NHL Rumors I: Flyers, Senators, Jets and Maple Leafs
  • Dave Isaac of the Courier-Post: Flyers Vincent Lecavalier will be a healthy scratch again tonight (against the Lightning).

    “It’s not just because it’s Tampa,” Lecavalier said after Monday’s practice. “I just want to play. I said pretty much everything last week. There’s nothing to say. Practice hard and be ready mentally if I get a chance to play.”

    Both Flyers GM Ron Hextall and Lecavalier’s agent have been trying to find a new home for him. There doesn’t seem to be a market for Lecavalier unless the Flyers take back some salary, and so far Hextall is not willing to do so. Lecavalier has a no-movement clause, so if they tried to bury him in the minors, he’d have to approve the move.

  • Jason Brough of Pro Hockey Talk: Senators owner Eugene Melnyk on the teams payroll and free agency.

    “You know, look, everybody keeps talking about money, money, money, and we just keep telling everybody, ‘Take a look at all these big signings that happened in the last couple of years,”‘ said Melnyk.

    “I mean, we’re looking like the smart ones. Some of those that were out there just didn’t pan out. I’m not gonna name the names. You know. Take a look at the players that got those big contracts and what they’re doing now, after they got their big contracts.

    “I’m not in the least embarrassed about us spending at the bottom. I’m happy, because we’ll be able to spend more in the future.”

  • Paul Friesen: Jets coach Paul Maurice said that Dustin Byfuglien is becoming a long-term option for them on the blueline.
  • Hope Smoke: Dave Nonis on TSN Radio:  “I think the pairing has been pretty solid. They read off each other very well” “Cody’s a smart player. Isn’t blessed with great speed but uses his smarts well. He moves the puck well. He’s a guy that bleeds blue” ” can be during the season depending on the player. I don’t have a problem waiting until the end of the year” On contract talks: “For us, we want to read the players and the team going forward. There’s still a lot of time left in this season”