On the Toronto Maple Leafs …
- James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail: James Reimer’s two-year, $4.6 million contract expires at the end of the season. The Leafs will have to make a decision whether to they want trade him at the deadline for a draft pick or prospect at the deadline.
- There is some interest to keep Reimer and move on from Jonathan Bernier. The Leafs could look to sign Reimer to an extension, but nothing appears to be imminent. Contract talks are being kept very quiet. The big question is what would the Maple Leafs be comfortable paying Reimer? It would have to be at least more than they are paying Bernier, who has one year left at $4.15 million.
- Devan Dubnyk could be a comparable – six years at a $4.33 million cap hit.
On the St. Louis Blues …
- Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post Dispatch: Jaden Schwartz is getting closer to returning to the Blues lineup. The Blues have been linked to many trade discussions. GM Doug Armstrong is still believed to be looking for help. Players that appear to be available include Jonathan Drouin, Scott Hartnell, Lee Stempniak, Andrew Ladd, Loui Eriksson, Jiri Hudler and Kris Versteeg.
On the San Jose Sharks …
- Kevin Kurz of the CSN Bay Area: Sharks coach Pete DeBoer has been in frequent contact with GM Doug Wilson as the trade deadline approaches.
“We have daily discussions on where our team is at, what our strengths and weaknesses are, what holes we would like to fill,” DeBoer said. “We’ve had those since day one. It’s not like those conversations are ramping up now. We’re on the same page, we both see it the same way. I really don’t have a lot to do with it. We know where we’re at. I really like our group, and we’ll see what happens.”
If the Sharks make a big move before the trade deadline, it would likely involve Patrick Marleau. Marleau’s agent has been exploring options. Marleau’s early season list of teams that he’d accept a trade to includes the Kings, Ducks or Rangers. The Rangers have been scouting Sharks in recent weeks.
The Sharks biggest need is help on the blueline, someone with a physical edge. Defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic:
“I think if wants to add, that’s up to him, but for now we have to concentrate on playing well and keep playing the way we have,” Vlasic said. “If this is the team we have going into playoffs, I feel really confident.”