Scouting the Calgary Flames and Buffalo Sabres …
Chad DeDominicis: Scouts listed to attend the Flames-Sabres game: Montreal Canadiens (3), Toronto Maple Leafs (2), Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, San Jose Sharks, Nashville Predators, New York Rangers, New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning.
Chad DeDominicis: One of the three scouts from the Canadiens was assistant GM Rick Dudley.
Chad DeDominicis: One of the two scouts from the Maple Leafs was assistant GM Kyle Dubas.
On the Ottawa Senators …
Bruce Garrioch: Senators GM Pierre Dorion said that he tried to trade goaltender Andrew Hammond before putting him on waivers.
On the Chicago Blackhawks …
Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: The Chicago Blackhawks have traded their first round picks the past two seasons, but with them hosting the 2017 NHL draft, GM Stan Bowman may not be interested in trading them at this year’s trade deadline. They have 10 draft picks in total.
“We’re trying to make it a big event, and everyone is excited about hosting it,” Bowman told ESPN.com on Friday. “So from that perspective, we’re probably going to try to hang on to those picks. Now, anything is possible. But it’s unlikely that I would be moving the early picks in the draft.”
The Blackhawks likely won’t have a lot of cap space at that trade deadline, but they’ll still look at their options.
“As far as the deadline goes, we’ll still be creative and look at things, but the other side of it is, we just don’t have any cap space,” said Bowman. “I don’t envision us having any (cap space), like I’m not playing on us shedding any players. If there’s injuries, I suppose….”
The Blackhawks could offer their 2018 first round pick in a trade.