- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: The Senators are in a good spot and GM Bryan Murray is thinking about adding and not subtracting. Their top prospects won’t be available.
“I don’t know that there’s a specific (approach yet). We’ve got another two weeks,” said Murray. “I’m going to see how we are. If we’re still playing hard and well, then I may take a look to see if we can do something.
“I’m certainly not going to give up a top young player at this point, but if there’s an ability to acquire someone who can help us as we go forward, absolutely.”
Milan Michalek is likely headed towards surgery. There are more buyers than sellers, with only the Panthers and Avalanche out of the race.
“I don’t know how you ever get a scorer in the NHL anymore, but if you can get a top-six forward it’s always the objective,” said Murray. “I haven’t identified anybody who is going to be moved.
“There’s only a couple of teams that are going to say today that they’re probably going to trade a couple of kids. (Teams) want to keep the best part of their core and then try to add to it as well. It certainly makes it difficult to make trades.”
- TSN: (last Thursday) Blues Chris Stewart keeps coming up in trade speculation according to Darren Dreger.
“Stewart’s name is out there, and when a name like that surfaces based on how well he’s played this year and he continues to produce, then you know that there’s an expected high level of return,” Dreger explained. “St. Louis and Doug Armstrong have been looking for a defenceman since basically the start of the year.”
- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Many people will jump to the conclusion that Bobby Ryan and his $5.1 million salary will be moved in the summer. It is possible, but you need to wait and see what happens with UFAs Saku Koivu and Teemu Selanne.
- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: The time for a San Jose Sharks reset may be coming. Some nights the Sharks have shown they can compete, while other nights they look worn down. They could use some tweaks. They have a nice core in Antti Niemi, Brent Burns, Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Justin Braun, Matt Irwin and 2012 first-rounder Tomas Hertl. One issue with a reset is that they currently sit 8th in the West. They may want to get some draft picks and/or young assets without breaking up the roster too much. Sources are saying that GM Doug Wilson has listened to offers on several of his players. 36-year old defenseman Dan Boyle could be on the move at the deadline or in the summer. The Rangers could use someone like Boyle. Martin Havlat is another name that could be moved, but he has got two more years at $5 million and a full no-movement clause. Ryane Clowe and Douglas Murray are both UFAs after this season.