On the Los Angeles Kings …
Dennis Bernstein: (the Rangers had a scout at the Kings AHL affiliate on the weekend) Don’t see a fit between the NY Rangers and LA Kings. The Rangers don’t really have any pending unrestricted free agents. The Kings aren’t looking for someone with a contract beyond this season.
On the Pittsburgh Penguins …
Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: The Penguins are hoping they can get healthy. They’ve lost 118 man-games to injury. Penguins GM Jim Rutherford on what they could be looking to do before the deadline.
“You’re always looking at your defense,” Rutherford said. “But that’s what everybody else is looking at.”
Rutherford won’t make a move for the sake of making a move. He has been an aggressive trader in the past and is willing to explore any options that come along.
“I don’t feel pressure to do something, but I’ll be in the mix of listening to what’s going on,” he said. “If we feel something makes sense for us — not only now, but in the future — we’ll take a look at it.”
Rutherford won’t say if he’s asked Marc-Andre Fleury to waive his no-movement clause.
“I don’t want to get into that publicly,” said Rutherford, adding that “I’m confident that it will all work out.”
On the Montreal Canadiens …
Conor McKenna: Bob McKenzie on Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin on TSN 690: “I don’t think he’s contemplating a coaching change, but he’s most certainly contemplating a trade.”
The Fourth Period: The Canadiens are looking for a top-six scorer and a top-four defenseman. They are 1-5-1 this month and have a -12 goal differential. They are heading into their bye week, and will have some decisions to make.
In recent weeks the Canadiens have been linked to Matt Duchene, Gabriel Landeskog, Martin Hanzal, Patrik Berglund, Kevin Shattenkirk and Alexandre Burrows.
