- Craig Custance of ESPN: (mailbag) If the Blues are looking to bring a bigger name in, it will have to include salary going out. If the Blues are looking at Ryan Callahan, the Rangers will want someone that could step right into their lineup (ie. Chris Stewart) and not just picks and prospects. The emergence of Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko, and with Dmitrij Jaskin on his way, has made Stewart expendable. If Stewart isn’t dealt at the deadline, he could be moved in the summer.
Custance thinks it’s in the best interest of the Blue Jackets to trade Marian Gaborik at the deadline and that he might be able to land them a 1st round pick.
Custance doesn’t think the Capitals will deplete their system to land Ryan Miller.
Custance thinks there could be at least on trade at the deadline that nobody saw coming. GMs appear to be wanting to make “hockey deals” rather than rentals.
There’s the sense that the Avalanche will keep Ryan O’Reilly as Patrick Roy really likes him.
Oilers Sam Gagner is all but assured to be traded. There could be a bigger deal to be made if Oilers GM Criag MacTavish can find a taker. Still a long-shot that one of the Oilers other stars gets traded, but it is possible.
If the Hurricanes are willing to retain some salary,and if he’d waive his no-trade clause, they might be able to find a taker for goalie Cam Ward. If the Hurricanes wanted to move Anton Khudobin, they could get a draft pick for him for a contender who is looking for a goaltending depth.
Custance thinks it will be interesting to see if the Canucks will look to trade Alex Edler at the deadline. It could benefit them in both the short-term and long-term if they could get a young center for him.
- Tim Kavanagh of ESPN: Top 5 Grinders: 1. Ryan Callahan – maybe looking for an NHL regular to place him if they decide to trade him. 2. Andrew Ladd – could bring the Jets a substantial return. The Penguins could use a big winger and have the assets. 3. Tuomo Ruutu – will teams want to take on his salary. 4. Troy Brouwer – the Capitals could use either a top four defenseman, prospects and/or picks. 5. Erik Cole
- Dennis Bernstein: Gary Bettman on WFAN: “we hope there are World Cups in future because we can control the timing of event.” Added a switch to the Summer Olympics is not feasible.
