- Steve MacFarlane of the Calgary Sun: Calgary Flames GM Jay Feaster has come out and said that he not interested in trade captain Jarome Iginla, but the rumors keep appearing, with the Flyers as a potential team interested now. “Certainly, nothing stops a team from saying, ‘Hey, if you ever …,’ Feaster said. “All I say to those is, ‘Thanks. I’ll note your interest.’ ”
- Paul Friesen of the Winnipeg Sun: (article written under protest by Friesen) Bob McCown on the Fan 590 reported that the $100 million bond that the Phoenix Coyotes were going to give Matthew Hulsizer to help pay for the team has failed. NHL deputy commish Bill Daly said the report was inaccurate and added “It continues to move toward closing,” Daly said. “I don’t anticipate time will become an issue, but if it does, we’ll address it then.” The Phoenix Business Journal also added that the True North Sports (could be the leading candidates to get the team if relocation becomes the option) are working behind the scenes trying to get the Goldwater Institute to files a lawsuit against the agreement. A TNS spokesperson answer this accusation with “That is 100%, unequivocally, patently false,” … “True North Sports and Entertainment has NEVER had any contact whatsoever with the Goldwater Institute in any way, shape or form.” Friesen’s advise “don’t take it too seriously, Jets fans.”
- Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun: Maple Leafs goalie Jonas Gustavsson would agree to a conditioning stint with the AHL Marlies. It has been rumored that the Leafs could ask him (they haven’t yet) in hope that he could regain some of his confidence, while they go with James Reimer and JS Giguere. Gustavsson has only played twice since the last week of December.
- Adrian Dater of the Denver Post: Dater brings up the possibility that if Peter Forsberg signs with the Avalanche, but they drop out of the playoff race, they could trade him to a contender. Dater thinks you could get a 1st round pick or more for him (don’t agree with that but…), and the Penguins and Bruins could be 2 teams that might interested, especially the Bruins after Savard went down. Savard could be put in LTIR, freeing up some cap space for the Bruins. Dater also wonders what if another team jumps the gun on the Avs and offers Forsberg a contract. Dater uses the LA Kings as an example, and a 2 year deal worth $13 million. It could be hard for Forsberg to say no to, though he seems loyal to the Avalanche.
- Dennis Bernstein via twitter: Bernstein thinks that if the Kings are a couple spots out of 8th spot at the trade deadline, the Kings could still be a buyer and might go after Mike Fisher. Fisher hasn’t been asked by the Senators to submit his no trade list.
- Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun: Jason Spezza is eying a February 5th return to the Ottawa Senators lineup against the Islanders. The Senators have gone 1-8-4 while Spezza recovers from his shoulder injury.
- Chris Stevenson of the Ottawa Sun: Senators prospect Jason Bailey is suing the Anaheim Ducks and it’s ECHL team (Bailey was with the organization before being traded to Ottawa) for alleged anti-Semitic remarks made by their coaches and for wrongful dismissal. It’s alleged that the coach said “only care about money and who’s who,” and that he “never wanted his son to be raised Jewish or to wear a yarmulke” and that Bailey couldn’t be trusted because “he’s Jewish.”
- Rich Chere of the Star-Ledger: NJ Devils coach Jacques Lemaire has once again said he won’t coach the team after the season is done.