On Alexei Vasilevskiy …
Aivis Kalnins: Have been hearing that KHL defenseman Alexei Vasilevskiy (Andrei’s brother) is getting interest from three NHL teams. The Tampa Bay Lightning are believed to be one of those teams.
On the Boston Bruins …
Jimmy Murphy: The Bruins had interest in winger Michael Grabner at the trade deadline and when he was a free agent back in 2016. Something to watch when free agency gets underway.
On the Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, Carolina Hurricanes, and Buffalo Sabres …
Chris Nichols of FRS Hockey: Bob McKenzie was talking about the trade front leading up to the NHL draft on his latest ‘Bobcast.’
Phil Kessel’s name has come up a lot lately, with McKenzie noting that almost every player could be available. Sidney Crosby and Evgeny Malkin are untouchables with some young players like Jake Guentzel and Matt Murray that likely won’t be traded.
For the right price, McKenzie said he thinks the Penguins would trade Kessel, with the Los Angeles Kings being one of the teams interested.
The Kings are looking for scoring wingers and are looking at others as well.
“And that was another thing I was going to bring up in terms of some of the gossip. The L.A. Kings are looking for scoring wingers. Jeff Skinner in Carolina is somebody they have some interest in, Max Pacioretty in Montreal would be someone. I don’t know that they’re necessarily looking ahead to free agency at a guy like James van Riemsdyk, as much as they are trying to find guys that have at least a year left on their deal at a fixed cost and somebody they could actually trade for right now. So keep an eye on the Kings as it relates to scoring wingers. Keep an eye on guys like Kessel, Skinner in Carolina is quite likely to be dealt.”
Could the Sabres and Hurricanes come together on a deal?
“We talked before about Buffalo potentially trading Ryan O’Reilly, the center there. Carolina is interested in him. I could see Buffalo having some interest in Jeff Skinner, to be honest. I think they’re looking at all areas to try and upgrade themselves in Buffalo.”