Scouting the Philadelphia Flyers and Buffalo Sabres game …
- Dave Isaac: Scouting the Flyers-Sabres: Coyotes, Sharks, Wild, Penguins, Panthers and Bruins.
Scouting the Columbus Blue Jackets and Anaheim Ducks game …
- Aaron Portzline: Scouting the Blue Jackets-Ducks: Maple Leafs (2), Coyotes (2), Flyers, Devils, Rangers and Canadiens.
On the Vancouver Canucks …
- TSN 1040 Vancouver: Canucks GM Jim Benning on if they are in the playoff race closer to the deadline he would “even look to add to make our team better to compete for a playoff spot.” He reiterated that their goal is to make the playoffs. Benning added that there hasn’t been much interest in Dan Hamhuis as of yet, but likely due to Hamhuis’s injury. They haven’t asked Hamhuis about his no-trade clause, but could do so soon. Teams are always looking for scoring and Radim Vrbata is a scorer that could be available.
- TSN 1040 Vancouver: Ray Ferraro said it’s not unreasonable for the Canucks to make Steven Stamkos a contract offer if he hits the open market.
On the Nashville Predators …
- Adam Vingan of the Tennessean: The Predators biggest need right now is scoring as they sit 28th in goals. GM David Poile isn’t afraid to make a big move, and won’t hesitate to make a move ahead of the deadline. The players know a move could happen and how important their next stretch is.
“Since I’m here, they don’t wait until the last minute to do it, so you never know,” Predators center Mike Ribeiro said. “It can happen at any time. Obviously, the next two games, I think, could dictate a little bit of what they want to do or not do. If you win both, you might step back a bit and go from there.
“You always try to improve your team. We’re on the bubble here and I’m sure they’re looking at improving the team. There’s a lot of teams on the bubble, too, so it’s hard to move guys when you’re still competing for a playoff spot. I guess we’ll wait and see.”
