Scouting …
- Eric Engels: Scouting the Canadiens – Lightning game last night: Coyotes, Flames, Rangers, Flyers, Blues, Panthers, Devils, Blue Jackets, Sabres, Penguins, Kings and Lightning.
- Aaron Portzline: Scouting the Blue Jackets – Islanders : Red Wings (3 – Ken Holland, Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby), Lightning (2 – Pat Verbeek and Tony Hrkac), Avalanche, Canadiens and Maple Leafs.
On the Detroit Red Wings …
- Aaron Portzline: Believe that Red Wings are looking at Blue Jackets defenseman Fedor Tyutin.
On the Calgary Flames …
- Wes Gilbertson: Pending UFA winger Jiri Hudler said yesterday that they haven’t had any contract extension talks with the Flames: “I like Calgary … So we’ll see how it works out.”
- Wes Gilbertson: Hudler on his contract status and trade deadline: “You’re thinking about where you’re going to be, but it shouldn’t be bothering me on ice.”
On the Toronto Maple Leafs …
- Ken Campbell: Don’t see the Maple Leafs buying defenseman Jared Cowen out this offseason.
On the Edmonton Oilers …
- Jim Matheson: The Oilers coaching staff really like Brandon Davidson. The Oilers should re-sign pending UFA defenseman Eric Gryba.
On the Winnipeg Jets …
- Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Jets: Andrew Ladd on his contract situation now that Dustin Byfuglien has re-signed.
“We haven’t heard much from their side in terms of what that does,” said Ladd, whose team faces the St. Louis Blues Tuesday night to close out a two-game road trip. “I honestly don’t know.”
Ladd admits that it’s been a test of his mental toughness.
“I’ve said before, no one enjoys uncertainty and not knowing what’s going on, but there’s not a whole lot you can do about it,” said Ladd. “There’s a lot of guys going through the same situation. Just look across to the other room, (the Blues) captain (David Backes) is in the same position. There are some days where it makes it harder to focus on what you need to focus on, but that’s part of being a professional and overcoming that mental battle and getting ready to play hockey every day.
“There’s been some obstacles, but it’s all part of being in this business. Different guys go through different things at different points of their careers and it’s something you have to deal with. You won’t get a complaint out of me.”