On the Ottawa Senators …
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen: Defenseman Dion Phaneuf wouldn’t waive his no-movement clause and the Senators weren’t able to move him or Marc Methot before the trade freeze. Methot will be left unprotected for the expansion draft, but it doesn’t mean his playing days with the Senators are over.
GM Pierre Dorion is expected to reach out to Vegas GM George McPhee to see if they could reach a side deal to keep Methot in Ottawa.
It’s believed some teams are offering first or second round picks to retain certain players. The Senators only have four draft picks this year including No. 28 overall.
On the Arizona Coyotes …
Sarah McLellan of the Arizona Republic: The Arizona Coyotes will look at the trade market before moving to the free agent market if they need to.
“I think we’re looking at both,” General Manager John Chayka said. “But at this point, I’m looking to exhaust the trade alternative, and if we have to pivot, we pivot.”
Coach Dave Tippett doesn’t expect them to be big free agent spenders.
The Coyotes are looking to improve down the middle and on the blueline.
Edmonton Oilers Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have been in the rumor mill.
Chicago Blackhawks Brent Seabrook and Niklas Hjalmarsson have been in the rumor mill.
The Colorado Avalanche could look to move Matt Duchene, Gabriel Landeskog and/or Tyson Barrie.
Other names out there include Travis Hamonic, Alex Galchenyuk and Derek Stepan.
The Coyotes are able to take on salary and have plenty of prospects and draft picks. They are currently $7 million below the cap floor.
Coyotes forward Anthony Duclair had been in trade rumors in the past but a bad season has seen his trade value drop.
“I think they missed the boat on what they could have gotten earlier in the year, which would have been probably a second-round pick,” the league source said. “I don’t think you can get higher than a fourth-rounder for him now, at best.”
