Lightning looking at Ristolainen?
Andy Strickland: There seems to be growing speculation that won’t go away – Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen to the Tampa Bay Lightning
Bryan Burns: Lightning coach Jon Cooper on the trade deadline: “It’s not make a trade to make a trade. We like our group. Every year, management’s done an excellent job making sure nothing’s been disrupted when things have been added and I’m sure whatever happens, it’ll be good for us. And that could be nothing.”
Eight teams in on Stone?
Bruce Garrioch: There is still lots of trade interest in Ottawa Senators Mark Stone. One league executive believes there are probably eight serious contenders for him.
Second tier for Islanders
Andy Graziano: Hard to see the Islanders paying the high price for Stone. Could look that the next tier of Mike Hoffman, Gustav Nyquist or Ilya Kovalchuk
Andy Graziano: Even if the LA Kings retained $2-$2.5 million of Kovalchuk’s salary it still may not be a good idea.
Simmonds likely gone
John Shannon: A Philadelphia Flyers source confirms that forward Wayne Simmonds has likely played his last game in a Flyers jersey: “Likely but not 100% decided yet”
Penguins tire kicking
Dan Kingerski: The Pittsburgh Penguins have been kicking tires on a right-handed defenseman from the Eastern Conference – “big shoulders and low point totals.”
Blues not in on rentals
Lou Korac: From speaking with some people, it doesn’t appear that the St. Louis Blues are interested in rentals – only players with term left. Those type of trades aren’t easy to make at this time of year, more of an offseason thing.