NHL Rumors: Lightning, Ducks, Drouin and Vatanen
The Lightning appear to be holding trade talks with the Ducks about Jonathan Drouin and Sami Vatanen

On the Tampa Bay Lightning …

  • Pierre LeBrun: Think the Lightning will look at the rental market for the right price.  They won’t give up a first round pick.
  • Pierre LeBrun: The Lightning could use a winger and a right-handed defenseman, especially one that could play on the power play.

On Jonathan Drouin …

  • Bruce Garrioch: Looking like it will be tough for the Senators and Lightning to find a fit. Things can always change though.
  • Travis Yost: The Senators are reluctant to trade Cody Ceci, who would fit what the Lightning are looking for.
  • Matt Larkin: Source saying Drouin trade still seem like it could happen today, though lots of uncertainty on where he’ll end up.
  • Joe Smith: GM Yzerman as talked to a lot of teams about Drouin. It’s just a matter if he find a good enough offer in his mind.
  • Brian Lawton: The Senators are believed to have made a dynamic offer for Drouin.
  • Jeff Simmons of Sportsnet: Chris Johnston on Sportsnet 590 said that Lightning GM Steve Yzerman is trying hard to get a dealdone.

    “The Lightning want it to be done,” Johnston told host Ben Ennis. “They see it as an opportunity to bring in a piece that can help them. They’ve rebounded over the last month from a tough season. I don’t think they’re viewed anywhere near a Stanley Cup contender they were last June. So this is the big piece he can play. Now that he has decided not to trade away Steven Stamkos, this is his move to get better.”

On Sami Vatanen …

  • Jimmy Murphy: NHL source saying that pending RFA Sami Vatanen is looking for a six-year, $6 million per season deal. The Ducks are not doing that and are listing to offers

On the Anaheim Ducks and Tampa Bay Lightning …

  • Jimmy Murphy: Confirmed that the Ducks and Lightning have held deep talks about Jonathan Drouin, which “likely” included Sami Vatanen.
  • Jimmy Murphy: Have to agree with speculation that the Ducks could be targeting Drouin with the Vatanen news.

On the Anahiem Ducks ..

  • Eric Stephens: Suspicion is that if teams are either asking for Shea Theodore and/or their first round picks, talks aren’t getting far.
  • Eric Stephens: Forwards are getting 2nd round picks (Purcell a third), but the Ducks don’t have a second – a first and two thirds.
  • Dustin Nielson: If the Ducks are willing to trade Sami Vatanen, the Oilers need to move out one of their big guys earlier than they may have wanted too.