Morning notes on: Luongo, Maple Leafs, Thomas, Schultz, Sabres, Stastny, Blue Jackets, Nash, Islanders and Rangers trade targets

Mark Easson

12 years ago

Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: Roberto Luongo is now the best option for Maple Leafs after the Penguins trading/signing Tomas Vokoun and the Lightning trading for Anders Lindback. Free agent options for the Leafs could be Josh Harding, Scott Clemmensen and Chris Mason. The Bruins could trade Tim Thomas to a low cap team like the Avalanche or Islanders. Zach Parise is leaning towards staying in New Jersey. If he’s unsigned on July 1st, he’ll get interest from the Kings and Red Wings.

Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun: The Maple Leafs are expected to be one of the leading teams after Justin Schultz. Brian Burke drafted him. The Ducks may look to trade his rights before June 24th.

Bucky Gleason of the Buffalo News: Gleason thinks Zach Parise is too expensive for the Sabres. A couple players who would look good in a Sabres uniform are Ryan Malone and Jarret Stoll. Jordan Staal would be nice, but the cost to acquire and re-sign would be high. The Cost to acquire Paul Stastny would be less. If Gleason were the GM, he’d be aggressively shopping Derek Roy and Andrej Sekera and listening to offers for Ryan Miller. Stastny carries a $6.6 million hit, while only producing 21 goals and 53 points. He did produce over 70 points in 3 of his first 4 years. Gleason offers one of the Sabres 1st round picks and Roy and/or Sekera?

Larry Brooks of the NY Post: Source confirms that the Rangers are after Rick Nash again. At the trade deadline, Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson was after Chris Kreider; Derek Stepan or Carl Hagelin; Ryan McDonagh or Michael Del Zotto; plus Brandon Dubinsky and a 1st round pick. The Sharks, Flyers, Hurricanes, and maybe the Maple Leafs and Bruins are interested. If the Rangers included Kreider, a deal would likely get done. Alexander Radulov is believed to heading back to the KHL.

Daren Millard via twitter: Heard Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson is talking to all teams about a lot of players. He’s not limiting teams to Rick Nash’s “list.”

Matthew Coller of ESPN: Offseason need and fixes. Boston Bruins – backup goalie, sign Dominik Hasek. Buffalo Sabres – defensive center, sign Sami Pahlsson. Toronto Maple Leafs – veteran goalie, sign Josh Harding. Montreal Canadiens – playmaking right winger, sign P.A. Parenteau. Ottawa Senators – Stay-at-home defenseman, sign Barret Jackman.

Arthur Staple of Newsday: Oilers GM Steve Tambellini said this week that he has no plans to trade the 1st overall pick, but will listen to offers. The Rangers could be looking at trade targets like: Rick Nash, Bobby Ryan, Ryan Getzlaf, Shea Weber and Tobias Enstrom. Islanders GM Garth Snow is looking hard for a defenseman. Possible defenseman could be Jay Bouwmeester, Keith Ballard, Paul Martin and Zbynek Michalek.

Katie Strang via twitter: The Rangers have extended qualifying offers to Mats Zuccarello, Anton Stralman and Michael Del Zotto.