On the Arizona Coyotes …
TSN Insider Trading: Darren Dreger: The Coyotes are not shopping Anthony Duclair, but they may consider it if they got a center back in return. Duclair’s name has come up dating back the draft in Buffalo. They are not pushing him out the door, but willing to listen.
On James van Riemsdyk …
Frank Seravalli: Bob McKenzie’s comments on Insider Trading didn’t specifically link James van Riemsdyk to the Calgary Flames.
Frank Seravalli: Teams will be interested in James van Riemsdyk if he becomes available. The Flames are one of 10 teams that are on van Riemsdyk’s limited no-trade list.
On the Washington Capitals …
Joey Alfieri of Pro Hockey Talk: Nick Kypreos thinks that Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner could get $6 million a year. Will the Capitals be able to afford that?
“If you’re now the Washington Capitals and you’ve got as many as 10 contracts expiring at the end of the year and one of them is Karl Alzner you’re going to have some challenges,” Nick Kypreos said on Saturday’s “Headlines” segment. “The problem now is the price has been set for Alzner, as much as $6 million they believe is the going rate for top-four defenseman. They can’t go down that path, not until you truly find out what you want to do.”
Kypreos adds that Vegas GM and former Capitals GM George McPhee could be interested.
J.J. Regan of CSN Mid Atlantic: The Capitals will have some tough decisions to make as they have a number of pending free agents. Karl Alzner will be a tough one for GM Brian MacLellan. Alzner is in the last year of his deal that pays him $2.8 million, and he’ll be looking for a big raise.
With Kypreos’ report of what Alzner is looking to get around $6 million, it could be hard for the Capitals to fit in considering they already have to defenseman who make at least $5.5 million – Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik.
Top four defenseman are not easy to find an replace. It’s doubtful that MacLellan will be able to get Alzner on a “hometown” discount.