On scouting the Arizona Coyotes and San Jose Sharks …
Craig Morgan: Scouts listed to attend last night’s Coyotes-Sharks game: Toronto Maple Leafs (2), Calgary Flames (2), Nashville Predators, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators, Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Vegas Golden Knights, and the New York Rangers.
Kevin Kurz: Lots of scouts at last night’s Sharks-Coyotes game. The Canadiens have been scouting the Sharks regularly of late.
On the Arizona Coyotes …
The Fourth Period: Sources are saying that the Coyotes are looking to trade defenseman Jason Demers. Demers carries a $3.9375 million cap hit and has an eight-team no-trade list.
Other Coyotes who are believed to be available include defensemen Niklas Hjalmarsson, Luke Schenn, and Kevin Connauton, as well as forwards Brad Richardson and Tobias Rieder.
On the Chicago Blackhawks …
Mark Lazerus: Believe the Blackhawks are looking at the goaltender trade market. Possible rental options on the trade market could include Petr Mrazek, Robin Lehner and maybe Antti Raanta.
On the Vancouver Canucks …
Iain MacIntyre: 34-year old pending free agent forward Thomas Vanek is second in scoring on the Canucks with 13 goals and 32 points. Vanek has been a leader in the dressing room and has helped mentor Brock Boeser.
Vanek signed a one-year, $2 million deal this offseason. He doesn’t have any trade protection and has expected to be dealt by the trade deadline since the day he signed the contract.
“When I signed the contract it was for one year, but no movement, no-trades (restrictions), nothing,” Vanek says. “So reality is if you’re out of it by the deadline and there’s interest, I’m sure Jim will do what’s best for this organization. From that standpoint, I can’t really worry … because it’s out of my hands.
“I don’t really have a decision to make. It’s nothing I haven’t been through before.”
The Red Wings got a third-round pick from the Panthers for Vanek at the deadline last year.
Vanek likes playing for the Canucks but knows he’s not really a long-term fit for them.