Oilers – Maple Leafs talked Larsson?
Jimmy Murphy: Heard that the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers talked about a large deal that involved Oilers defenseman Adam Larsson and Leafs forward Connor Brown. There were lots of moving pieces which is why it may not of went down. The sides could revisit talks in the offseason.
Bob Stauffer: At no point was Oilers Adam Larsson brought up in any trade talk at the trade deadline.
Jim Matheson: Don’t even bother with talk, it’s not true.
Bergevin rundown
Arpon Basu: Rundown of Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin‘s press conference after the trade deadline.
“1 – Did not deny he was in on Matt Duchene, said price was way too high.
2 – Said teams were asking for untouchable top prospects, including Kotkaniemi. Those conversations were brief.
3 – Said he expected at beginning of season this team would battle for a playoff spot. That’s what they’re doing.
4 – Said if he paid prices being asked for, he’d be roasted for paying it.
5 – He’d be surprised if Noah Juulsen plays again this season. Not impossible, not likely.
6- Didn’t want to mess with chemistry or have to replace Jordie Benn, so he kept him. Consider him the Canadiens rental.
7- Getting one person to help the PP would not fix the PP. It is a group problem and one player wasn’t going to fix it.
8- Expressed confidence in Niemi.
“I’m telling you right now, if I would have done what I was asked for, you would probably call me an idiot. Which you probably do anyway.” – Marc Bergevin on high prices today.
On the West being more active
Chris Nichols of Nichols on Hockey: Darren Dreger was on TSN 1050 and was asked about the West being more active than the East at the deadline.
“I don’t know. I’m not saying that Pierre Dorion wouldn’t have traded Mark Stone to either the Boston Bruins or New York Islanders, who were very, very keen, but I think he’d have preferred to not have to look at Mark Stone for the next eight years playing with an Eastern Conference rival.”
Dreger isn’t sure if that is the case with Hayes. It may not be a surprise if Hayes sign with the Rangers this offseason.
“So sometimes it’s just that competitive balance, and where the key targets – the players – hail from initially.”