On the Tampa Bay Lightning …
Pierre LeBrun of TSN: Lightning GM Steve Yzerman hasn’t given up on his team and he still think they can make the playoffs.
The Lightning will look to improve their blueline before the deadline, and will have to decide on whether to move Ben Bishop at the deadline, or hold on to him for their playoff push.
LeBrun thinks they will move him before their deadline if they get the right return. The Lightning, and the Penguins with Marc-Andre Fleury, aren’t getting a lot of interest in their goaltenders.
Some have suggested a Bishop for Kevin Shattenkirk trade. The Lightning might be open to it, but think that the Blues are committed to Jake Allen.
Many teams are looking for a defenseman, so the price is high. It might cost them a good forward.
“What we feel are the areas we want to address, it’s more of a long-term thing than a rental,” Yzerman said, speaking generally. “If those opportunities come along, we’ll do it.”
On the Vancouver Canucks …
Jason Brough of NBC Sports: Canucks president of hockey operations Trevor Linden was on TSN 1040 radio yesterday. The Canucks likely won’t be buyers at the deadline this year.
“There’s no question we won’t be in the rental-player market, regardless of what that looks like,” president of hockey ops Trevor Linden told TSN 1040 radio today. “If there’s an opportunity…with a young player that we feel is an upgrade, we’ll certainly look at that. But there will be no situation where we’ll go and mortgage any future pieces to make a playoff push.”
The Canucks will have some decisions to make with regards to the expansion draft. They have to protect Henrik and Daniel Sedin, and Loui Eriksson. They will protect Bo Horvat. They can only then protect three of Brandon Sutter, Jannik Hansen, Markus Granlund and Sven Baertschi. Linden didn’t rule out a trade.
“We’ve certainly modeled a lot of different scenarios out,” he said. “We’re going to do what we can to avoid that situation. Obviously, losing a young player, or any player, would be tough to stomach, so we’re still a ways from getting to where we want to be there.”
