- TSN – Insider Trading video link: They list the Top 6 forwards that are potentially available: Jeff Carter (CBJ), Mikhail Grabovski (Tor), Ales Hemsky (Edm), Derek Roy (Buf), James van Reimsdyk (Phi), and Ray Whitney (Phx).
- Craig Custance of ESPN: Custance lists 5 Blue Jackets that could be moved: Jeff Carter, Vinny Prospal, Derick Brassard, Antoine Vermette and Samuel Pahlsson.
- Dennis Bernstein via twitter: There were 2 Maple Leafs scouts at the Kings – Senators game. Canadiens GM Pierre Gauthier was there as well.
- Kevin McGran via twitter: There were 13 scouts at the Leafs – Islanders game last night, including 2 from the Oilers and Flyers Don Luce.
- Chip Alexander via twitter: The Lightning, Capitals, Canadiens, Stars and Blackhawks were scouting the Hurricanes – Jets game.
- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: The Senators are sticking with their rebuilding plan, but if they are buyers at the deadline, it will only be a ‘tweak.’
- Ansar Khan of the MLive: The Red Wings haven’t started contract talks with defenseman Brad Stuart because he’s unsure if he wants to stay in Detroit or head back to the West Coast. He’s wife, 2 son’s and stepdaughter must remain in San Jose.
“It is going to be a tough decision,” Stuart said. “It’s not going to be all based on hockey and what I want for my career. It’s going to be a little bit (about) family, which is important. Those are things I still have to kind of sort out, try to figure out what’s going to be best for everyone.”
- Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: The Stars have activated Mike Ribeiro from the IR and placed Brenden Morrow on the IR. Morrow is eligible to come off the IR on Feb. 1st.
- Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: Lightning forward Jamie Benn is expected to be able to play in the All-Star game. GM Joe Nieuwendyk said that Benn’s contract extension will likely have to wait until after the season.
“We’ve had discussions, but there won’t be any more discussion, I don’t thnk,” Nieuwendyk said, “His is a different situation because he’s still entry level and doesn’t have rights that maybe Alex has. We’ll have further discussions with him at the end of the season.”
Heika thinks they may wait until after the new CBA. Current CBA expires on Sept. 15th.
- Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times: Corey Crawford will start in net for the Blackhawks against the Predators tonight.
- James Mirtle via twitter: Mirtle would be shocked if Jonas Gustavsson didn’t get the start tonight in New York. David Alter via twitter: Leafs coach Ron Wilson said he’ll “probably” go with the Monster tonight.