Blues buyers now?
Tom Gulitti of NHL.com: The St. Louis Blues are back in the playoff race and may not be looking to move pending free agents for draft picks and prospects – Patrick Maroon, Jay Bouwmeester, Carl Gunnarsson and Chris Butler.
They could be now looking to move picks or prospects for a scoring rental to help out their power play.
Hagelin knows his days could be numbered
Tom Gulitti of NHL.com: The Los Angeles Kings have already started dealing out players and Carl Hagelin knows his time is running out in LA.
“That’s nothing I think about right now, but the media keeps talking about it,” Hagelin said. “You always know it could happen, but right now I’m focused on everything that’s going on here.”
Avalanche have a couple defenseman to bring in scoring help
Rory Boylen of Sportsnet: Adrian Dater on Sportsnet 590 earlier this week said that he believes the Colorado Avalanche could move defenseman Tyson Barrie. Such a move is more likely in the offseason than at the trade deadline.
“I think Tyson Barrie could be moved,” BSN Denver Avalanche reporter Adrian Dater told Jeff Blair on Tuesday. “I would say the odds may be higher in the summer than he gets moved at the deadline, but it could happen. They need a top-six forward so Barrie gives you the best avenue to get that guy. He’s kind of had his run here in Denver I think, not playing particularly well right now. Cale Makar is on the way. Right shot, speedy defenceman, he’s going to take his place I think. So out he goes, get a forward.”
Dater adds that Barrie’s defensive partner Nikita Zadorov is could be another player the Avs could move to acquire some scoring help.
Goaltender Semyon Varlamov is a pending UFA that might interest someone.
Could the Rangers trade Zuccarello and/or Hayes and then look to re-sign on July 1st
Rory Boylen of Sportsnet: Larry Brooks wonders if the New York Rangers could trade Mats Zuccarello (and possibly Kevin Hayes) and then re-sign on July 1st.
“I’m not aware of that,” Zuccarello told Brooks. “If that’s the situation that develops, I would look at it, but that’s far off. I can say that no one has come to me and said that’s the plan.”