On the Dallas Stars
Mike Heika: (answering question) Guessing the Stars could be focused on pending UFA 28-year old defenseman Karl Alzner. Will have to wait and see if he hits the open market.
Isabelle Khurshudyan: notes that a lot of teams are going to be interested in Alzner. Top four defenseman will be in high demand this offseason.
Mike Heika: Responding to Khurshudyan … There could be an intense bidding war for him.
Mike Heika: There could be a chance that the Stars are able to trade Antti Niemi if they eat half of his salary – $2.25 million. If they are not able to trade him, they’ll have to choose who to buy out.
Sean Shapiro: If Johnny Oduya‘s ankle is healed, the Ron Hainsey trade sets the market price for the Stars before the deadline.
On the Tampa Bay Lightning …
Joe Smith: Ben Bishop hopes he stays in Tampa past the trade deadline and adds: “That’s out of my hands. It’s up to Steve. We’ll see.”
David Pagnotta: Was a bit of surprise that Ben Bishop didn’t start last night. Source that is close to their situation said there is nothing to report about a potential trade.
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Bob McKenzie was on NBCSN talking about Ben Bishop and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“I think if they get the right offer they wouldn’t hesitate,” said McKenzie. “It might free up cap space to do something else. It may simply make sense to get something for him.
“But you’re right, right now they’re on a roll and one of the reasons they’re on a roll is because he’s rediscovering his game. And right now the coaching staff seems to have more confidence in him than Vasilevskiy. But ultimately Steve Yzerman knows that Vasilevskiy is their goaltender of the very near future and long-term future, so if they get the right deal for Bishop I don’t think they’ll hesitate to move him.”