On the Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Toronto Maple Leafs …
Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: The Oilers won’t be giving away Mark Letestu according to sources. The Penguins, Blue Jackets, and Maple Leafs are interested in Letestu.
The Maple Leafs interest may be if they can’t trade for Red Wings Luke Glendening.
Letestu is the second option for the Penguins if they can’t trade for Matt Cullen.
Letestu played with the Blue Jackets for three seasons.
The San Jose Sharks may have been interested in Letestu before they trade for Eric Fehr.
On the Toronto Maple Leafs …
Darren Dreger: Believe that the Maple Leafs are targetting Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh. Not saying that they will end up trading for him though.
The Fourth Period: Reid Wilkins of 630 CHED (Edmonton) said on SiriusXM that the Maple Leafs have inquired about Oilers center Mark Letestu.
The Leafs need a bottom-six center. Letestu carries a $1.8 million salary cap hit.
The Leafs could also use a top-four defenseman.
Other teams that are believed to be looking at Letestu include the Penguins, Lightning and Flyers.
On the Trade Market …
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Pierre LeBrun said on TSN 1050 yesterday that there is lot of trade talk going on, that it’s really busy.
“As I always say, June is a bit bigger these days because of the cap system. It’s easier to make blockbuster deals more in the offseason, but still I think we’ll get some decent news here the next few days.”
Elliotte Friedman was on WGR 550 yesterday that he’s getting the sense that a trade we didn’t see coming happens.
“I’m waiting for someone to do something big,” indicated Friedman. “… I think there’s a big poker game going on right now. Everybody is kind of feeling out what everybody’s hand really is – who’s bluffing and who’s serious. But I think there’s a lot of people willing to make major moves.”