On the Tampa Bay Lightning …
Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times: The Lightning have lost their swagger and have lost five of their past seven games.
The Lightning are 30th in the league in faceoff win percentage and could use a ‘faceoff man’ like Anaheim Ducks Antoine Vermette.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Lightning also looked at adding a defenseman before the trade deadline.
On the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Minnesota Wild …
Larry Brooks of the NY Post: Brooks wonders if the Rangers might be able to acquire forward William Nylander from the Maple Leafs in a blockbuster trade for defenseman Ryan McDonagh.
also believes that McDonagh would be a welcome addition to the Minnesota Wild.
On the Carolina Hurricanes …
Matt Larkin of The Hockey News: (last week) The Hurricanes are without Sebastian Aho because of a concussion and lower-body injury. Could the Hurricanes be more aggressive at the deadline now? GM Ron Francis‘s isn’t sure where they’ll be money wise with new owner Tom Dundon.
The Hurricanes have pending RFAs Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm this offseason, with Aho and Teuvo Teravainen RFAs after next season.
The Canes could use a scoring center and are deep on the blue line. They could offer up Jake Bean or Justin Faulk or Haydn Fleury or Hanifin or their first-round pick.
“Everyone wants that skilled scoring center,” Francis said with a laugh. “We’re not the only team looking for that. They’re hard to find.”
Francis wants to see how the team plays without Aho.
“We’ve got to see how we play without him,” Francis said. “And with everyone being as close as they are in the standings, with everyone in the same boat, you’re trying to figure out where you’re going to be a week from now, two weeks from now, a month from now as we get closer to the deadline.”
Francis added that he won’t be selling the farm to get someone for right now.