On Florida Panthers winger Nick Bjugstad …
Chris Nichols of Nichols on Hockey: There have been some trade rumors involving Panthers forward Nick Bjugstad. Bjugstad’s agent Ben Hankinson was on KFAN radio other day and was asked but the trade rumors.
“I’m pretty close with their GM, Dale Tallon, who’s a big Nick Bjugstad fan,” indicated Hankinson. “Even the last couple of years hasn’t been, numbers-wise, as productive for him so there was a lot of talk. A couple of years ago too. And it’s the same teams – Montreal, Pittsburgh was looking, the Wild have always been in the mix. So every time I go to Dale, he says, ‘Not a chance, Hank. There’s not a chance we’re trading him. I love him.’”
Hankinson continued that he’s not untouchable and if the Panthers got the right offer, he’s sure they could move him. said there could be some truth to the Wild’s interest as they have lots of left-handed wingers but not right-handed.
“But I don’t think there’s any truth to it because I don’t think Dale Tallon will pull the trigger, unless it’s a real favorable deal coming back.
“You know what? It could be the Wild. They have some guys that he’d probably like to tinker with, I’m sure.”
Michael Russo asked Hankinson about being a winger as he use to be a center. The Panthers are now saying he’s a winger.
On the New York Islanders …
Andrew Gross of Newsday: Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello has been busy since taking over – bringing in a new head coach, adding more forward depth, and going through the John Tavares process.
The Islanders made a presentation to Tavares and his reps in LA, along with the Maple Leafs, Sharks, Lightning, Stars, and Bruins during the interview process, but Lamoriello isn’t pleased with the free agent interview process.
“I was extremely disappointed with the window of interviews; that was not the intention of how the league and union intended it,” said Lamoriello, declining to go into further details as to what irked him about the process. “I was very disappointed with the way the process was. I’ve never seen it like this one.”