On the Tampa Bay Lightning …
Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times: The Lightning were talking with the Senators ahead of the trade deadline about defenseman Erik Karlsson. The sense was that they weren’t close to a deal. Ryan McDonagh may have been their second option, but he may have been their best option.
adds to not forget that the Karlsson could be available at the draft or as a free agent after next season.
On the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers, and Tampa Bay Lightning …
Larry Brooks of NY Post: Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford was trying to acquire defenseman Ryan McDonagh. Have been told that the Penguins didn’t put together a package that was worth considering for the Rangers.
The Washington Capitals needed to find a third team to in order to do a McDonagh trade, something they obviously they couldn’t get done.
The Florida Panthers jumped into the McDonagh mix late, but weren’t able to put something big enough together.
The Rangers were ‘demanding’ Libor Hajek in the deal with the Lightning, and if the Lightning didn’t give in, McDonagh would have remained with the Rangers.
On the Florida Panthers …
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Pierre LeBrun was on TSN 690 talking about the Florida Panthers, and their deadline interest in players like Canadiens Max Pacioretty and Rangers Ryan McDonagh.
“I think there’s two things at play here,” said LeBrun. “The Panthers don’t think they’re out of the playoff race. So that’s the first thing you’ve got to think of.
“No. 2, even if their playoff push comes short, obviously on McDonagh they felt it’s not a rental – it’s a player that has term left and they were obviously thinking they’d try to sign him long term. So that’s why they took a push there.
“Yeah, really interesting. I mean listen, they have the cap room and the prospects and the draft picks to get in on some of those things. And I suspect you’ll see Florida being pretty active again in this offseason.”