On the Wininpeg Jets, Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers …
Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Think that Winnipeg Jets goaltender doesn’t look like a No. 1 starter just yet. The Jets could use a veteran like a Jimmy Howard, Ben Bishop or Marc-Andre Fleury before the expansion draft in June.
There is the sense that Vegas will draft two veteran goalies and one young one. The Oilers will protect Cam Talbot, so Laurent Brossoit will be exposed in the expansion draft.
On the Colorado Avalanche …
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Elliotte Friedman was on the NHL Network talking about whether the Avalanche could trade Jarome Iginla.
“This year, he told a local reporter, Adrian Dater, in what is the last year of his contract and potentially the last year of his career, that he will do it. And the word I understand is the Colorado Avalanche will accommodate him, should there be a willing buyer.
“So I think what you’re going to see is the Avalanche reach out, they’ll probably try to confirm it with Iginla to say, ‘Are you willing to do this?’ He likely would for a Stanley Cup contender. And the Avalanche will begin to find out is there a contender out there that sees a potential fit. So I think there is an opportunity for something here. Let’s just see where it goes and see what the interest level is.”
There were questions around the league if they trade some of their core players or have a fire sale. The Avs do have $17 million in salary coming off the books after the season and would have the space to try and bring in a defenseman or two. Friedman is sure teams are calling them to see what they are thinking of doing.
Darren Dreger was on TSN 1290 on trade front.
“Really quiet. Painfully. Painfully quiet,” said Dreger. “And frustratingly quiet for some who are interested. And there are teams out there who are looking.”
The Tampa Bay Lightning would like to trade for a top-four defenseman, as would many other teams. The Arizona Coyotes center Martin Hanzal‘s name is out there, but the asking price is high.
No team is really out of it, and with the salary cap, deals would have to be contract for contract. Which is why there haven’t been a lot of trades.
Matt Duchene‘s name has come up the past two years, and this offseason Dreger heard that Gabriel Landeskog‘s name was in trade talks.