- Arthur Staple of Newsday: Islanders GM Garth Snow has been talking with other GMs. Here are some names that have been mentioned in the past few weeks.
Goaltenders: Jonas Hiller: cost was a draft pick and prospect before the season started. If the pick was a mid-pick, Snow might be more interested. Ryan Miller: the price is still high, believed to be a high pick and an A/B level prospect. Anton Khudobin/Justin Peters: either would likely be claimed by the Islanders or Oilers if put on waivers. The Hurricanes are carrying three goalies. Joey MacDonald: available for basically nothing.
Defenseman: Jake Gardiner: asking price is a top-six forward. Teams may not be interested in Josh Bailey and his big contract. Same with Michael Grabner. Michael Del Zotto: they have talked with the Rangers, but Snow wasn’t interested. Tim Gleason: no chance with too much money and term left on his deal. John-Michael Liles: see Gleason.
- B.D. Gallof: Islanders trade talk: “And when i say “talk” the talk that’s coming from projected opinion instead of actual reports. 1. Trade is only made if clearly makes team better now & tomorrow. Not just for immediate issues. 2. Notice that NO top D are hitting the rumor circuit or being offered. Almost all top D really are developed in-house by teams. 3. Stop being size whores. This isn’t the 90s anymore of big Dmen. 2 way dmen leads to wins. This is what is coveted & in pipeline.”
- Chris Johnston of SportsNet: Sabres Steve Ott had talked with the Sabres during the summer about an extension, but Ott realizes that he may be dealt.
“You’ve got to look at it: Who are your assets?” says Ott, who calls it an honour to be mentioned in rumours and wanted by other teams. “We understand the whole asset side of things. Myself, (Miller) and (Moulson) are the unrestricted guys in this dressing room, and we’re going to probably cause a little stir because of where we are—in a rebuilding atmosphere we’re usually guys (the team) will get pieces for. Otherwise, that’s bad business.”
- Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer: Flyers pending RFA Steve Mason, “this is where I want to be.” Negotiations can’t start before January 1st.
“At some point, we’ll touch base with Steve’s agent, but a lot of players don’t like to do anything during the season,” said general manager Paul Holmgren.
- Luke Fox of SportsNet: Hockey Central saying the Canadiens are warming to a long-term extension for P.K. Subban, who is looking for an eight-year deal in the $65 to $70 million range. The Canadiens and Avs may have something brewing.
“The Canadiens have been scouting the Avs all year long,” writes Adrain Dater of the Denver Post. “While I don’t believe something ‘major’ is imminent, I do believe Montreal has targeted the Avs for a while now for something. It could be as little as trying to get John Mitchell, or something as big as a package involving Paul Stastny.”
- The Fourth Period: Teams are calling the Sabres about Ryan Miller, but they aren’t in a rush to trade him. He can list up to eight teams that he won’t accept a trade with his limited no-trade clause. It’s thought Miller would like to play out West, but the Sabres might be hoping that he stays.
“You build around him versus using him as a pawn to try to get something to try to make you better,” Nolan said of Miller, speaking to WGR Sports Radio 550 Sabres Reporter Paul Hamilton, who released the quotes via Twitter.
“I talked to Pat about this, the one thing we want to do is create an environment where people want to come here and stay here, so hopefully Miller likes what we’re doing and you never know.”
- Chuck Gormley of CSN Washington: The Coyotes, Senators, Canadiens, Penguins, Flyers and two from the Jets scouted the Capitals-Hurricanes game. Gormley wonders if the Jets could be interested in Martin Erat or Dmitry Orlov and what they may be willing to give to get them. One scout said teams may stay away from Erat since he’s asked to be traded twice in eight months. Evander Kane’s name has come up in the rumor mill. It would take more than Erat and Orlov to get Kane. Gormley wonders if the Jets would be willing to move defenseman Mark Stuart. There was rumors of the Canucks having interest in Erat. Kevin Bieksa and Dan Hamhuis fit what the Capitals could use, with Hamhuis more of a fit as he’s left handed shot. It would take more than Erat and Orlov to get Hamhuis and the Capitals aren’t deep in prospects.
- Larry Brooks of the NY Post: The Rangers still have pending UFAs to lock up, Ryan Callahan and Dan Girardi. David Clarkson got seven years at $36.75 million, so Brooks wonders what Callahan could get. Dennis Wideman got five years at $26.25 million, and Brooks wonders what Girardi would get.
- Hope Smoke: Bob McKenzie: “Del Zotto will be traded”
- Hope Smoke: McKenzie: “There has been dialogue between the Leafs, Rangers, Capitals, Kings and Gretzky about coming back to hockey in some capacity”
- Hope Smoke: Darren Dreger: “Easy to say that a shake-up is required and look at the injuries and say Nonis should have done something by now” … “Nonis has done a great job working the phones. He’s let it be known that guys like Gardiner can be had”
- Hope Smoke: Dreger: “I don’t know that Kulemin doesn’t fit into the Leafs plans. Carlyle’s view of him must be different than ours. He’s useful” … “He’s a solid def forward who has been slotted in that role. There is always trade interest in Kulemin & he’ll be an attractive UFA”
- Hope Smoke: Dreger: “Things can change. We’ve heard that Carolina is prepared to just about do anything” … “It is possible that Rutherford makes a coaching change or moves a big time player”