Canadian teams and the Penguins showing interest in Ferland
TSN: Darren Dreger on TSN 1040 radio said that three Canadian teams and the Pittsburgh Penguins among the teams that have shown interest in Carolina Hurricanes pending free agent forward Micheal Ferland.
“I can tell you the market for Micheal Ferland, it is high, it is strong,” Dreger told TSN Radio 1040 Vancouver. “I’ll tell you this: I think Jim Benning and the Vancouver Canucks would love to get their hands on Micheal Ferland, either through trade or as a free agent because of what he brings. He can be a top-six player, and he is as tough as nails.
“I would put Vancouver on that list. I’d put Calgary, believe it or not, with interest to get Ferland back, on that list. Winnipeg, Pittsburgh. From a trade perspective, there’s a strong market for that guy. If he gets to unrestricted free agency, there’ll be 15 or more teams that’ll try and sign him.”
Pierre LeBrun said on Insider Trade that Penguins GM Jim Rutherford likes to be active and is believed to have inquired. The Flames will inquire if they haven’t already. Any contender likely has the names of Ferland and Wayne Simmonds on their interest list.
LeBrun adds that with the Penguins salary cap situation, they may have to include salary.
“What if it’s Derick Brassard? A player we’ve talked about also being on the trade market. It would help the math work. Carolina now would want a first-round pick in there. Brassard is a UFA, would Carolina then turn around and flip him closer to the trade deadline? There are a lot of moving parts, a lot of conjecture here, but some interesting conversations being had right now.”
TSN: Darren Dreger says on TSN 1040 that the Carolina Hurricanes could be big players at the trade deadline, possibly before that as they continue to for an offensive top-six forward.
“You look at some of the defence that we’ve speculated on – Brett Pesce, Justin Faulk, Dougie Hamilton, of course. Jacob Slavin seems to be the only defenceman that Don Waddell doesn’t really want to consider in terms of trade.”