want to make another move and have called the Coyotes about Vermette.
The Canadiens are interested in Vermette and would play him on the wing.
The Panthers are shopping Tomas Fleischmann, Scottie Upshall, Tomas Kopecky and Sean Bergenheim.
The Lightning are not alone in looking for a defenseman: Ducks, Flames, Avalanche, Stars, Kings, Canadiens, Penguins and Sharks.
The Hurricanes and Andrej Sekera have talked about an extension, but talks haven’t gotten anywhere.
Teams have called the Capitals about Mike Green, but with them being in the playoff picture, he’s unlikely to be moved.
The Predators want to add a forward and they have $11 million in cap space.
