On the Carolina Hurricanes …
- Luke DeCock of the Raleigh News & Observer: Odds are against the Hurricanes making the playoffs. There is less of a reason for Cam Ward, Eric Staal and players with no-trade clauses to block a trade.Getting anything for pending free agents like Riley Nash or Chris Terry would be a bonus.
The real challenge for Francis would be trading Jeff Skinner or Jordan Staal, clearing their contracts from the books. Would make it easier for Francis to make drastic changes.
The Hurricanes are already retaining salary on two players: Jay Harrison and Tuomo Ruutu. The Hurricanes could take back bad contracts.
On the Calgary Flames …
- Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun: Flames who could be involved in potential trade talks – pending UFAs in Jiri Hudler, David Jones and Kris Russell.What the Flames are looking for – likely prospects, draft picks and castoffs. They’ve been looking to upgrade between the pipes. James Reimer is the top pending UFA goalie, so the Flames could be looking at which goalies are available for trade.
On the Vancouver Canucks …
- Thomas Drance: Canucks GM Jim Benning is open to acquiring draft picks, but is still focused on “making hockey trades.”
- Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Sun: Jannik Hansen has a career high in 19 goals so far this season, and has a $2.5 million cap hit the next two years. Should the Canucks trade him while his value is high?
“I enjoy it here and believe we have something going, but it (trade) is out of your hands and there’s very little you can do about it — unless you have full (no-trade clause) protection. And that’s something I haven’t earned.”
Teams looking for players with term over rentals could be interested. Kuzma wonders if the Blackhawks would be interested – maybe in a deal that includes Ville Pokka.
GM Jim Benning is looking to make hockey trades to get younger and faster, and not just stockpile draft picks.
A perfect world would see them get a first round pick for Dan Hamhuis and a second round pick Radim Vrbata.