- Craig Custance of ESPN: (mailbag) The return for Thomas Vanek could be a first round pick (preferably 2015), another pick and a solid prospect. Andrew MacDonald’s trade value increased by Dan Girardi re-signing with the Rangers. Starting point will be a first round pick for MacDonald. He’d be better suited as a No. 4 on a contender. Lubomir Visnovsky has a no-movement clause and Evgeni Nabokov has little trade value. Custance would like to see Garth Snow go after a goalie, maybe Michal Neuvirth from Washington. Custance thinks Martin Erat could make sense for the Coyotes. Despite a $4.5 million salary cap hit, his salary drops to $2.25 million next season.
Tyler Myers might interest some teams, but he has a $5.5 million salary cap hit.
Custance thinks that David Legwand would be a good fit in Chicago. Ryan Kesler is another option. Teuvo Teravainen could be in their lineup by the end of the season.
Custance thinks the Red Wings will go big or do nothing. Christian Ehrhoff would be a great addition, but not sure what it would take for them to land him. The Wings have spoken with the Canucks about Alex Edler in the past.
Capitals GM George McPhee’s first order of business will be to get rid of Erat’s and Neuvirth’s contracts. Either Edler or MacDonald would be nice additions for the Capitals.
- The Fourth Period: The Blue Jackets are looking for a top-four defenseman and top-six forward. They are also looking to trade Marian Gaborik. Forward targets could include: Ryan Callahan, Chris Stewart, Paul Stastny and Mike Cammalleri. They have kicked tires on Chris Ehrhoff and Andrew MacDonald. The Avalanche contacted the Blue Jackets about a deal involving Stastny according to sources. Nothing is imminent. Cammalleri might consider a trade to Columbus, but might have other preferred destinations. Gaborik does have a no-trade clause, and no talks have been held with the pending UFA. The Kings, Devils, Senators and Ducks had reportedly shown some interest in Gaborik.
- Francois Gagnon: Gagnon talked with P.K. Subban’s agent on Saturday and he said there was no ongoing negotiations with the Canadiens.
- Mike Brophy of CBC: Some views on trading for a rental and what it can do to a team.
“From our point of view, we always look at players primarily who fit for now and for the future,” said one GM who requested anonymity. “We have done rentals at certain times, though. If somebody is not playing up to speed or you have a suspended or injured player, you may have to make a deal. We try to do everything we can to put our team in the best position to win every year.”
Senators GM Bryan Murray.
“It usually costs you a fairly important draft pick or a good, young prospect,” Murray said. “For the short-term you hope you get the benefit of the trade, but long-term you know in all likelihood you are paying a price.”
“It’s all asset management,” the anonymous GM said. “We want to see our young players step up and take a job. If they do it, great. If they don’t then maybe you have to dabble in the rental market to fill the need for your team. If you are going to pay exorbitant cost because of the supply and demand then in most cases it should be for a guy who fits now and for the future.”
On the effects it can have on team chemistry.
“Absolutely, you have to consider chemistry,” the GM said. “The integration of a player is huge. You’re bringing in a guy who, on paper, looks like he should fit in, but maybe he has played an advanced role on his team. Maybe he was on the No. 1 power play. You plug him into a role and he’s got to be willing to accept that role, be accepted by his teammates and buy into and understand the system.
“People don’t understand the chemistry and dynamics of a team. You can alter that and think you are doing the right thing on paper, but you might be doing the wrong thing in your dressing room. You had better be careful. And remember, you only have 20 games to integrate this person.”