On the Toronto Maple Leafs …
Howard Berger: The Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t make a move before the pre-expansion trade freeze, but have been told again that the Maple Leafs are talking a lot about moving winger James van Riemsdyk.
On the Detroit Red Wings …
Elliotte Friedman: The Red Wings didn’t protect defenseman Xavier Ouellet. GM Ken Holland said last week that he wouldn’t be making any side deal with Vegas. Wonder if Vegas would be interested in gambling on the 24-year old Ouellet.
On the Edmonton Oilers and Jordan Eberle …
David Staples of the Edmonton Journal: The conclusion regarding Jordan Eberle as listening to team and league insiders.
a) going to be traded in the next few weeks,
b) is NOT going to fetch a Top 6 forward or Top 4 dman, and
c) that the return is going be disappointing to most fans, most likely a cheaper, lesser winger without Eberle’s record of near elite scoring.
Jim Matheson: Keep coming back to Jordan Eberle for Cody Eakin.
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Elliotte Friedman on the NHL Network on Friday talking about Edmonton Oilers winger Jordan Eberle.
“The one thing about Eberle is he did have 50 points last year,” continued Friedman. “And this league right now, it is hard to make the playoffs. And I think there are teams that are going to look out there and say, ‘I could use those 50 points to get myself into a playoff position.’
“I think Edmonton is going to find a taker for Jordan Eberle. I don’t know if we’re going to like the deal as much from an Edmonton point of view, but I do think they’re going to find a taker for him because I think someone is going to say, ‘With a change of scenery, we can use those 50 points.’
“Edmonton is just going to have to be creative to get it done.”