On the Anaheim Ducks …
Kevin Weekes: Watch for the Ducks to possibly move one of their good young defensemen. There is lots of interest, especially on Cam Fowler.
Chris Johnston: Word is the Ducks were asking for a first round pick in any Frederik Andersen trade. Got it from the Leafs, though at No. 30.
On the Vancouver Canucks …
Ben Kuzma: The Canucks will qualify Emerson Etem by Monday’s deadline.
Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Sun: If the Canucks are not going to re-sign defenseman Dan Hamhuis, they should trade his negotiating rights like the Stars did with Alex Goligoski.
“We would do something like that, but we haven’t had any calls,” Benning said Monday. “And that whole situation with Dan I would say is still fluid. We’re going to see at the draft when we’re talking to other teams if there are players who make us better and then we can circle back with Dan and try to get something figured out. There’s nothing that has changed on that, we’re still trying to figure it out.”
The Canucks haven’t sent qualifying offers to Emerson Etem, Alex Grenier, Mike Zalewski and Andrey Pedan yet.
The Canucks are not sure about qualifying Linden Vey. They could look to trade him at the draft. He’d become a UFA if he’s not qualified.
The Canucks are trying to trade Alex Burrows and Chris Higgins, and could consider buying them out if they can’t move them.
GM Jim Benning has been getting calls on their No. 5 pick.
“We’re content and we’re getting a good player at No. 5 and it doesn’t matter what happens at No. 3 or No. 4,” stressed Benning, who is high on Dubois. “There are six players we really like.”
Benning on free agency.
“Free agency is going to be interesting with the given that the cap may not go up a lot and with where some teams are cap wise. We’ll look at the terms and money that gets handed out. When the music stops, are there going to be players who don’t have a chair to sit down in? This is unlike other years and I’m curious to see how it all transpires.
“If we could add two forwards to help us out with scoring, that would give us the best chance to be competitive.”