Scouting the Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes …
Terry Frei: Teams listed to attend the Avs – Hurricanes game: Chicago Blackhawks, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild.
Scouting the Los Angeles Kings AHL team …
John Hoven: The New York Rangers were once again watching the Kings AHL team in Ontario, who played the Coyotes AHL team.
On the Los Angeles Kings …
Dennis Bernstein: The Kings really haven’t shown this year that they are legit Stanley Cup contenders. They have too many holes in their lineup. Think that GM Dean Lombardi may not want to do anything.
On the Detroit Red Wings …
Gregg Krupa: Red Wings GM Ken Holland said that nobody is untouchable, but made it clear that they aren’t trading futures unless they get equal futures or more in return.
Gregg Krupa: Would add Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall to the list of players the Red Wings won’t trade. Both Zetterberg and Kronwall will retire as a Red Wings.
On the Columbus Blue Jackets …
Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch: The Blue Jackets will likely only be looking for roster depth leading up to the trade deadline. Don’t expect GM Jarmo Kekalainen to got after a big-named player.
“There will be a right time where we look at it and think our window might be closing, that maybe this is when we should make a move like that,” Kekalainen said. “Our window is not closing in 2017, it’s just starting to crack open.
“I don’t see any reason to go crazy because we have a crack open in our window. We’re trying to widen it by making wise, long-term decisions, and get better from within.”
Don’t count on Matt Duchene, Gabriel Landeskog or Kevin Shattenkirk.
Players they could look at could include Brian Boyle, Radim Vrbata and Patrick Eaves.
“The price (in trade) is not only what you give up right now to get the player, but also the risk you now have to take by having to expose another player,” Kekalainen said. “It’s not a normal year.”