On the Tampa Bay Lightning and St. Louis Blues …
Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times: The Lightning held their organization meetings this past weekend. GM Steve Yzerman said that coach Jon Cooper is “doing an excellent job,” so a coaching change doesn’t appear to be coming.
The trade deadline is six weeks away, so the Lightning still have a few weeks to decide if they they will be buyers or sellers.
Yzerman has been trying to make a move, but has said how difficult it is. What might be available could cost Yzerman more future assets for a short-term fixes than he’s willing to do.
Ben Bishop could be their top trade chip, but they need him for their playoff run. The trade market for Bishop appears to be quiet at the moment. The goalie market also has Marc-Andre Fleury and Jaroslav Halak on it.
It’s hard to see the Lightning being able to afford all three of their pending RFAs in Jonathan Drouin, Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat. They shouldn’t move Drouin. Do the Lightning listen to offers on Johnson?
Blues GM Doug Armstrong watched the Lightning twice last week. Armstrong and Yzerman are good friends, and both organizations could use a move. The Blues could use a centerman, and the Lightning could use a top-four defenseman. Would the Blues be interested in Valtteri Filppula (partial no-movement clause)?
On the St. Louis Blues …
Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: At the rate the Blues are going at, they could becomes sellers at the trade deadline. Jake Allen has struggled. Ken Hitchcock has been flipping lines trying to get a fit. They are a younger team than last year after losing veteran leaders David Backes, Troy Brouwer and Steve Ott to free agency.
The Blues could look to bring in a goalie, and have to decide what to do with pending free agent Kevin Shattenkirk.
“I think I knew all year that this was the time of year when that question would be coming up,” Shattenkirk said. “And it would be strongly determined by our record and how we’re playing. As of late I think the question has really come to light. It’s tough. It’s something that I’ve prepared for, but something you can’t prepare for once it gets here.”