On the Columbus Blue Jackets …
Aaron Portzline: If the Blue Jackets are going to buy out forward Scott Hartnell and the final two years of his contract, they have to start the process .
Aaron Portzline: Hartnell has a no-movement clause so the Blue Jackets have to ask him to waive it if he wants to go on waivers before Friday’s deadline.
Aaron Portzline: The Blue Jackets could consider Ilya Kovalchuk but as of now he’s not a target.
On Nick Bonino …
NHL Prospect Watch: McGuire said that Nashville Predators are going to try to sign free agent Nick Bonino and added that they are very concerned that Mike Fisher will retire.
On the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche …
Jimmy Murphy: Reported at the trade deadline that the Penguins had interest in Matt Duchene and have been told that, that interest returned at the draft. Like other teams, they felt the asking price was too high.
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Elliotte Friedman was on NHL Network and was talking about Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Duchene. If offers don’t improve GM Joe Sakic said he’ll keep Duchene. Who is interested?
“I still think the Islanders are interested. The Islanders, after their trade with Calgary, have a few more pieces to deal with.
“And as I wrote today, I wouldn’t be surprised if in a stealth way Pittsburgh is kind of interested. They’re a team that kind of looked at Duchene, I think, last year. We heard their name mentioned with them a couple of times. I don’t know if they’ve really exited. It wouldn’t be an easy thing for Pittsburgh to do for cap purposes, but Duchene is a flexible guy – he can play center and he can play wing and that’s the kind of player you need in the cap world.
“So I wouldn’t be surprised if Pittsburgh is still lurking along with the Islanders.”