On the San Jose Sharks …
- Kevin Kurz: Sharks GM Doug Wilson left the door open for potentially more trades before the deadline.
On the Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames …
- Eric Engels: The Canadiens are one of the teams interested in Flames Mikael Backlund.
On the Montreal Canadiens …
- Eric Engels: Spoke with a team executive (not the Canadiens) and they said that Lars Eller is on the market. They said “Definitely available” with regard to Eller. The price won’t be cheap and there are several teams that interested.
- Brian Wilde: “I realize Eller can fetch a good return but I feel like Eller is the one forward they actually got a big talent at his right role – 3C.”
- Eric Engels of Sportsnet: The Canadiens are reportedly shopping Tomas Fleischmann, Dale Weise and Lars Eller.Tom Gilbert would have been on that list, but he’s done for the season.
“We know we put ourselves in this situation and this is part of the business,” said Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty. “No matter what happens at the trade deadline, I’ve seen it before, I don’t like seeing it—it’s a terrible feeling.
Everyone wants to play in Montreal on this team. It’s not a situation where guys want to go elsewhere. It’s frustrating that we haven’t been able to keep this team together—if management does decide to do something.”
On the Ottawa Senators …
- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: If the Senators pick up five or six points on their current road trip, they could become buyers at the deadline. GM Bryan Murray isn’t interested in a rental, but if they could find someone young who has term left, they might be willing to add.
“If we come out of this trip with (three wins) it’s pretty hard to ignore the fact that we’re making a push and there’s a legitimate chance of us making it. We need some help in the standings but it puts Bryan in that situation where (adding) might be the smartest thing to do,” Borowiecki added.
The Senators would like to trade Patrick Wiercioch and Shane Prince before the deadline.