On Colorado Avalanche and Alexander Radulov …
Slava Malamud: Varlamov says to the Russian media that the Avalanche are “waiting for Radulov. He’ll be one of the leaders there.”
Slava Malamud: Varlamov to Sport-Express: “All (Radulov) needs to do is dial Patrick (Roy) & his return will happen… I hope we can win the Cup with him”
Aivis Kalnins: Hearling that the Avalanche have moved up Alexander Radulov’s favorite list.
Adrian Dater: Avs GM Joe Sakic said “no comment” when asked if Radulov could be coming to Colorado.
On the Anaheim Ducks and Detroit Red Wings …
Craig Custance of ESPN: (mailbag) The Ducks have John Gibson under contract for a couple more years at $2.3 million. With teams spending $7 to $9 million on goaltending, the Ducks could do $5 to $6 million for Frederik Andersen if they wanted. Defensemen Sami Vatanen and Hampus Lindholm both need new deals, and if the Ducks were to keep both Gibson and Andersen, it would be hard to keep both defensemen.
The Red Wings have too many No. 4-6 Dmen and could use some top-pairing help. Custance would see if they could trade a Tomas Tatar or Gustav Nyquist for a top-four. Alex Goligoski could be a good UFA target. They could look at trading a forward prospect for a defenseman prospect, looking at teams like the the Devils, Flyers and Hurricanes.
On the trade market …
Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 960 on the potential trade rumors this offseason.
“The other thing too is just in general, because of the salary cap this year and the expansion draft next year, I think this is going to be a crazy off-season for trade rumors. I think you’re going to hear lot of big names. I think you’re going to hear a lot of surprising names. I think there’s going to be a lot of teams out there who are going to be willing to want to do things.
“And I think also if Las Vegas does get a team, and I assume they will, whoever is the general manager of that team – if they are willing to be creative, I can see a lot of teams going to that team and saying, ‘Are you going to be willing to do this?’
“I think that expansion team, should it happen, is going to be in a position to do a lot of creative things if it wants to and I think that’s only going to add to the level.
“I do believe the trade rumors this off-season are going to be off the charts.”