On Scouting the Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues …
Ansar Khan: Scouts listed to attend last night’s Red Wings – Blues game: Vegas Golden Knights (2), Carolina Hurricanes (2), Arizona Coyotes (2), Chicago Blackhawks (2), Calgary Flames, Dallas Stars, Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, Anaheim Ducks, Montreal Canadiens, San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils.
On the Chicago Blackhawks …
Mark Lazerus: Think that Blackhawks should look at Patrick Eaves and Radim Vrbata. They are two players that are low-risk with a potentially high-reward. The price to acquire should be reasonable as well.
Frank Seravalli: (responding to Lazerus) Vrbata’s $1.25 million in playoff bonuses is likely a non-starter for the Blackhawks. They have enough cap overage issues already.
On the Edmonton Oilers …
Mark Spector of Sportsnet: Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli spoke with the media yesterday. He said that they aren’t ready to contend for the Stanley Cup and doesn’t see them as being big players come trade deadline day.
“I don’t think we’re ready to contend for the Cup,” he said, in the context of how active he’ll be at the March 1 trade deadline. “You never know — I know it happened here in 2006. (But) I just don’t see us being big players, from that regard.”
Chiarelli on if they could trade for a rental at the deadline.
“I really don’t want to delve into that market. I think there are areas we can tinker with; I think the team deserves it. We wanted to be in the conversation. We are.
“(But) we’ve made a lot of moves in the summer, and they’re coming around. I’d rather see those play out…(Deals) fall in your lap … but I don’t see being heavily involved in that market.
“I don’t think it’s the right time for this team, but having said that … once you get into the playoffs, you never know.”
When asked about acquiring a backup goalie, Chiarelli said he hasn’t given up on Laurent Brossoit.
Chiarelli on acquiring a power-play defenseman
“I’m happy with our D, when everyone is playing. And we’re going to be getting a pretty good D-man back … Darnell (Nurse) will be back shortly. It would be nice to have a pure power play D-man. I’ve been satisfied with Reggie (Andrej Sekera) and Klef (Oscar Klefbom) on their respective units. It’s certainly not on my shopping list at this trading deadline.”