Maple Leafs shopping Brown, will ask for Marner packages, and an internal Kadri debate
@Account4Hockey: Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 590: “Leafs making lots of calls, thinks Brown is getting shopped – asking price 2nd, thinks they’ll ask teams for Marner packages though they don’t want to trade him, there’s been internal debate on merits of trading Kadri. Not afraid to be bold.” (not a direct quote from Friedman)
Jim Matheson: Former Edmonton Oilers interim GM Keith Gretzky may have laid the groundwork for a Connor Brown trade back in February. He could be a third-line possibility for the Oilers. If it’s a dollar-for-dollar deal, maybe it involves defenseman Matt Benning.
Quick Oilers rumor hits
Ryan Rishaug: Drafting defenseman Philip Broberg at No. 8 is a possibility.
If the Oilers are able to acquire a third-line winger for Jesse Puljujarvi, they may do it. If they can’t, they may hold on to him.
Defenseman Matt Benning is likely available to create roster space for a young defenseman.
They should be targeting free agent winger Brett Connolly.
The hiring of Krueger may keep Ristolainen in Buffalo
WGR 550: Nick Kypreos on WGR 550 on Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen: “It was almost a foregone conclusion that Rasmus Ristolainen was going to get traded until Ralph Krueger came in. Maybe he wants to see what he has first before moving on from him.”
WGR 550: Kypreos continues: “They will listen to offers moving forward on Ristolainen. It’s believed that the #Sabres want to move out a defenseman, but not sure which one they will move.”
Trade assets tiers
Greg Wyshynski of ESPN: Going by positions and rating trade candidates as ‘game-changer’ or ‘other targets.’
Center Game Changers: Nazem Kadri.
Center Other Targets: Patrick Marleau, J.T. Miller, Vladislav Namestnikov, and Kyle Turris.
Wingers Game Changers: Phil Kessel, Mike Hoffman, and Jason Zucker.
Wingers Other Targets: Connor Brown. Loui Eriksson, Jesse Puljujarvi, Brandon Saad, and Jimmy Vesey.
Defensemen Game Changers: P.K. Subban.
Defensemen Other Targets: T.J. Brodie, Shayne Gostisbehere, Nick Leddy, Josh Manson, Colin Miller, Chris Tanev, and Nikita Zaitsev.
Goaltenders Game Changers: Jonathan Quick.
Goaltenders Other Targets: Craig Anderson, and Jake Allen.
Problem Contracts: Ryan Callahan, Jeff Carter, Milan Lucic, James Neal, Corey Perry, and Kevin Shattenkirk.
Wild Card: Justin Faulk, Taylor Hall, Chris Kreider, Torey Krug, and Patrik Laine