- Mark Spector of SportsNet.ca: The Jets have trade chips in the 9th overall draft pick, Dustin Byfuglien (who wants to play defense but his coach wants him to be a forward) and Evander Kane. GM Kevin Cheveldayoff,
“Maybe we’re the team that makes that blockbuster,” Cheveldayoff told Sportsnet this week. “You always have that zest, that desire to see if there’s that elusive deal that can help you. But when you do get on the phone, you quickly find out your counterparts are trying to find that same deal. It is a difficult thing.”
“There was a much bigger attitude for… free agency and to want to afford it. To not have to think about cap implications,” Cheveldayoff said. “With the length of the contracts that most players are getting locked up to, and now you’ve got the cap. It’s a little bit different.
“In a cap world, it doesn’t matter who you are. You need to have that infuse of younger talent that keeps on circulating through your organization.”
The Jets top-six forwards and top-three defense are pretty good. The Jets might have to bring 35-year old Olli Jokinen back as they may not have a better option. They are stuck with Ondrej Pavelec in net with his $3.9 million cap hit.
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Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province: Ryan Kesler met with GM Jim Benning face-to-face this week. They are not saying what was said. Kesler will be 30-years old by the start of training camp and wants to win. Benning wants to bring in a goal scorer. The Ducks and Penguins were seriously interested in Kesler at the deadline. The Ducks could be interested at the draft as they need a two-way center to lineup behind Ryan Getzlaf. The Ducks have two first round picks. They could send a first round pick, Mathieu Perreault (not the untouchable Nick Bonino) and Kyle Palmieri. Perreault is a pending RFA coming off a $1 million salary this past season. Palmieri has two years left at a $1.46 million cap hit. The Canucks could try and hold off for Devante Smith-Pelly.
IF they made a deal with the Ducks, they could then look at packaging their 6th overall pick this year and last years 10th overall pick, Bo Horvat to the Panthers for the 1st overall pick. The Canucks could then draft Sam Reinhart, and they’d still have the 24th overall pick from the Ducks.
IF they move Kesler and don’t get a long-term center back, they could look at signing Blue Jackets RFA Ryan Johansen to an offer-sheet.
- Nick Kypreos: The Maple Leafs are aggressive on the trade market. The only players they are not actively shopping are Jonathan Bernier, Phil Kessel, Tyler Bozak and Morgan Rielly.