- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Predators GM David Poile.
“I talked to almost everybody before the Olympic break; I’ve probably spoken to half of the teams this week,” Poile told ESPN.com Friday afternoon.
“Everybody knows from my standpoint what we have available. I’m certainly aware that we’ve come from nine points out of the playoffs to four points out. That gives us a chance to make the playoffs. I know we have to leap over some teams to do it, so the odds are against us, but hope springs eternal.
“From my standpoint, I don’t consider myself a buyer, I don’t consider myself a seller. I could just be neutral given where we are.”
Poile on Shea Weber.
“We’re not trading Shea. We’ve told that to everybody. People ask and it’s their right to ask, but we’re not trading him,” Poile said firmly.
The Ducks might be willing to trade one of their goalies, with LeBrun guessing Viktor Fasth. He has another year left at $2.9 million.
The Capitals are still trying to trade Martin Erat.
“The only thing I’m working on that has to be done is moving Erat,” Caps GM George McPhee told ESPN.com Friday morning.
“There are some teams interested. He still wants out. I’d love to be able to do it this weekend. But we’ll see.”
The Flyers are interested in both Ryan Kesler and Alex Edler. The Canucks would likely ask for Brayden Schenn, and LeBrun isn’t sure if the Flyers would be into that. The Penguins, Red Wings and Blue Jackets could be other teams interested in Kesler.
Tyler Myers could be had for the right price.
Ales Hemsky could be plan B for teams that don’t get Matt Moulson or Thomas Vanek.
The Sam Gagner to LA Kings deal fell through as the Oilers wouldn’t eat any of his salary.
- Craig Custance of ESPN: (before last nigh’s trade) Sabres GM Tim Murray.
“There’s still good interest in another four or five guys,” he said. “Nothing specific — kicking tires.”
Christian Ehrhoff has been getting interest. The Sabres would have to be weary of an early retirement and having the salary cap recapture affecting them.
“Part of the return would have to, I guess you could say, recapture the recapture,” Murray said.
- Ansar Khan of MLive: Red Wings GM Ken Holland continues to talk with teams. He’s not interested in paying a high price for a rental. Ryan Kesler would interest the Wings, but the price will be high. Teams would be asking the Canucks for players like Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar and Danny DeKeyser. It is unlikely that they would want to part with any of them. Holland may be more interested in adding a defenseman, with Alex Edler possibly being a better Canuck option. The Sabres are open for offers on Tyler Myers and Christian Ehrhoff.