- TSN: Some quotes from Oilers GM Craig MacTavish:
“I have not seen the same, beat-up, negative group that I’ve seen here in the past. If I thought for one instant it was a lack of work ethic on the players’ part, we’d be having a much different conversation.
“I’m going to continue to support this group, and I think the players deserve my support… I feel and see progress,” added MacTavish.
“The blueline needs to be improved upon… do we need a big stud defenceman? It would help immensely,” said MacTavish.
- Bob Stauffer: MacTavish said he would be prepared to move their 2014 1st round pick, preferable a player on an entry level contract.
- Jason Gregor: MacTavish: “I don’t view another first round draft choice as what we need. Whether I can get suitable value for that remains to be seen.” … “Our default is to kick out and not go to the net or tough areas. We need to get our group there or bring guys in who will go there.”
- Darren Dreger: The Oilers had offered three 2nd round picks for Braydon Coburn at the 2013 draft and couldn’t get the deal done.
- Hope Smoke: Bob McKenzie on TSN Radio: “Flames at this moment in time do not want to move Cammalleri”
- Ed Tait of the Winnipeg Free Press: Someone started that the Jets are taking calls for Evander Kane. A Montreal radio station floated a Kane for Max Pacioretty deal. A Vancouver TV type said the Canucks may want to package some prospects for Kane.
- Craig Custance of ESPN: Ranking Sabres GM candidates: 1. Claude Loiselle 2. Jason Botterill 3. Laurence Gilman 4. Brad Treliving 5. Paul Fenton Wild Card: Bill Zito.
- Sean Gordon of the Globe and Mail: The Canadiens will soon find out what it will cost them to potentially sign P.K. Subban to contract extension. It is likely to cost $8 million or more per season. What Subban brings: “no other defenceman brings quite the same combination of rise-out-of-your-seat offensive dynamism, punishing physicality and defensive intelligence.” Kings defenseman Drew Doughty (8-years, $56 million) and Blues Alex Pietrangelo (7-years, 45.5 million) may be the closest comparables. Penguins Kris Letang signed for 8-years and $58 million. Before the lockout, Senators Erik Karlsson signed for 7-years and $45 million. Shea Weber has a salary cap hit of $7.8 million, followed by Ryan Suter and Letang at $7.5 million.
- Adrian Dater: Scouting the Avalanche – Blues games: Rangers, Blue Jackets, Hurricanes, Penguins, Maple Leafs, Canadiens and Lightning.