- Elliotte Friedman of CBC: If the Sharks decide to trade one of their cornerstones (Logan Couture, Patrick Marleau, Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton, Marc-Edouard Vlasic), it will be tough for them to get equal value.Some teams are saying that Sharks GM Doug Wilson has shown no desire to trade his future like Micro Mueller or any high draft picks.
Canucks Trevor Linden is ready to start his GM interviews. Bruins Jim Benning is considered the front-runner. Current Canucks assistant GM Laurence Gilman is a contender.
Ron Hextaland Paul Penton will get interviews. There will be some interview crossovers with the Capitals.Predators GM David Poile on if there is internal discussion about trading Shea Weber: “We don’t… When we decided , we made a 14-year commitment.”
Friedman speculating …. The Predators new coach Peter Laviolette recruited Vinny Lecavalier in Philadelphia before he was fired. Lecavalier struggled under Craig Berube. Would the Preds be interested in the Flyers ate some salary?
Panthers GM Dale Tallon on how far would they be willing to move down in the draft.
“We’ll make the final decision in our scouting meetings, but probably between seven and 10,” he said. What would it take for another team to get the top selection? “Also to be determined, but probably a young player who can help us.”
Tallon on if the Panthers have any untouchables.
“ Barkov,” he said, right away. “Our young core. Huberdeau, Gudbranson, Bjugstad. I guess you always have to listen, but it would take a lot.”
Stars GM Jim Nill would like to add a No. 1 or 2 defenseman, but that will be hard to do. Nill and several over GMs think that some good forwards could become available.
At the next GM meetings, they may add to the agenda the idea of compensating teams who lose employees.
- Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: Red Wings GM Ken Holland has met with pending UFAs Todd Bertuzzi, David Legwand, Kyle Quincey and Jonas Gustavsson. Holland let each know that he would talk to their agents later this month with his decisions. There won’t be room to bring Bertuzzi, Legwand and Mikael Samuelsson back. The Wings already have 11 forwards under contract for next year. Only Tomas Jurco doesn’t have to clear waivers. It’s unlikely that they will bring Kyle Quincey back. They could look at bringing Gustavsson back. The Wings are waiting to hear whether Daniel Alfredsson wants to play next year or not. Daniel Cleary may be offered a front-office position. It doesn’t look like Pavel Datsyuk will require knee surgery.
- Chris Johnston of SportsNet: Thomas Vanek when he turned down a big contract offer from the Islanders earlier this year.
“I’m sure people will look at it and say, ‘Wow, that’s crazy,’” Vanek said after the story broke in early February. “As I’ve told Garth before, it’s like a breakup: ‘It’s not you, it’s me.’ And it really is me wanting to explore this.”
Before he left for Montreal, he did say he’d still consider signing with the Islanders.
“I like it here,” Vanek said about being traded. “This would be a place I’d consider if it gets to July 1.”
On July 1st he could head home to Minnesota or sign a monster deal somewhere else.