Scouting the Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets …
Michael Augello: Scouts listed to attend last night’s Maple Leafs-Blue Jackets game: Chicago Blackhawks (2), Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, Dallas Stars, Winnipeg Jets, Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning, Nashville Predators, Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers, Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, and the St. Louis Blues.
Scouting the Colorado Avalanche and Montreal Canadiens …
Jesse Montano: Scouts listed to attend last night’s Avalanche-Canadiens game: Anaheim Ducks, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, and Boston Bruins.
On the Pittsburgh Penguins …
Sportsnet: Penguins GM Jim Rutherford was on Sportsnet 590 and was saying that they are still looking to add some depth down the middle, and is sure that he’ll be able to acquire someone before the deadline.
“I do feel confident we’re going to add a player, based on the number of players I’m talking about and teams I’m talking to now,” Rutherford said Wednesday evening during Prime Time Sports on Sportsnet 590 The FAN.”
Adding a center is Rutherford’s main priority.
“That’s what I’ll work on until I accomplish that,” he said.
On the San Jose Sharks …
Kevin Kurz of The Athletic: The Sharks would likely like to add at least one more center.
“The centermen drive the lines for me,” DeBoer said. “It’s such a critical position. Wingers are important, but if you’re not stable and solid up the middle, it’s hard to establish a lot of momentum long-term. That’s something that we’ve talked about since day one here.”
GM Doug Wilson did an interview with Hockey Night in Canada on the weekend and left open the idea of going after a player who is playing in the Olympics.
“There might even be some players there that we are scouting because there are some guys that could come in right after the Olympics and maybe fill a role,” Wilson said.”