On the trade market, Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, NHL Draft, Los Angeles Kings and the Arizona Coyotes …
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: The NHL holiday roster freeze kicks in tomorrow at midnight, but it doesn’t sound like there is much talk.
“It’s pretty quiet. Actually, it’s really quiet,” said a league executive Saturday.
Aside from the Arizona Coyotes and Colorado Avalanche who are likely out of it already, many teams still think they have a shot at making the playoffs.
Trade talk could pick up after Christmas while GMs attend the World Junior Championship.
“Right now, I think teams just want to sit still and wait until after the holidays,” another executive said. “Maybe by then, they’ll have a better idea and decide what they want to do then.”
Toronto Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello is looking to add another defenseman, but basically half the league is looking for the same.
To talk trade with the Florida Panthers, you now talk to Dale Tallon. Before they made the coaching change, you talked to Tom Rowe.
Pat LaFontaine has been working on a model that would have the NHL draft mostly of 19-year olds. The only round you could draft an 18-year old would be in the first round. His idea would also allow certain 18- and 19-year olds to play in the AHL.
Craig Berube and Kirk Muller are two coach that the Vegas Golden Knights are considering.
The Los Angeles Kings are looking for a goaltender. Talk is they haven’t spoken with the Winnipeg Jets about Ondrej Pavalec since the GM meetings last month. They could call the Pittsburgh Penguins about Marc-Andre Fleury, but a short-term solution would make more sense. The Penguins don’t really want to do anything with Fleury right now anyways. The Kings showed some interest in Andrew Hammond earlier this season, but it doesn’t seem like they are interested now.
The Arizona Coyotes have been looking at trading Martin Hanzal all season. Teams have called, but they aren’t sure what the asking price is. Sense is the Coyotes want a prospect and at least a second round pick.
