Dan Rosen of NHL.com: Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli leading up to the April 3rd trade deadline.
“It’s been that different so far,” Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli told NHL.com at the GM meeting here. “Everything is compressed, so will the flurry be compressed? Will there be a flurry? I don’t know. It’s been so different because everyone is in it and everyone is looking to add. There are a few teams that aren’t looking to add, but I would say most of them are still in the race.”
Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford,
“We have a totally different year than we’ve ever had,” Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said. “We’re going to have more teams in the race, and so I would suspect that you’re going to pay a premium for players because so many teams are looking for them and these races are going to have a lot of teams in them right until the end.”
Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman and Oilers GM Steve Tambellini both said they want to add before the deadline. Other teams looking to add: Ducks, Red Wings, Kings, Wild, Canadiens, Senators, Penguins, Predators, Rangers, Devils, Blues, Maple Leafs, Canucks and Jets.
Rutherford said that teams will pay for premium players.
“We’re going to have more teams in the race, and so I would suspect that you’re going to pay a premium for players because so many teams are looking for them and these races are going to have a lot of teams in them right until the end.”
Sabres GM Darcy Regier will take calls on anyone, including Ryan Miller, Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek.
“I don’t think it’s a case of making players available or not available; it’s that you’re trying to improve the club and the focus goes beyond this season,” Regier said. “It’s that simple, so you have to be open to anything that’s going to do that.”
Flyers GM Paul Holmgren probably won’t be looking to bolster the team for a playoff run this season.
“We’re fairly far back right now,” he continued. “If there is something there that will help us now and in the future I’d probably do that, but I’m not looking for anything.”