On the New York Rangers …
Chris Nichols: Bob McKenzie on NBCSN: “There are severe questions asked about this #NYR team, and I think management is looking at it.”
Chris Nichols: McKenzie continues: “All I know is this: If it carries on for a long period of time, it’s New York – something has to give.”
Chris Nichols: McKenzie: “I would suggest a trade would happen before the coach would be in the hot seat.”
Brett Cyrgalis of the NY Post: The Rangers are 2-6-2 after ten games, and you have to wonder how long this can continue before substantial changes are made.
On the Columbus Blue Jackets …
Aaron Portzline of The Athletic: (mailbag) The Blue Jackets and pending free agent forward Cam Atkinson‘s camp talked this offseason and again right before the season started. Atkinson said earlier that he didn’t want contract talks while the season was in progress. Atkinson’s agent can obviously continue to talk to the Blue Jackets and not involve Atkinson. The Blue Jackets won’t allow Atkinson to walk for nothing after the season.
Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Galchenyuk may not be an ideal fit for the Blue Jackets, but he could be an option. Galchenyuk isn’t proven down the middle. Lukas Sedlak‘s high ankle sprain shouldn’t force them to make a move right away.
Re-acquiring Artem Anisimov doesn’t make much sense for the Blue Jackets long-term.
On the Chicago Blackhawks …
Chris Hine of the Chicago Tribune: The Chicago Blackhawks have about $2.5 million in salary cap space with having Marian Hossa on the LTIR. Though he has the salary cap space, GM Stan Bowman isn’t “itching to make a trade” as he’s liked how they’ve started.
“We have got a lot of good players who are sitting out every night, so I don’t know if we’re going to be acquiring another player,” Bowman said. “Things are going to change. Whether players’ play will drop off, or players get injured. … If there’s something that makes sense down the road, whether it’s in a month or in three months, then we would look into it. But I don’t think that’s a top priority right now.”