On the Kevin Shattenkirk …
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Bob McKenzie on TSN 1260 on the Tampa Bay Lightning, St. Louis Blues, and Kevin Shattenkirk trade that fell through.
“I’m thinking Tyler Johnson is part of that package going the other way because if Tampa was going to have Shattenkirk signed to a seven-year deal at $6 million a year, they’ve got to move out some money.
“And as I said, even quite aside from whether they get a defenseman or not, they can’t afford Drouin, Palat, and Johnson this summer. Not a chance in the world in my mind, unless I’m reading the numbers wrong.”
Chris Nichols of FanRan Sports: Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 960 talking about the St. Louis Blues, Kevin Shattenkirk and the trades that didn’t happen because an agreement on an extension couldn’t be made.
“You know what that says to me is that somebody’s getting really frustrated,” indicated Elliotte Friedman during a Friday morning radio hit on Calgary’s Sportsnet 960. “And I would suspect that somebody is in St. Louis. And I’m not talking about the guy who’s playing.”
Michael Stone netted the Coyotes a third and conditional fifth, Ron Hainsey netting a 2nd and a prospect, with both the Coyotes and Hurricanes retaining salary.
“So what are you looking at if you’re the St. Louis Blues. You want a first-rounder, a prospect, plus. Probably not. The fact is he’s a rental. They might get a first-rounder or a prospect, but the fact that this is coming out the way it did last night, it says to me they’re not even getting close to what they want and they’re kind of throwing it at the feet of the player.”
With Tampa Bay Lightning being tied to this, GM Steve Yzerman likely wasn’t too thrilled, and wouldn’t comment when Friedman asked about it.
“The way I read it is the Blues are not thrilled with where this is going. They’re not getting what they wanted to get. And you know what? We want everyone to know what’s going on here.”
Friedman adds the the Blues and Oilers had a deal worked out – Taylor Hall for Shattenkirk – but Shattenkirk didn’t want to go to Edmonton. Around October and November the Arizona Coyotes and Blues were talking, and may have gotten pretty far.
Friedman thinks the report of the Lightning offering seven years and $42 million and Shattenkirk turning it down is 100 percent accurate. Friedman said he thinks the main reason is that he wants to play for the Rangers and not the money the Lightning offered.
Friedman adds he thinks the Rangers are his first choice, with the Bruins second. Shattenkirk is from Connecticut.
“The one thing I did hear yesterday was when I first heard that he turned down an offer, the two teams that jumped into my head were Rangers and Boston. But I was told it was neither of them, and then we all kind of figured out it was Tampa Bay without 100 percent confirming it.
“So that’s kind of where we are. But I think the reason he turned down that money, until we’re all proven wrong, we think it’s because it’s Rangers 1 and Bruins 2.”