On the Toronto Maple Leafs …
Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun: Roman Polak, on a PTO, could earn a contract and land the sixth or seventh spot on the Maple Leafs blue line. Martin Marincin could play a role in that as he’s somewhat fallen out of favor with coach Mike Babcock.
There is always the option of trading one of their forwards for a veteran defenseman.
On the Minnesota Wild …
Michael Russo: Wild GM Chuck Fletcher has made it clear that they will have enough salary cap space next offseason to re-sign Jason Zucker and Matt Dumba.
On Matt Duchene, Colorado Avalanche and the Vancouver Canucks …
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Darren Dreger on TSN 1050 on Matt Duchene
“The Vancouver Canucks are a team that, like a lot of teams – and the teams who expressed interest overall, we’re dating back now a couple of years, would be in double-digits easily, and Vancouver would be in that grouping.
“But I look at the Canadian teams who have expressed interest: Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver. I think Ottawa has been the most aggressive, and perhaps most recently the most aggressive. But does Pierre Dorion, the general manager of the Senators, think that he’s getting Matt Duchene? I’m pretty sure he doesn’t.”
GM Joe Sakic is holding to his ‘high’ asking price, and some teams may be getting frustrated with Sakic not being “overly-willing to negotiate” off of the initial asking price.
Elliott Friedman on Sportsnet 650 was asked about the Canucks interest in Duchene. doesn’t see a match and doesn’t get the sense that Duchene will end up in Vancouver.
“I mean, No. 1: If you’re Vancouver, and you’re really rebuilding, are you going to trade for a guy, and you’re going to give up what Colorado wants – and you’re going to do it for someone who could be gone in two years? Unless you’re convinced Matt Duchene is going to sign with you, or you’re going to flip him for something that’s even better, I don’t see why it makes sense for Vancouver to be the team.”
The Canucks have been tied to the Avalanche over the years, but it was usually involving Tyson Barrie