On the Boston Bruins …
Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe: Even though Tuukka Rask isn’t expected to miss any time, the Bruins realize they may have to acquire a backup goalie before the trade deadline.
“When you look at we’re at Game 53 and we’ve got one win from our backup goaltender,” said Julien, whose club is 1-9-2 in games when Rask has not been the goalie of record, “we’re not blind to the matter. What we have to do right now is get ourselves in the best position possible.
“We’re gonna hope that one of our goaltenders besides Tuukka gets hot. And if not, as I have said before, we have to look elsewhere.”
On the Edmonton Oilers …
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 960 on the Edmonton Oilers, Jordan Eberle and Benoit Pouliot.
“I think they have tried to trade both Eberle and Pouliot for some time now, and I just don’t think there’s a market,” said Friedman. “One of the problems is that the word out of the All-Star break was that the cap is going to be flat next year, that we’re not going anywhere. So I think it makes it harder for those kinds of guys to get dealt. So Edmonton is in a situation where they’re aware of that.
“I think everything that Peter Chiarelli does is with the realization that Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have to be re-signed. So what are those two guys going to be making together – $16 million? $18 million? $20 million? I mean, I don’t know. But you have to be prepared for that eventuality.”
Friedman added he thinks Kevin Shattenkirk would go to Edmonton in the short-term. He’s also heard they may stand pat at the deadline.
They could use another defenseman. They want to re-sign Kris Russell.
“I just think they really think that Eberle needs a change of scenery, as much as anything else. I think if they could get that contract off there then it wouldn’t be as much as what they would get, it would be as much for they could remove.”