On the Montreal Canadiens …
Habs Links: Darren Dreger said that he doesn’t believe that forward Andrew Shaw is available.
Brian Wilde: Talk from GMs is that Shaw is not available, but Alex Galchenyuk is.
Dennis Bernstein: Don’t believe that the Canadiens will be trading Galchenyuk at the deadline. If they do move him, would guess that it’s at the draft and not at the deadline.
On the Arizona Coyotes …
Pierre LeBrun: The Coyotes don’t plan on trading goaltender Antti Raanta at the deadline. They hope to start contract talks after the deadline and get him re-signed.
On the New York Islanders …
@NHL_Watcher: “Friedman says #Isles will not trade Tavares, they will hold him through the deadline and take their chances. Doesn’t think he has made a decision. Friedman believes JT’s no.1 choice is #Isles, and says knowing Tavares, he believes Isles struggles makes him MORE LIKELY to re-sign.”
Arthur Staple of The Athletic: It is believed that the Islanders have spoken with the Rangers about defenseman Ryan McDonagh, but those trade talks likely didn’t get far. The Islanders would have to overpay for the Rangers to send McDonagh to the rival Islanders.
The Islanders don’t have a big prospect base, so a 2018 and 2019 first-round pick may have to be included, something GM Garth Snow likely isn’t interested in doing.
The Rangers could be looking for a low first-round pick or a second-round pick for winger Michael Grabner.
The Islanders have scouted the Edmonton Oilers recently, and they’d love to get Oscar Klefbom, but he isn’t available.
The Islanders have scouted the Montreal Canadiens, but they don’t have any defensemen available. They had previously looked Galchenyuk, but that seems more like an offseason move.
Acquiring Galchenyuk or someone like Ottawa Senators Jean-Gabriel Pageau would allow the Islanders to move Brock Nelson.