- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Teams are putting more value on draft picks than in the past.
“Teams aren’t like they used to be. They want to get value for draft picks,” said a league executive after the deadline. “We found that teams put a much heavier emphasis on picks. They don’t want to just give them away anymore.
“Teams have put a high value on them. That’s the case and that’s why teams want to pay for the first- round picks for them.”
Both the Penguins and Blackhawks were working right to the deadline on a potential Ryan Kesler deal.
The Senators and Maple Leafs were talking to the Islanders about Thomas Vanek.
A couple of teams asked the Rangers about Derek Dorsett.
The Flames would have traded Dennis Wideman, but no team wanted his contract.
Teams were calling the Senators about Curtis Lazar.
Talk is that Flames GM Brian Burke was demanding a first round pick for Mike Cammalleri right up to the deadline and wasn’t backing down from it.
The Ducks were in on Thomas Vanek and moved Dustin Penner as they thought they had a good shot. They also may have thought the asking price for Cammalleri was too high.
The Rangers and Ryan Callahan weren’t far apart when they made the Martin St. Louis trade. The Rangers wouldn’t include a no-trade clause and were in a foul mood. When talks started with Callahan, he reportedly asked for seven years and $56 million, $8 million a season.
The Blues were willing to trade Derek Roy, but couldn’t find a fit.
- Rich Chere of the Star-Ledger: Devils Martin Brodeur said he wants to play next year, and he doesn’t have to be a No. 1 goalie.
“No, just to play more and have the chance to win the Stanley Cup. Be in the playoffs,” Brodeur said Friday. “Those were some of the requirements I had, not just being outside looking in. I didn’t want to come back to a situation like this.”
- Darren Dreger: Sabres Rostislav Klesla: “With all due respect to the Sabres organization, I decided this week not to continue playing hockey this season. It has been a tough year for injury and moving several times to new teams. I will now take some time off and get ready to continue my career in Europe. I would like to thank my fans and all the people that have helped me. I am grateful for the career I have had in the NHL and all the people that I have met along the way who have supported me and my family.”
- Hockey Night in Canada Hotstove:
