On the Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Winnipeg Jets, Montreal Canadiens, Anaheim Ducks, and Arizona Coyotes …
TSN Insider Trading: Darren Dreger: The Senators believe they possibly have the top center – Derick Brassard – and possibly the top winger – Mike Hoffman.
“I’ll throw Ryan Dzingel in for honourable mention – he is a valuable piece to the Senators and I don’t get the sense that Dorion wants to trade him, but there is interest in Dzingel as there is in Brassard. I know Winnipeg is among the teams expressing some interest. I don’t see that he’s a perfect fit and as we know there’s a strong market for Hoffman as well.”
Bob McKenzie: The Nashville Predators, Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues, and Winnipeg Jets are looking at rentals like Rick Nash, Michael Grabner, Patrick Maroon and Evander Kane. What price are they willing to give up is the question?
“A lot of these teams that are looking for rentals say they will not pay the premium to get one of those players, but if one of them does it, then the other guys have to. Does that start a stampede? But if none of them do it, does that mean these teams either get left holding those guys, or is the value for them more than a first-round plus plus?”
Piere LeBrun: The Penguins only have about $800,000 in salary cap space, which makes it hard to trade for someone like Thomas Plekanec. The Penguins like him, but even if the Canadiens retain 50 percent of his salary, he may not fit. The Penguins have made calls on Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Mark Letestu, and Derick Brassard. Matt Cullen would make sense.
Darren Dreger: The Jets would like to add a top-six forward with some grit and a defenseman. Andrew Shaw‘s name has come up. Oilers Patrick Maroon or Mark Letestu could be fits. Jack Johnson could be an option on the blue line, but he may not be the best fit.
Pierre LeBrun: The Canadiens don’t plan on making Andrew Shaw available.
Bob McKenzie: The Ducks are getting calls on center Antoine Vermette. The Ducks aren’t sure if they are going to be buyers or sellers just yet.
Bob McKenzie: The Coyotes aren’t shopping Max Domi, but many teams believe he is available. Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Clayton Keller are the only Coyotes untouchables. Teams may want to buy low on Domi, but the Coyotes don’t want to sell low.
