- Craig Custance of ESPN: On free agents,
“The tampering out there is ridiculous,” said one GM.
Ryan Kesler and Jason Spezza trade talks are holding some other potential moves.
“There are teams we haven’t talked to within the last three weeks because we think they’re waiting on those two,” said one team executive.
The Ducks have four potential targets on their No. 2 center wish list, which includes Kesler and Spezza. The Ducks have two first round picks this year and could be willing to include next year’s first round pick. The Ducks would also like to add a top-four defenseman.
Joe Thornton’s agent and brother has repeatedly said he has no intention of waiving his no-trade clause. Thornton hasn’t given GM Doug Wilson a list of teams, and hasn’t been asked too. The Sharks could strip him of his “C” in hopes of trying to force him out. Wilson is also looking to trade Antti Niemi and is shopping him around the league. They could use a top-four defenseman to replace the departed Dan Boyle. One executive on Scott Hartnell being traded to the Blue Jackets earlier this week.
“We didn’t even know he was available,” said one exec. “I don’t know if that was something they’d been working on for a while. You never know behind the scenes but that trade in and of itself was a head-scratcher.”
- Will DePaoli: The Sharks have talked to some Eastern Conference contenders, including the Penguins, about Patrick Marleau. They are looking for a young impact player in return.
- Andy Strickland: Strickland doesn’t expect the Blues to trade for Ryan Kesler.