- Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News: If the struggling Sabres make a trade, center Derek Roy is leading the rumor mill.
“It’s fine. It’s whatever people say,” Roy said. “You can’t worry about it and do anything about it. You have to go out and play your game. Everyone here is trying to do their job, whether it’s stopping the puck, playing defense and scoring goals. We all have to do our part.
The Ducks were said to be looking at Roy and Drew Stafford back in November when GM Bob Murray was in town. Roy has one more year at $5.5 million but a $4 million cap hit. Roy is currently battling a shoulder injury, that originally happened in training camp. Sabres GM Darcy Regier said last Friday that no deal was imminent, but he is talking to teams. On the injury side, Andrej Sekera skated for the 1st time since his Dec. 28th upper-body injury. Tyler Ennis and his ankle injury remain off ice.
- Josh Cooper of the Tennessean: Predators GM David Poile on Ryan Suter:
“Our first and foremost goal is to sign Ryan. We’ve been trying to do that all season long. I’ve not accomplished that to this point, but we’re hoping to continue discussions and get that done at some point. We’ll be prepared, if we feel that we weren’t going to be able to sign Ryan, and if we thought we were in a position that we had to or should trade him. I’m certainly hoping that doesn’t happen, I don’t want that to happen, but I want to be prepared for that.”
- Craig Custance of ESPN: With all the injuries the Penguins have, they could turn to the Ducks. It wouldn’t take much to get Niklas Hagman. Jason Blake is in the final year of his $4 million deal and could be dealt, though it may not be the best use of cap space for the Pens. The Oilers are looking for a young defenesman in return for Ales Hemsky. Hurricanes Tuomo Ruutu may be the best option for the Penguins.
- Tim Campbell of the Winnipeg Free Press: Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff:
“We’re in the same situation as many teams,” Cheveldayoff said after 41 games have yielded a record of 20-16-5 for his team. “We’re always looking to see what’s available out there.
“We’re always having conversations but to the extent that someone’s ready to pull the trigger, those things really aren’t planned. They evolve.
“Sometimes the opportunities present themselves and you feel you have to act. But there haven’t been any of those come up yet. To say when and where, that’s hard to speculate.”
- Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Oilers Sam Gagner’s name has come up involving the Blackhawks, but Matheson thinks they are looking for a bigger #2 center.
- Rich Chere via twitter: Devils winger Zach Parise said that money is definitely important but the most important thing for him is a chance to win.
- Harry Fialkov of the Sun-Sentinel: Panthers goalie Jacob Markstrom’s knee injury may be more serious that originally thought, and he’ll be getting a 2nd opinion today. “It’s not great news. We’ll have more information tomorrow,” he said. “It’s going to be a little while before he’s back in the swing of things. Unfortunately, my own prognosis yesterday was inaccurate.”
- John Down of the Calgary Herald: Flames defenseman Mark Giordano practiced yesterday for the 1st time since tearing his hamstring on Nov. 29th. Giordano said: “pretty close to normal, if not normal.” “I’d still like to see Gio get into some practices here over the week,” said coach Brent Sutter. “I think we’ll be closer with him come (Thursday) and see where he is at that point in time and, if not, you’d think by the weekend.” Brendan Morrison also practiced yesterday. D Derek Smith, D Scott Hannan, C Matt Stajan, LW Alex Tanguay, C/W David Moss and G Henrik Karlsson are on the IR.
- Joe Yerdon via twitter: It will be Jaroslav Halak against Carey Price in Montreal.