On the Buffalo Sabres …
- Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News: Sabres goalie Chad Johnson is a pending UFA with a $1.3 million cap hit. He realizes that he could be moved by Monday.
“You’re nervous, excited, there’s a lot of unknown,” Johnson said. “For me, I just take every day a day at a time. It’s something I’ve learned in my career. Worry about today and prepare for tomorrow.”
He’s posted a 13-14-3 record with a 2.50 GAA and .916 save percentage.
“I think I’ve had a pretty good year. I don’t know what the word is out there. I don’t have an inside scoop or anything like that,” he said. “I don’t hear that. I’ve felt good I’ve had some talk about my season and potential maybe to have a bigger role somewhere. I don’t really know what’s going on but for unrestricted guys around the league, I would hope I’m right up there.”
The Sharks are believed to be looking for a backup, with the Blues as another possibility after Brian Elliott’s injury.
- Joe Yerdon: Johnson to the Sharks makes sense. There are rumblings of Jamie McGinn to the Ducks.
On the Toronto Maple Leafs …
- Luke Fox of Sportsnet: Nick Kypreos said on Sportsnet 590 that Tyler Bozak and Jake Gardiner “are easily in play.” Bozak is coming off of what is believed to be a concussion. The Leafs are not in a rush to trade Gardiner, but Kypreos says.
“I don’t think in the long term, Jake Gardiner is going to be Mike Babcock’s type of guy. Maybe that’s something that gets worked on at the draft or next season.”
Trade Bait list …
- TSN: Top 20 that could be on the move.
- Mikkel Boedker
- Loui Eriksson
- Jonathan Drouin
- Eric Staal
- Dan Hamhuis
- Kris Russell
- Nail Yakupov
- Dale Weise
- Jiri Hudler
- Radim Vrbata
- Brandon Pirri
- P.A. Parenteau
- Teddy Purcell
- Justin Schultz
- Jamie McGinn
- Lee Stempniak
- Kris Versteeg
- David Schlemko
- David Jones
- James Reimer