On the San Jose Sharks …
Kevin Kurz of The Athletic: Dating back to last season, and amplified when Patrick Marleau signed with the Maple Leafs, the Sharks need more skill on their wings. The Sharks have about $6 million in salary cap space.
On the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens …
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Darren Dreger on TSN Insider Trading on the Penguins looking for a center.
“Jim Rutherford and the Pittsburgh Penguins are in the market for a center, and he has been for quite some time, I would say, just to augment what they have in considerable talent up the middle of the ice there.
“There’s been some speculation as to who might be available, as to players who aren’t. Matt Duchene probably isn’t a great fit financially for the Pittsburgh Penguins, but Alex Galchenyuk from the Montreal Canadiens – his name has surfaced. And we shouldn’t be overly surprised by that, again, given the fact that more often than not Galchenyuk seems to be in the dog house there. Given the play of the Montreal Canadiens of late, perhaps there’s a fit there that makes some sense.”
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Bob McKenzie on TSN 690 on the Penguins search for a center.
“They’ve got some cap room, I believe a little over $3 million, in Pittsburgh. And so I think it is a priority for general manager Jim Rutherford to get a center. Mentioning Galchenyuk’s name in that regard is kind of ironic or funny or humorous in some regard because obviously in Montreal he’s not at all perceived as a center.”
adds that the Penguins could be looking for more a natural center.
“Galchenyuk is a player who, dating back to last season when we heard the Galchenyuk trade rumors, Pittsburgh was one of the teams we heard that might have time for this player.
“So I think that’s kind of where it’s at. I don’t necessarily think it’s a front-burner thing.”