On the Los Angeles Kings …
The Fourth Period: Kings GM Rob Blake is looking to acquire a top-four defenseman and a top-nine forward.
When Jeff Carter returns, the Kings could move Adrian Kempe to their third-line center. If they went this route, they could look for a top-line left winger.
The Kings have been linked to Patrick Maroon, Max Pacioretty, and Michael Grabner.
The Kings would also like to move winger Marian Gaborik and his contract. The 35-year old right winger has three years left at $4.875 million.
The Kings have shown interest in Ottawa Senators defenseman Dion Phaneuf, but not with the full $7 million cap hit.
On the Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens …
David Pagnotta: The Flames have been scouting the Canadiens lately. Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin was at the Flames – Rangers game last night.
On the Calgary Flames …
Rory Boylen of Sportsnet: The Flames will likely be buyers at the NHL trade deadline. Rumors have them being interested in adding a scoring winger, and there appears to be plenty available, headed by Max Pacioretty and Mike Hoffman.
Adding a big-name player doesn’t guarantee that success comes after.
“You have to be careful with keeping up with the Joneses,” he said. “If you go back in time and really dig into it and look at all the deals that get done on deadline day for the now…how many significant changes or teams that made significant changes, how did they fare? It’s a very mixed bag. There’s very few times you make big, massive changes you go out and be successful in the playoffs.”
Upsetting team chemistry is one thing that GM Brad Treliving has to take into consideration.
Sportsnet: Flames President Brian Burke on Sportsnet 590 earlier this week.
“I think what we need is a winger who can score, but we’re going to get him back,” Burke said, referring to injured winger Kris Versteeg.
The Flames likely won’t be using draft picks at the trade deadline to acquire a rental player.
“We don’t have a lot of picks — we’re not picking until , so we can’t use the deadline to pick up a rental player with a relatively high pick,” he said. “We’re not going into picks … unless it’s an extraordinary circumstance.”