On the Vancouver Canucks …
TSN Radio Vancouver: Ray Ferraro on pending RFA Erik Gudbranson: “The one thing I keep coming back to with Gudbranson is you’re basically renting a player. I’m not 5x$5m for Gudbranson. I don’t think that style of game stands up well over what the next 4, 5 years looks like.”
TSN Radio Vancouver: Ferraro on Gudbranson: “If you’re happy with him as a #4 defenseman, because in my mind that’s what he is on a really good team, are you going to be happy paying him $5m. Because if you are, you’ll make this move. If not, you’ll try to get him at a rental price.”
TSN Radio Vancouver: Ferraro on Ben Hutton: “If you’re selling now, you’re at lowest possible return. It wasn’t long ago that he was playing with confidence, with a view forward. It was a puck mover on a team that didn’t have any. He’s of the age where players either start to get it, or they don’t”
TSN Radio Vancouver: Ferraro on Hutton: “To make a lateral move to save cap dollars? My answer is no. Not yet, not unless somebody….well, I can’t imagine there’s an offer that would blow off your socks.”
On the Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames and Chicago Blackhawks …
TSN Insider Trading: Pierre LeBrun: If the Sabres are going to trade forward Evander Kane, the asking price is a first-round pick, a prospect, and a conditional pick if he re-signs with that new team. Don’t think there is a timeline, but more likely by the deadline. If someone would meet their price before the end of this month, the Sabres would move him. Some of the teams that might be interested in Kane aren’t sure yet if they will be buyers.
Darren Dreger: Jaromir Jagr is still injured and there doesn’t seem to be much of trade market for him. He wants to make sure he’s healthy before any decision on his playing future is determined, and that might take some time.
Pierre LeBrun: The healthy scratching of defenseman Brent Seabrook is not setting up a potential trade from the Chicago Blackhawks.