- Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: The Stars have about $2.7 million in salary cap space, which would allow the Stars to take on $13 million in players salaries (cap number). Sergei Gonchar has another year at $5 million and is likely untradeable. It’s unlikely they buy him out after the season or eat half is contract in a trade. The Stars could trade Stephane Robidas if they get a good offer for him. Ray Whitney and Vernon Fiddler are UFAs and could be moved. Heika doesn’t think Fiddler will be traded despite asking for a trade earlier in the season. It’s still unlikely that they re-sign Fiddler, but will use him to continue their push for a playofff spot.
- The Fourth Period: The Stars are looking for a top-pair defenseman that has term left and not rental players. Two sources are saying they have interest in Christian Ehrhoff and Alex Edler. Both players have no-trade clauses. Source saying the Stars may not be in on Edler as the cost to acquire him may be too high. The Stars are also looking to trade Vern Fiddler and Ray Whitney. Stephane Robidas is getting interest from teams.
- Darren Dreger: Stars defenseman Stephane Robidas is injured and expected back mid-March, but is still getting some trade interest.
- Arthur Staple: Islanders Thomas Vanek and Andrew MacDonald will almost certainly be traded by Wednesday’s deadline.
“You try to block it out, but it’s hard not to,” said Vanek, who rejected a seven-year, $50-million offer from the Islanders in January.
MacDonald rejected a four year deal worth $16 million in January.
“I’ve only ever been here,” he said. “I don’t know anything different. You try not to think about it, but obviously it’s running through your mind. It’s a business and that’s just how it is right now, I guess.
“This is obviously not how I’d like to go out.”
- The Fourth Period: The Senators are discussing whether they should trade Milan Michalak or keep the pending UFA. Michalek has a full no-trade clause, but knows what is going on and may consider a trade. Sources saying they haven’t approached Michalek about waiving his NTC. The Senators could look at trading pending UFA Joe Corvo.
- Jason Brough: “No need to wait til the summer and waste the value Kesler could give a team this postseason.”
- John Shannon: Shannon wonders if the extent of Daniel Sedin’s injury (left game yesterday) will play a role in whether they can afford to trade Ryan Kesler now.
- Mark Spector: A lot of teams are saying that any trades need to be money in, money out. Teams either don’t have the salary cap space or they are at their internal salary cap.
- Mark Spector: The Rangers may be interested in Ales Hemsky, but some of their scouts are split on him. Other teams are split on him as well. A third round pick is probably what teams may want to pay, the Oilers will be asking for a second.
- Don Brennan: Senators owner Eugene Melnyk on the trade deadline: “We’re easily considered a buyer….we’re definitely not sellers.”
- Buffalo Sabres: “Tim Murray: We’re continuing to talk trades, continuing to get ready for the draft. Focused on hockey.”
- Denis Gorman: Scouting the Rangers – Bruins yesterday: Flyers, Canucks, Sharks, Hurricanes, Blue Jackets and Penguins.