On the Montreal Canadiens …
Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette: There is no urgency for Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin to make a move after loosing centers Alex Galchenyuk and David Desharnais, and defenseman Greg Pateryn to injuries this week.
Most teams still think they have a shot at the playoffs, so the Canadiens wouldn’t be trading from a position of strength.
The list of potentially available players will be bigger in February.
Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has been in the rumor mill, but he has a $6 million cap hit and it would cost the Canadiens a lot.
Some think that Martin Hanzal could be a candidate for the Canadiens, but he hasn’t scored more than 16 goals in a season and has only had more than 40 points twice.
On the Toronto Maple Leafs …
Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star: Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello when asked if the Leafs will be buyer or sellers.
“To think about that, it’s too far away to even have in your mindset,” said Lamoriello. “That’s a far-fetched thing at this point.”
The Leafs still think they could be a playoff team despite being in last in the Atlantic and on a 2-4-2 skid. Lamoriello won’t let the influence how they build their team.
“Right now, we’re building,” he said. “Determining who the players are that will be part of the future, and who are buying into what it takes to have the success you want to have.
“We’d like the team in a position where contract numbers won’t get in the way, the cap won’t get in the way, where cash won’t get in the way, and we can develop the players we have in our system.”
On the Dallas Stars and Boston Bruins …
Sean Shapiro: (mailbag) If the Stars trade a defenseman, think it will be Johnny Oduya. He’s pending unrestricted free agent and don’t think they plan on re-signing him.
They could trade him for a draft pick and a prospect, or they could deal him for a roster player. The Hockey News suggested trading Oduya for Ben Bishop.
Shapiro doesn’t think Bishop will end up in Dallas and that they will finished the season with Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi.
The Bruins have been looking for a defensman and goalie prospect Malcolm Subban could use a change of scenery. The Stars could try to get the Bruins second round pick along with Subban since they don’t have a third round pick. The Bruins would likely reject that, with the Stars countering with a fourth round pick or B-level prospect.
