On the Washington Capitals …
CSN Mid Atlantic: (writers discussing if Nate Schmidt is ready for a top-four role with the Capitals) JJ Regan – If the Capitals decide to protect seven forwards, three defense and a goalie for the expansion draft, the Vegas Golden Knights could select him. They’d likely protect John Carlson, Dmitry Orlov and Matt Niskanen.
Tarik El-Bashir – The 26-year old Schmidt is also a restricted free agent and could cost between $2 and $3 million a season.
On the Vancouver Canucks and Buffalo Sabres …
Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province: The Sabres are looking to add an established defenseman like the Canucks Chris Tanev or Kings Jake Muzzin and Alec Martinez.
Evander Kane can score and would love to play in Vancouver. Kane finished the season with 28 goals – 25 at even strength. The Canucks were 29th in scoring last year.
Moving Tanev’s $4.45 million cap hit would help even out Kane’s cap hit.
If Kane has really changed off-ice, the Canucks should at least kick tires on him.
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Bob McKenzie on TSN 1040 on if the Canucks are actually interested in Sabres winger Evander Kane.
“That’s a good question,” considered Bob McKenzie when asked on Vancouver’s TSN 1040 on Tuesday morning. “They were before, but then I think somebody put the kibosh on it and I think that was that. I think they were, on a couple of occasions, interested. I’m not sure if there’s still interest at this point. I’m not saying there is, I’m not saying there isn’t – I’m saying I don’t know for an absolute fact.”
From McKenzie’s understanding things cooled on the Canucks side of things the last time they went down the Kane road.
McKenzie later added there are a number of teams that have shown interest in Kane, and not sure if one of those teams is the Canucks.