On the Pittsburgh Penguins …
Jimmy Murphy: Being ask about if Penguins Evgeni Malkin could possibly be available – from a Penguins source: “Not unless we get superstar center back!”
On the New York Islanders …
Arthur Staple: The Islanders would love to trade for Taylor Hall, but without having Travis Hamonic on the market, can’t see how they could make it happen.
On the Calgary Flames …
Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Flames GM Brad Treliving on Sportsnet 960 on Joni Ortio and their goaltending.
“Joni’s contract is up. He’s very much right now part of our discussion in terms of our plan going forward, and a lot of it is going to depend on where we go with the goaltending. I think we’ve talked about it ad nauseum. That’s a critical decision for us this year, of where we go and depending on how depending on what move is made… I think we saw, really over the last couple of years, saw flashes of Joni that he can play at this level. Are we prepared right now to trot him out 65-70 times a year? No. But in the right role, with the right partner, we think that Joni could play a role here. But that’s all things that are going to be determined here in the next few weeks.”
Treliving on free agent Joe Colborne.
“We’re having discussions with his representatives right now. Like I said, I like Joe a lot, but at the end of the day the puzzle has to all fit, and the pieces have to all fit together.”
Treliving on the potential of an expansion draft and what it could mean.
“I think the common thought when you look at our team is if there is expansion – and still, that is an if – that all of these goaltenders are all of the sudden, that people are just going to be looking to dump goaltenders out. Well, there may be an opportunity where somebody looks and says if we can only protect one, or whatever the case, it may make people available. It doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to rush them out the door today.”
Treliving thinks he has a good handle on what other teams are needing or they sit financially.
“I think we’ve got a pretty good handle right now of what teams are looking for, probably in a 30,000-foot view in terms of positional needs or where people are at financially, and what contracts they have either coming up or need to get done. So you have a pretty good idea, and now you’re drilling into and talking names. You’re talking particular fits. That’s really where the a lot of the lion’s share of work is. At the end of the day, it takes two to make a deal. You’ve got to have something they want, they’ve got to have something you want, and there’s got to be a fit both from a positional situation, from a financial situation, and so that’s sort of where you spend a lot of the time.”
