Flyers looking for a goaltender, veteran defenseman and a top-nine forward
TSN: Pierre LeBrun notes that Philadelphia Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher has already spoken with at least half the teams in the league to see what the trade market is like and what he might be able get done. He’s trying to be active, which is part of the reason he replaced Ron Hextall.
“Yes, Fletcher is looking for a goalie upgrade for the Flyers; they haven’t been getting saves all year. But it goes beyond that.
We also hear that he would like to add a veteran defenceman for a young blueline.
He’d also like to add a top-nine forward and if it’s not enough, he’d like to make all of these moves before the holiday (trade) freeze on Dec. 19. He’s not going to force it. If it’s not there, it’s not there.
But he’d like to make a move because he wants to add a little injection of adrenaline to a roster and tell his veteran leaders that the season is not lost. The Flyers still want to compete for this year.”
Blues not looking to move their young core
Chris Nichols of Nichols on Hockey: Darren Dreger was on NBCSN and was asked about the St. Louis Blues and what they could be looking at doing.
Dreger says that Blues GM Doug Armstrong is always looking to improve his team. They should be better than they are playing and they are mentally fragile according to some people around the team.
“My sense from talking to managers around the National Hockey League is that Armstrong isn’t willing to part with any of his core, young pieces. Again, he can see the future in St. Louis in some of these young guys like Jaden Schwartz, but he is willing to consider just about anything else.
“It’s a quiet time around the NHL right now, not to say that there isn’t going to be something that happens before the roster freeze. But teams feel that they’re still at least remotely in it – that’ll change after the holidays.”