Darren Dreger: Provided that Dan Girardi isn’t focused on hitting the open market, there is a deal to be made with the Rangers. Both Girardi and Ryan Callahan could be traded by the deadline if they are interested in testing the market.
Darren Dreger: The Oilers are not that eager to retain any salary in a Sam Gagner trade. It is thought that they are getting some interest from some other teams now.
Darren Dreger: The Kings – Oilers deal for Gagner could still go down, but what is the rush? He’s playing well and they may be able to get more for him at the deadline or even at the draft.
Michael Arace of the Columbus Dispatch: Roster freeze until Febrary 23rd.
“My sense is that teams are retrenching for the deadline,” John Davidson, Blue Jackets president of hockey operations, said in a telephone interview.
On if the Blue Jackets will be buyers or sellers.
“If we’re going to do something, it’s going to be something to help us long term,” Davidson said. “I know, it’s getting repetitive. But that’s where we are.”
The Blue Jackets don’t seem to be a fit for Ryan Callahan, but there have been rumors.
“We’re not doing rentals because the price is too high. It’s not worth doing,” Davidson said. “We like our team, and we have to figure out what we’re doing with Gabby.”
TSN: Penguins Kris Letang will be out for at least six weeks after having a stroke last week. It isn’t believed to be career threatening and he has been cleared to travel with his family for a vacation.
“Kris had one brief episode of dizziness and nausea last week,” Penguins GM Ray Shero said. “We held him out of the Los Angeles game Thursday night, and when he continued to feel ill, tests conducted in Phoenix on Saturday gave us the first indication of his condition.
“Further testing then was conducted when he returned to Pittsburgh, and he continued to undergo a battery of tests here this week.”