From twitter unless noted otherwise
- Craig Custance of ESPN: There are not many teams that are desperate for a goalie. James Reimer is proving he may be able to lead the Maple Leafs. At the moment there are more goalies available than teams that need goalies, but that could change in the summer. Custance estimates that there could be as many as eight teams looking for a goalie, maybe three or four more depending playoff performances. Things have gone quiet on the Roberto Luongo front, but teams are still calling about him and Cory Schneider. The Canucks may only get full value for Luongo in the summer, with full value being a player that would immediately help them and future piece or two. His $5.3 million cap hit is looking more reasonable, especially if a team can get 5 or 6 years out of him.Some teams who could be looking for a new goalie this offseason:
Buffalo Sabres: Ryan Miller has one year left on his deal at a cap hit of $6.25 million. He can submit a list of teams he won’t accept a trade too. Some believe he wants out of Buffalo.
Phoenix Coyotes: The Coyotes and Mike Smith are quietly trying to get a contract extension done before he become a UFA. The uncertainty of the Coyotes is making it hard to do any long-term deals.
Detroit Red Wings: Jimmy Howard will be a UFA after this season, and there is “no update” on contact talks.
Minnesota Wild: GM Chuck Fletcher said in email that contract talks with Niklas Backstrom will wait until the offseason. How much is Backstrom worth? They have Josh Harding for the next two years at $1.9 million a season, as well as 22-year old Darcy Kuemper.
Philadelphia Flyers: Ilya Bryzgalov hasn’t been the Flyers biggest problem. The idea of a compliance buyout will be considered. He’s signed through 2019-20. “That’s something a normal organization wouldn’t do,” one NHL source said. “But they’re not a normal organization.”
- Elliott Pap: Canucks Roberto Luongo on trade speculation: “I’m obviously not exactly sure what’s going to happen.”
- Eklund: Source said that Roberto Luongo will the top player available at the deadline.
- Dennis Bernstein: The Kings are inquiring about: Robyn Regehr, Drew Stafford, Ryane Clowe and Alex Tanguay.
- The Fourth Period: Trade talks are picking up for the Sabres and Robyn Regehr. The Kings, Red Wings and Senators are looking to upgrade their blue line. The Sabres are said to be looking for a draft pick and a top prospect for Regehr. The Sabres are looking for a prospect who is close to NHL ready. The Kings and Sabres have been watching each other in the past few weeks. Regehr fits the bill of a stay-at-home, rugged defenseman that the Kings have been looking for. Reports are that they may have discussed including Drew Stafford in a deal.
- Renaud Lavoie: Mike Ribeiro rejected a three year offer from the Capitals, but he hopes to stay.
- Mark Lazerus: Mike Riberio and Derek Roy are the top center options, but the price might be too high for the Blackhawks.
- Renaud Lavoie: There is lots of interest in Max Talbot, but the Flyers are saying he “not available.”
- Kevin Kurz: Scouting the Sharks-Ducks game: No less than 13 teams at the game including the Flyers, Bruins, Islanders, Canadiens and Maple Leafs.
