On the 2018 Winter Olympics, Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes and teams looking to make a move …
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet: The IIHF no longer has a January 15th deadline for the a decision on the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. Looking at the end of January when the league has the All-Star game and Board of Governors meetings.
Some league executives are saying trade talk is picking up, but there still only appears to be two sellers at the moment – Arizona Coyotes and Colorado Avalanche.
The Avalanche are starting to get calls on pending free agents Rene Bourque, Jarome Iginla, John Mitchell and Fedor Tyutin.
Friedman’s speculation – the Carolina Hurricanes are a logical trading partner for the Avalanche regarding Matt Duchene or Gabriel Landeskog.
The Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings and Ottawa Senators are looking for a forward.
The Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens are looking to make a move.
On the Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche …
Adrian Dater: (from a few days ago) Have been told that the Los Angeles Kings are interested in Avs Gabriel Landeskog.
Adrian Dater: The Avalanche had three scouts watching Kings defensmen Jake Muzzin and Alec Martinez … Both Muzzin and Martinez were a -4.
On the Philadelphia Flyers …
Sam Carchidi: Flyers GM Ron Hextall said they are interested in signing 2016 1st round pick German Rubtsov to an entry-level contract. Once Rubtsov plays some games in the QMJHL, “then we’ll assess him” according to Hextall.
On the New York Rangers …
Larry Brooks of the NY Post: The NY Rangers will have the challenge of finding a way to protect their leading goal scorer in the expansion draft. Michael Grabner is on a two-year deal with a cap of only $1.65 million.
They will protect goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, defenseman Ryan McDonagh, Nick Holden and Marc Staal, and forwards Rick Nash, Derek Stepan, Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Mats Zuccarello, J.T. Miller and Kevin Hayes.
Brady Skjei, Jimmy Vesey and Pavel Buchnevich are exempt.
The Rangers could look to trade one of their ‘protected’ forwards and then protect Grabner.