On the Pittsburgh Penguins …
Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Penguins GM Jim Rutherford is still looking for a third-line center if the price is reasonable. Rutherford won’t listen to offers on his goaltenders Tristan Jarry or Casey DeSmith as he likes the depth they have behind Matt Murray.
“I don’t have any interest in moving any of those guys,” Rutherford told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Monday afternoon. “We’ve gone through a transition period here where the No. 1 goalie for years – and one of the franchise’s most beloved players – has moved on.
“We’ve transitioned into a team that probably has the best group of young goalies in the league. I don’t have any interest in talking about these three guys.”
Rutherford adds that there are players that fill their third-line center need available but the market is a little tighter at this point in the season.
Rutherford said that trade talk involving defenseman Ian Cole existed, but he was never committed to moving him.
“I don’t know what direction this is going to go at this point. He’s a capable guy who can come in and help the team. If that’s not going to happen, then I’m sure with him being in the last year of his contract, he’s going to want to get playing. If it’s not here, somewhere.”
Comparables signed in the past two years for pending UFA Patric Hornqvist: Alex Radulov, Dallas, 5 years, $31.25 million ($6.25 million hit), Andrew Ladd, Islanders, 7 years, $38.5 million ($5.5 million hit), Milan Lucic, Oilers, 7 years, $42 million ($6 million hit), David Backes, Bruins, 5 years, $30 million ($6 million hit), and Frans Nielsen, Red Wings, 6 years ($5.25 million hit).
On the Montreal Canadiens …
TSN: Darren Dreger was on TSN 690 on Tuesday and was asked if the Canadiens would become sellers.
“Before you officially become a seller you’ve got to have a buyer,” Dreger explained. “And that’s not to suggest the Montreal Canadiens don’t have wanted assets – of course they do – but I don’t get the sense that there are general managers yet that are kicking down the door to see if ‘Exhibit A’ player is available.
“Historically Marc Bergevin has been a pretty methodical and patient GM and you know, the pressure point isn’t there yet. And sometimes the buyers can’t be defined until they get to a certain point of the regular season…it’s getting to that later point of the season, I still think there is some time obviously, with the deadline looming, for that pressure point to elevate.”