- Justin Goldman of NHL.com: Goldman lists 5 backups who could be moved by the deadline.
1. Jonathan Bernier (LA): 7-2-0 with a 1.94 and .923 SV%.
2. Michal Neuvirth (WSH): Only five appearances since Feb. 1st. Career 53-35-10 record, 2.68 GAA and .908 SV%
3. Ben Bishop (OTT): The Senators will be back to the three-headed monster when Craig Anderson returns. Could dangle Bishop for help up-front. Has a 2.54 GAA and .923 SV% in 11 games this season.
4. Steve Mason (CBJ): The more Sergei Bobrovsky plays, the lower Mason’s value gets. Will be a free agent and likely not qualified by the Blue Jackets.
5. Nikolai Khabibulin (EDM): The 40-year just posted a 43-save shut. He can still play despite and age and health. A good mentor for a young starter. Has won a Stanley Cup before. The Blue Jackets and Capitals could value someone like Khabibulin.
- Katie Carrera of the Washington Post: Capitals Michal Neuvirth is set to be a restricted free agent after the season. He hasn’t played much and isn’t focusing on being traded at the deadline.
“I’m not worried about these things if something’s going to happen, if not. I’m just practicing hard to be ready,” Neuvirth said. “It’s my goal to be No. 1 — if not here, maybe somewhere else. Now I am here and I am focusing on playing for Capitals right now.”
- Stephen Whyno of the Washington Times: Capitals Mike Ribiero has made it known that he’s looking for a four or five year deal, so it’s not much of surprise that he turned down a 3-year, $14 million offer, according to Renaud Lavoie of RDS.
“I can put things in different places at the right time,” Ribeiro said Thursday. “I don’t think about it before the game or during the next few days or so. If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. So we’ll see what this week brings us and then we’ll go from there.”
- Pierre LeBurn of ESPN: Ryane Clowe might be dealt by the deadline, but the Sharks aren’t giving up on the playoffs.
“We just feel like we’re still going to make the playoffs, to be honest with you,” captain Joe Thornton told ESPN.com on Wednesday. “We feel like we have a real good team still. There’s no reason for us not to make the playoffs. We’re sitting in eighth right now. We think if we take care of business at home right now we’ll be in.”
Sharks pending UFA Michal Handzus could also be on the move. When looking at what the Sharks might do in the offseason, it’s fair to ask where Joe Thornton fits in. The 33-year old has one year left at $7 million.
“Yeah, but you’re so caught up in the moment right now. You can’t think about tomorrow,” said Thornton. “We’ll wait and see. Right now I’m just focused on the next game.”
What are the Predators plans for the trade deadline?
“I’m day-to-day,” said Poile with a chuckle in a conversation with ESPN.com on Wednesday. “Call me after all the games are over on the night of April 2. It’ll be a touch bit clearer.”
“This 48-game schedule is not normal. Everything about it is not normal. The condensed schedule, the travel, especially for us in the West, it’s all different,” said Poile. “And consequently I have to imagine the trade deadline is different. …
“Maybe for the majority of teams, status quo might be a good position to be in come the trading deadline, based on the closeness of the races.”
The Predators could use scoring help, and have been linked to Stars Derek Roy.
