- Arthur Staples of Newsday: The Islanders are open to trading their No. 5 pick at this years draft.
“We’re open to trading the pick for someone we think can come in and help us right away,” Snow said recently.
The Islanders need a backup goalie or two, a top pairing defenseman and a left winger to play with John Tavares and Kyle Okposo. Islanders GM Garth Snow called prospect Griffin Reinhart to let him know they won’t be trading him. Potential free agent targets could be: Marian Gaborik, Radim Vrbata, Jussi Jokinen and Thomas Vanek. On the blueline, options could be: Willie Mitchell, Matt Greene, Andre Benoit, Clayton Stoner, Mark Fayne and Mike Kostka. A significant upgrade to their blueline would need to come through a trade and not free agency.
- Joe Smith: The Lightning won’t be giving Anders Lindback a qualifying offer, though they will consider re-signing him. He’ll be a UFA.
- Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune: The Lightning would have had to offer $2.2 million to retain Anders Lindback. The Lightning will likely look for a veteran to backup Ben Bishop.
“We are going to look and see what is out there, but (Lindback) is on the list,’’ Yzerman said.
The Lightning are still talking with pending UFA Ryan Callahan.
“I’m hopeful that we can get him signed before he reaches free agency,’’ Yzerman said.
They are unsure if they will use they second compliance buyout.
“It’s something to consider,’’ Yzerman said. “We haven’t come to any final decision on that. We know when the window closes, and if we choose to go that route, we have time.’’
- Sarah Baicker and Tim Riday of CSN Philly: Both look at if Nikita Nikitin would be a good addition to the Flyers blueline. He has good size and is defensively responsible., something that the Flyers could use. Riday thinks he’ll be looking for something between $2.5 and $4 million. They do already have at least six NHL defenseman under contract, but at the right price, would be worth taking a risk on him.
