- Harvey Fialkov: GMs don’t really want to trade for a big contract before the break and pay for players that won’t be playing for the next three weeks.
- Larry Brooks: Has been told that a) no progress has been made in contract talks between the Rangers and Ryan Callahan. b) there is little chance he’s traded before the trade freeze. The gap between both sides is as substantial as ever. Callahan is still asking for seven-years and upwards of $6.5 million. Source saying the GM Glen Sather will want something in return rather than let him walk for nothing. Sather hasn’t received a good enough offer to make a deal yet. Callahan is expected to be in the Rangers lineup tonight. The Rangers and Dan Girardi closed the gap on an extension last week, but there has been no progress since. Source said that the Rangers may be able to get more for Girardi as a rental than for Callahan.
- AJ Jakubec: Second source said that the Oilers would get more than just Kyle Clifford for Sam Gagner, a complicated deal. The Kings are tight to the cap and the deal may have to wait until after the Olympic break. The Oilers would retain some of Gagner’s salary. The Kings were thought to be reviewing Gagner’s medical records yesterday.
- Bob McKenzie: Also hearing a deal between the Kings and Oilers involving Sam Gagner and Kyle Clifford is possible. It is a complicated deal because of the Kings cap situation. The Oilers may have to retain some salary and the Kings may have to give up another piece. It is not guaranteed, but it’s being discussed: Clifford and a pick or prospect for Gagner and the Oilers retaining some salary.
- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: The Kings are desperate for offense. There are the talks with the Oilers about Gagner, but they are also thought to be interested in Matt Moulson, Mike Cammalleri and Thomas Vanek.
- David Pagnotta: The Kings are also talking with the Islanders about some of their players.
- Dennis Bernstein: The Kings-Islanders intensified talks may be reason the Kings – Gagner hasn’t closed yet.
- Bruce Garrioch: Kings GM Dean Lombardi, assistant GM Rob Blake and chief scout Mike O’Connell scouted the Oilers and Bruins last Saturday.
- Ben Kuzma: Canucks GM Mike Gillis said that no player has approached him about waiving their no-trade clause.
- Ian Mendes: After talking with Sabres GM Tim Murray, sounding like they are asking for 2015 1st round picks and not from this years draft.
- John Vogl: Sabres Tim Murray on having trade talks with Bryan Murray: “It hasn’t been much fun because I’ve asked him for certain things and he won’t give it to me”
- Shawn McKenzie: Sabres Tim Murray on trading Ryan Miller: “I don’t know if the right deal is going to come along. It’s not when, it’s if more so than when. There has to be certain types of players and prospects involved in a deal like that. So I just need a team that thinks the same way”
- John Vogl of the Buffalo News: GM Tim Murray doesn’t expect much movement today. Teams don’t want to pay a high priced player not to play if they don’t have too. There is also the risk of injury for Olympic players.
“I never expected this to be a deadline,” Murray said Thursday. “If we don’t trade anybody, we pay them through the Olympic break and you can make a deal after it. The economics of the game and the possibility of injuries at the Olympics for those players, I never expected anything to get done quickly.”
On the March 5th deadline.
“I’m just listening and hopefully get an offer that I think is worthwhile on a couple of our guys, and if not then that’s the way it goes,” he said. “I’m making a lot of calls, but I’m making them to guys that called me first. The teams that have showed the most interest in certain players, I’m obviously trying to keep in contact with them every day to see where we’re going.
“I don’t know if the right deal is going to come along,” he said in regards to Miller. “It’s not ‘when,’ it’s ‘if’ more so than ‘when.’ I just think there has to be certain types of prospects and players involved in a deal like that, so I just need a team that thinks the same way.”
- Brett Cyrgalis: The Islanders offered Andrew MacDonald a four-year contract worth $16 million over a month ago, which he rejected and will now likely be sold to the highest bidder. MacDonald is looking for a four- or five-year deal and closer to $5 million per season. The Islanders came up from $3.5 million. GM Garth Snow has already turned down one substantial offer in hopes of getting more.
- Bruce Garrioch: The Senators have been unable to find a top-six forward, preferably a winger. GM Bryan Murray hasn’t found a willing partner and the asking prices have been high.
“I’d like to find another forward to at least send a message to our team that management and coaches are trying to help (them),” said Murray. “We have lots of assets, lots of young prospects … over the last few years we’ve accumulated a really good group of prospects.
“I guess it depends on the return that is expected from other teams if you try to acquire that kind of player. I’ve done lots of talking to people but there’s nobody at the moment that appears willing to pull the trigger.”
Making a trade isn’t easy.
“Today the prices may be a tough higher than they will on the actual deadline day when the competition for the guy isn’t quite the same,” said Murray. “There’s so many teams so close together here we’re all little hesitant to make a move that isn’t the right move.”
- Brian Costello of the Hockey News: Flames Mike Cammalleri could be a nice fit with the Kings, Ducks and Sharks. The Canucks could also make a push for him. The Flames could be looking for a 1st round pick and a B-list prospect, or a 2nd round pick and a A-list prospect.
- Michael Traikos of the National Post: Maple Leafs Nikolai Kulemin knows the rumors, but would like to stay with the Leafs.
“I would love to stay,” Kulemin said. “I like everything here. It’s the only team I’ve played for. I like the organization and everything. We’ll see how it goes.”
Darren Dreger has said that the Leafs have told teams he’s available, and they are asking for a “substantial player” in return. The Penguins have been mentioned due to Kulemin’s history with Evgeni Malkin and the Penguins had a scout watching the Leafs game against the Panthers.
- David Strehle: Scouting the Flyers – Avalanche: Capitals, Flames (play Philly on Saturday), Stars, Lightning, Penguins, Blue Jackets and Blues.
- Ed Tait: Scouting the Jets – Capitals: Ducks, Blackhawks, Red Wings, Wild, Blues, Lighting and Sharks.
- Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Penguins Kris Letang is still out with an mystery illness which is not life threatening, but it’s not known when he’ll be able to return. There were concerns last week that it could season ending and possibly career ending. Dan Bylsma would “not allude” to anything “until we’ve got more and all the information.” Letang won’t be traded before the deadline.