On the Ottawa Senators …
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: The Senators entered yesterday ten points out of the last wild-card spot.
The names of Mike Hoffman, Zack Smith, Derick Brassard, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Johnny Oduya and Cody Ceci have been in the rumor mill leading up to next months trade deadline.
Zack Smith is believed to have interested the Calgary Flames. Smith said that he and the others know they will hear their names in rumors until the deadline day passes.
“You hear it on the news a lot, but there hasn’t been any talk around the room,” said Smith. “It’s something you can’t really worry about. It’s beyond your control.
“As you approach the deadline, in Canada anyway, you can’t turn on the TV without hearing rumours. It’s never easy hearing your name, but one way to solve that is to start winning a lot more games and then maybe you’re not worried about being traded as much.”
On the Edmonton Oilers …
Chris Nichols of Fan Rag Sports: Bob McKenzie was on TSN 1260 yesterday talking about the Edmonton Oilers. They are not going to fire GM Peter Chiarelli, and Chiarelli has said they won’t be firing coach Todd McLellan.
believes they will trade pending free agents Patrick Maroon, Mark Letestu and Mike Cammalleri if they are out of the playoff race.
On the Winnipeg Jets …
Chris Nichols of Fan Rag Sports: Pierre LeBrun on 1290 talking about the Winnipeg Jets. is hearing that Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff is talking to teams, but nothing appears imminent.
“That after all of these years of patient building that if they have an opportunity, I believe, to go out and get another center, for example, I think they’ll do it. And I think they’re ready to spend some futures to get it done, which is something I think you would agree they probably weren’t ready to do in the last few years. But I think now they know that not every year sets up this way. And hopefully for the Jets the next four or five years sets up like this.
“But I do think Chevedayoff will act if the price is right and I think he would trade for a center.”