On the Detroit Red Wings …
John Niyo of the Detroit News: The Red Wings will be looking to acquire more future assets leading up to the trade deadline. They will join the likes of Buffalo Sabres, Ottawa Senators, Arizona Coyotes and Vancouver Canucks as teams looking to sell.
Defenseman Mike Green will be a sought after rental at the deadline. He does have a full no-trade clause, so he will have some control over where he ends up. The right-handed defenseman carries a $6 million cap hit and could land the Wings a first-round pick.
The Wings could also shop defenseman Trevor Daley and forwards Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar.
Goaltender Petr Mrazek is a pending RFA and they might look to move him. If he doesn’t fit into their long-range plans, it doesn’t make sense to hold onto him.
Goaltender Jimmy Howard has another year left on his deal at $5.3 million, and they could revisit moving him.
The New York Islanders need to make the playoffs and could be in the market for a goalie.
On the New York Islanders …
TSN: Pierre LeBrun was on TSN 690 radio yesterday and was talking about how the New York Islanders could be looking for help on their blue line leading up to the NHL trade deadline.
“And I know that a lot of people are saying, ‘The Top 4? What about his goaltending?’ But I think you’re going where I was talking about last night during the Habs telecast on TSN. Of course some of it is goaltending, but look at last night. Now granted, the Islanders are injury-riddled right now and they’re missing a bunch of guys – including Boychuk and De Haan – but even when healthy I think they had an issue where they weren’t good enough. Nick Leddy is having an outstanding year, but they need help there. And that, I believe, is absolutely their point of focus this year.”
LeBrun adds.
“So yeah, I would keep an eye on Garth Snow trying to upgrade his defence, no question about it.”