On the Tampa Bay Lightning …
Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times: Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brian Boyle is a pending free agent. His wife’s family is from Tampa and they are hoping to remain.
Boyle could be entering his final week playing for the Lightning as several teams are interested in acquiring him.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, Columbus Blue Jackets and Edmonton Oilers are among the teams believed to be interested in Boyle.
“If teams want you, it means you’re doing something right,” Boyle said. “I want to add something to this team. I want to be an impact player, help us get to where we want to go. That’s the way I’ve approached (the trade rumors). It’s what’s best for our team. Stuff like that, you have no control over.”
The asking price is believed to be high. If the Lightning do trade Boyle for draft picks and prospects, it shows they are giving up on a playoff push.
It is quiet on the Ben Bishop trade front. The Dallas Stars have fallen out of playoff contention and will likely wait until the offseason to add a goalie like Bishop.
On the Dallas Stars …
Sean Shapiro of WrongSideOfTheRedline: (mailbag) The Stars need to fix their goaltending situation this offseason. It doesn’t have to be Ben Bishop or Marc-Andre Fleury. Philip Grubauer and Scott Darling could be two options they should look at. More than likely the Stars will have to buyout out one of Kari Lehtonen or Antti Niemi.
They can’t go another season with eight defensemen.
If they trade Patrick Sharp at the deadline, they’ll need to add some depth on right wing. They could use some of their depth on the blueline to acquire a winger.
Of the Stars pending free agents, they might be interested in bringing back Adam Cracknell and Patrick Eaves. The Stars should trade Eaves at the deadline though.
They need to see what Ales Hemsky can do after his injury. If they bring him back, it would be less than the $4 million he’s making this year.
