Scouting the Philadelphia Flyers and Ottawa Senators …
Brandon Sommermann: Scouts listed to attend yesterday’s Flyers-Senators game: Vegas Golden Knights (2), Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames, New York Islanders, and the Detroit Red Wings.
Scouting the Montreal Canadiens and Anaheim Ducks …
Dan Kingerski: The Penguins had a scout at the Canadiens-Ducks game yesterday.
Scouting the Texas Stars and San Antonio Rampage …
Tom Dorsa: Scouts listed to attend last night’s Texas (DAL) – San Antonio (COL) AHL game: Montreal Canadiens (2), Arizona Coyotes, Winnipeg Jets, St. Louis Blues, and New Jersey Devils.
On the Tampa Bay Lightning and Nashville Predators …
Bob McKenzie: “I would say the appetite to do everything possible to set themselves up for a run is as high or higher in TB and NSH than anywhere else in the league. Both franchises are extremely well positioned to sacrifice picks/prospects to get immediate help … TB has all of its own draft picks for the next three years; NSH still owns its first-round picks for the next three years and while they have dealt some 2nd and 3rd round picks the Preds are still relatively well positioned in that regard … TB, in particular, have a lot of prospects in the pipeline that could also be included in a trade. TB primary desire is for a veteran defenceman; NSH primary target would be a top six scoring winger … The top lieutenants in both organizations — Pat Verbeek in TB and Paul Fenton in NSH — as well as their pro scouting staffs are extremely active right now drilling down on and seeing in person the usual (available) trade prospects/suspects … I think TB and NSH are keeping open minds on all possibilities, which is to suggest they won’t limit themselves to either “rentals” or guys with term. Whatever makes sense in each specific case, whatever could make them better … Both teams appear to looking at the usual (trade bait) suspects. Bearing in mind “looking at” isn’t the same as “trading for,” TB, for example, would be doing due diligence on a bunch of D, including a guy like NYR Ryan McDonagh amongst others … NSH, meanwhile, would be looking at all scoring winger possibilities and that list may include guys like Gustav Nyquist or Tomas Tatar in DET, though no one is suggesting DET is for sure moving those guys … as much as rentals may seem the way to go for financial/cap reasons, TB and NSH would both feel they’re positioned well for the next number of years to contend, so if the right deal for a term player could be struck, it may be a better option…