On the Tampa Bay Lightning …
Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times: Steven Stamkos could be out for four months, with a potential mid-March return date. The Lightning have about $725,000 in salary cap space and could gain around $8 million in salary cap space if they put Stamkos on the LTIR.
“At this time, it’s not realistic to think I can go out and acquire (someone),” GM Steve Yzerman told the Times. “Even if I could acquire a player with a significant cap number, I’d have to be scrambling when Stammer came back. So let’s wait and see for time being.
“I’m certainly open to exploring anything. But at this time, let’s give some of the guys who have been waiting for an increased role a chance.”
On the Arizona Coyotes …
Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports: The injury to Coyotes center Brad Richardson should put to rest any Martin Hanzal trade rumors. A source said that there was nothing to the trade rumors anyways.
Jim Matheson: Apparently defenseman Michael Stone is available. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent after the season. Would the Oilers be interested?
Craig Morgan: Stone has been available since the offseason.
On the Vancouver Canucks and Buffalo Sabres …
Andrew Bottomley of Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman said that Evander Kane trade talks between the Vancouver Canucks and Buffalo Sabres have quieted down due to the asking price.
“The story is that they did call and there were some conversations and John Weisbrod, the assistant general manager of the Canucks, was on the scouting list on Thursday night in Buffalo, which sent us all to DEFCON one,” said Friedman on the Headlines segment of Hockey Night in Canada. “The word is Vancouver was not willing to pay the price that Buffalo was asking.”
Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News: The Sabres haven’t been actively shopping Evander Kane. The Sabres have talked with the Canucks multiple times and it’s known that Canucks GM Jim Benning likes Kane. The Sabres could use some help on the blueline. Hard to see the Canucks wanting to give up one of Chris Tanev, Ben Hutton or Luca Sbisa. Bob McKenzie said they are no longer pursuing a trade, but Harrington adds “for now.”