- Josh Rimer: Hearing that the Canucks will have a fire sale at the draft with Ryan Kesler, Alex Edler and Kevin Bieksa likely to go. What does this mean to the Sedins? Will ownership let GM Mike Gillis do the rebuild? What about coach John Tortorella?
- Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: After seeing how successful it was to have three quality centers in Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal during the playoff runs from 2007 to 2009, it was one of the reasons GM Ray Shero was targeting Ryan Kesler. With not a lot of salary cap room left and lots of injuries, the Penguins had some holes to fill at the deadline: top-line winger, third line scoring and defensive depth. The Penguins could still look to add Kesler. If they are able to land Kesler, their top three centers would take up $23.3 million in cap space, about 34.3 percent.
- James Murphy of XN Sports: There is speculation within NHL management and scouting that Canucks ownership may have nixed two potential trades at the deadline. The Canucks were close to trading Ryan Kesler to the Penguins for a package that included Brandon Sutter, Derrick Pouliot and a draft pick. Ownership still thinks they are a playoff team, and may have told GM Mike Gillis to take him off the trade market. Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe reported last week that the Canucks may have had a deal in place to send Alex Eder to the Bruins for a package that included Matt Barkowski and Ryan Spooner or Alexander Khokhlachev. The deal may have been pulled as the Kesler trade did not happen.The Devils tried to get Brian Gionta from the Canadiens at the deadline. Sources saying that the Devils offered a prospect and a second round pick, but where told he wasn’t available.
- Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Recently acquired Thomas Vanek may not re-sign with the Canadiens as signs pointing to him signing with Minnesota. Nobody should be surprised if the Lightning were able to re-sign Ryan Callahan to a five year deal at $25 million. There is no state income tax in Florida, great weather and less pressure.
“Ryan can take a test-drive there and vice versa,” said his agent Steve Bartlett, who says Tampa general manager Steve Yzerman is taking it low-key. “There’s no gun to anybody’s head. I love that attitude.” Bartlett concedes that the lack of state income tax is a carrot. “You can take 10-per-cent less in Florida than New York and have it be the same amount of money.”
- Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Matheson can see the Ducks going after Ryan Kesler after the season. The Ducks could offer a combination of Jakob Silfverberg, Devante Smith-Pelly or Emerson Etem, Sami Vatanen or Luca Sbisa and a first round pick.Matheson thinks the Oilers should try to sign Kings pending UFA Matt Greene this summer.
The Red Wings want to re-sign newly acquired David Legwand.
Matheson can see the Blue Jackets looking to add Matt Moulson this offseason to replace Marian Gaborik.
The Coyotes looked at added Ales Hemsky at the deadline to play with Martin Hanzal and Radim Vrbata. Hemsky could re-sign with the Senators, but the Coyotes will likely be interested in him as well.
- Bucky Gleason of the Buffalo News: Pat LaFontaine talks a little, but didn’t speak about his exit from the team 3 1/2 months after he was brought in. There are questions if he was fired, if he resigned or a combination of both. He wouldn’t even acknowledge if he signed a confidentiality agreement with the team.