On the Edmonton Oilers …
Jim Matheson: “Hardest thing if Chiarelli listening to Eberle trade talk. Teams DO NOT want to pick up $6 mil unless they give back $4 mil in cap hit”
On the Detroit Red Wings …
Craig Custance: The Red Wings are in the mix for college free agent forward Spencer Foo – they are one of the finalists.
On the Nashville Predators …
Adam Vingan of the Tennessean: The Predators were trying to make a side deal with Vegas to steer them away from signing some players, mainly James Neal. There would be incentive for the Golden Knights to select Neal. Neal is entering the final year of his deal and would be a nice trade deadline asset to have. The Golden Knights could also get offers immediately for him. The Predators would have had to offer Vegas more than what Vegas thinks they could get if they selected and traded.
On the Montreal Canadiens …
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Darren Dreger was on TSN 1050 talking about the Montreal Canadiens. Dreger said they still thinks the Canadiens need to fix their center issue. Dreger asked Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin is he sees Jonathan Drouin as a center and he said, “Time will tell.” The Canadiens also need to improve their blueline.
“And they need some help on defense. So there’s two pretty big pieces. A centerman and a defenseman. How do you go out and acquire that player. I mean, much of the speculation has been based around Alex Galchenyuk. Those who have expressed interest in Galchenyuk say that Bergevin, in fact, does want multiple pieces. That could explain why that transaction hasn’t happened to this point. But not saying he won’t get it. A lot of things can happen between now and the weekend. Certainly there’s an appetite for that on Friday in the first round on the draft floor in Chicago.”
This past Friday/Saturday there were hints that Galchenyuk’s camp and the Canadiens were discussing a contract extension recently. They could theoretically do a sign-and-trade. What will he cost on an extension – $5 million, $5.5 million?