On the Edmonton Oilers …
Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli is looking to add before the trade deadline on Wednesday.
The Oilers could use an experience back up goalie to give Cam Talbot a break. He’ll make his 56th start of the season today and they don’t want him playing 70+ regular season games.
They could also use a third line center that provides some offense and can win faceoffs.
Another area of need for the Oilers is a right winger. Zack Kassian may be better off on the 4th line as opposed to the 3rd. The Dallas Stars have Patrick Sharp that might interest the Oilers, but they’d need the Stars to retain half his salary.
On the Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, and Florida Panthers …
Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: For the expansion draft, the Predators may be thinking of protecting four forwards and four defensemen. Roman Josi, P.K. Subban, Ryan Ellis and Mattias Ekholm on the blueline, with Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen, James Neal and likely Viktor Arvidsson up front. Not many teams will go four and four.
The Pittsburgh Penguins may add another rental defenseman.
Could see the Tampa Bay Lightning being interested in Buffalo Sabres pending UFA defenseman Dmitry Kulikov. The Sabres would need to retrain half of his $4.2 million cap hit. New Jersey Devils defenseman Kyle Quincey at $1.2 million could be an option.
The Carolina Hurricanes could look to move free agents Jay McClement and Viktor Stalberg.
Talk is the Chicago Blackhawks would like to re-acquire winger Patrick Sharp. The Stars would need to retain a big part of Sharp’s $5.9 million cap hit. The Florida Panthers could be another team interested in Sharp.
Scouts continue to say that Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk is available. The Hurricanes would need to get a center back.
thinks the Lightning can’t trade Ben Bishop at the deadline. They need to keep him for a playoff push. The Lightning can trade his rights before July 1st for a draft picl.