- Jason Botchford of the Vancouver Province: Canuck Ryan Kesler has already asked for a trade out of Vancouver. The organization may now realize that he needs to be dealt. Pierre LeBrun on an ESPN podcast:
“In terms of Kesler, not only do I think that he’ll be traded, but I think maybe even the onus will have changed.
It began with him asking for a trade, but now I would say that the organization probably realizes that they need him out.
Not because he’s a bad person or a bad player, but because he’s their best asset to move. You’ll get a lot for him. The Anaheim Ducks and Penguins were extremely interested in him, but couldn’t convince Gillis to do it.
Now you add in a whole pile of other teams at the June draft and I think that’s the first trade you make if you’re the new GM of the Canucks.”
Botchford thinks that if the Jets are going to move Evander Kane, the Canucks should be all in. The Canucks need to hope the Kings don’t step in.
- Tom Gulitti of the Bergon Record: Devils coach Peter DeBoer hasn’t revealed his goaltending plans. Could Martin Brodeur already played his last game as a Devil?
“Not really. I’ll be honest – I haven’t thought about that game,” Brodeur said. “I might have played my last game here. Who knows? I’m not sure what’s going to happen over the weekend. We’ll see. It’s something that we’ll have to talk about.”
It is possible that Brodeur does return to the Devils next season, but he understands the if they want to move on without him and run with Cory Schneider as their No. 1
“I don’t expect them to come running after me,” Brodeur said. “We’ll see. Again, that’s a situation I have to be OK with regardless of it it’s here or somewhere else. But I have to talk to a lot of people in the off-season and make my own decision. Regardless of if I stay or leave, the Devils are in unbelievable hands with Schneids.”
- Luke DeCock of the Raleigh News & Observer: Hurricanes Anton Khudobin appears set to be their No. 1 goalie next season. Trading Cam Ward and his $6.3 million salary will be their top priority. The Hurricanes may also look at trading Eric Staal. Head coach Kirk Muller could be fired after the season.
- Ian Mendes: Senators coach Paul MacLean said he hasn’t talked to owner Eugene Melney or GM Bryan Murray about his job security. He doesn’t expect to talk to them until after the season.