Asking prices are still high
Pierre LeBrun: “Still some consternation from some buyers today on high prices out there… which you normally hear 2 weeks out but not so much 6 days out. Going to be a fascinating week.”
Kevin Hayes: “Word from talking w GM’s & Agents re Trade Deadline : 1. Prices not fully set. 2. Pending UFA’s and their teams have decisions to make. 3.W Conf wide open. 4. Lots of teams in the race still. 5. Plenty of “Holders” not as many Sellers.”
Kovalchuk still willing to waive NMC for the right situation
Dennis Bernstein: Not much has changed with regards to Ilya Kovalchuk. A source who is close to Kovalchuk’s side of things said that he is willing to waive his no-movement clause for the right team. (As of the 19th) he hasn’t been approached by the Kings to waive it.
Penguins GM on the deadline
Jonathan Bombulie of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford hasn’t ruled the idea of adding a rental defenseman if the right deal comes up, but he’s okay with what they have.
“If a name comes along that makes sense to us, then I’ll take a look at it. If this is what we’re going with down the stretch on our defense, I’m OK with it.”
There are some second-tier forwards on the trade market that could help but Rutherford doesn’t want to move his first-round pick and they don’t have a lot of salary cap space to work with.
“That’s why I’m not sitting here saying I’m doing something or I’m not doing something,” Rutherford said. “I do think there will be a scramble at the end of names that will pop up. So I’m not closing the door to say I’m not doing anything.
“It will be very difficult for me to trade our first pick, certainly in a rental situation. Now, if it’s for another good young player, like guys we’ve acquired, then I guess that’s a different story. But my preference is to keep that pick. We’ll see where it falls. I’d only be guessing at this point.”