Canucks interested in Jason Zucker
@Account4hockey: Michael Russo on his podcast. The Vancouver Canucks offer for Minnesota Wild winger Jason Zucker has included Jake Virtanen and Chris Tanev.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes were interested in Zucker last offseason.
Exchanging bad contracts?
David Staples of the Edmonton Journal: Elliotte Friedman was on Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer talking about the possibility of the Calgary Flames trading forward James Neal to the Edmonton Oilers.
Friedman notes the Flames are testing Neal’s market. The Flames options are to hold on to him and hope he turns things around, or they take back a bad contract.
“But he’s definitely available. I have heard that Edmonton at least kicked tires on it. It makes sense. A big contract has to go back (to Calgary).”
Stauffer brings up Milan Lucic and if he could head the other way. Friedman responds.
“I didn’t say it. Lucic is such a flash point I don’t even almost don’t even want to go there. Because I know what that’s going to turn into. But if it was that — and to be honest I don’t think it’s going to happen with Edmonton I just think the Oilers at least talked about the possibility because he’s a scorer and you guys need scorers.”
Friedman doesn’t see the fit for the Oilers, nor the Flames wanting Lucic.
Stauffer brings up Lucic to Vancouver, Neal to Edmonton and Loui Eriksson to Calgary in a three-team deal.
“I just refuse to believe that James Neal was as bad as he was last year. Last year, he did not do a good job. He was not himself. He was deservedly benched at the end of the season.”
Neal has four years left at $6 million. Lucic has four years left at $6 million. Eriksson has three years left at $6 million.