- Scott Powers of ESPN Chicago: It’s looking like the Blackhawks are going to have to trade someone before season starts as they are already over the cap ceiling. Johnny Oduya’s name come up as a potential candidate to be moved. He has one year left at $3.375 million. Oduya’s agent doesn’t expect him to be dealt and hasn’t heard from the Blackhawks about a potentially trading him. Oduya has a modified no-trade clause.
“No such discussions,” Meehan wrote in an email on Thursday. “They like him very much.”
GM Stan Bowman doesn’t seem that concerned with their cap situation at the moment.
“We have some ideas (on) what we’re going to do,” Bowman said on Tuesday. “That will play itself out here over the summer as we prepare for training camp. It’s not the forum to address what we’re going to do, but obviously we got ideas. We’ll certainly make it work.”
- David Staples of the Edmonton Journal: According to Bob Stauffer, the Oilers could look to move a defenseman for a center, but in the meantime they could look to sign a “temp” free agent to compete with Mark Arcobello and Anton Lander. Stauffer on 630 CHED on Thursday night said the Oilers don’t want to rush Darnell Nurse and Leon Draisaitl.
“I personally wouldn’t rule Draisaitl out, but I understand the hesitation of the organization. I think they’d like to have another guy down the middle. In terms of Nurse, he’s going to have to come in and steal a job away from somebody else, that’s all there is to it. I’m not quite convinced that Draisaitl has to do that. I think there might be a job there for Leon to do lose quite frankly, even though they are setting the expectation levels low.”
The Blues probably wouldn’t be interest in a Jeff Petry for Patrik Berglund trade as they are deep already on the blueline. Stauffer brought up Josh Bailey of the Islanders.
“There’s a more likely guy that could come in play, but Bailey has got a tough contract. He’s got four years left at $3.3 million. So maybe you sign a guy as a temp fit, and if the temp fit doesn’t get it done, or Arcobello doesn’t get it done, then you use from your position of strength on defence, assuming one of these guys, Marincin or Klefbom takes a big step forward.”
- James Mirtle: Top remaining free agents are Daniel Alfredsson (who may retire), Mike Ribeiro, Derek Roy, Dustin Penner, Lee Stempnial, Ray Whitney, Daniel Winnik and Andre Benoit.
- Josh Rimer: Hearing the could have interest in Nikolai Khabibulin to backup Jonathan Bernier. The Maple Leafs would have to trade James Reimer first before that could happen though.