3:59 PM: TheFourthPeriod: Alexei Ponikarovsky is close to be dealt. The Kings, Penguins, and Predators have shown serious interest. The Leafs are hoping for a 1st round pick, but might take a 2nd and top prospect.
10:57 AM: Brad Ziemer of the Vancouver Sun: Finding some 3rd line scoring is on the wish list of Canucks coach, Alain Vigneault. If GM Mike Gillis agrees, he may look at Steve Reinprecht, who he considered bringing in last season. Other options could be Eric Belanger, Doug Weight, or Jeff Halpern. If they are worried about Willie Mitchell’s health, they might look at Aaron Ward or Andy Sutton. 2006 1st round pick, Michael Grabner, might be bait to bring in some help.
10:52 AM: Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Don Waddell tells Chris he’ll be a buyer more than a seller. He’d like to add a forward with size, and some scoring to make up for Kovalchuk’s departure. He’s talked to 15 teams, but there isn’t a lot of options available. A few teams have called about Slava Kozlov.
10:46 AM: Chuck Gormley of the Courier-Post: The Flyers may also be talking to the Predators about goalie Dan Ellis. This would make a lot of sense for the Flyers as Ray Emery is on LTIR and Michael Leighton is their starting goalie. It would make sense for them even if Emery wasn’t on LTIR.
10:43 AM: TheFouthPeriod: The Kings may have moved on from Ray Whitney and may target, Slava Kozlov, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Raffi Torres or Paul Kariya.
10:39 AM: Chris Botta at NYI Point Blank: The Isles have had a couple offers, 2nd round picks for Andy Sutton but they may hold out for a 2nd rounder plus an additional pick.
10:36 AM: Frank Seravalli of the Philadephia Daily News: Sources are saying the Flyers will send Ryan Parent and Braydon Coburn to the Preds for Hamhuis. May happen when Cote and Syvret clear waivers at noon today.
10:31 AM: Tim Panaccio of CSNPhilly: The Flyers and Predators have talked about Dan Hamhuis. The Preds have asked about several players, including Ryan Parent, who they sent to Philly in the Forsberg deal in 2007.
10:25 AM: Sam Carchiki of the Philadelphia Inquirer: The Flyers freed up $2 million in cap room by placing Ray Emery on LTIR and waiving Riley Cote, bringing their total cap room up to $2.8 million. They have shown interest in Alex Frolov, Raffi Torres, and Colby Armstrong. Dan Hamhuis could be their main target.
10:23 AM: Kevin Mio of Habs Inside/Out: The Canadiens and Tomas Plekanec’s agent held talks during the Olympic break, and will continue to talk after the trade deadline day.
10:19 AM: Chris McCosky of the Detroit News: Red Wings GM Ken Holland doesn’t expect to make any moves at the deadline, but if he does do something, it will have to be dollar-for-dollar as they are against the cap. “Our trade deadline was Franzen, Lilja and Kronwall,” he said, referring to the healthy return of Johan Franzen, Andreas Lilja and Niklas Kronwall. “Not too many teams are going to do any better than that.”
Steve Gorten of the Sun-Sentinel: After trading Jordan Leopold yesterday, and Dominic Moore before the Olympics, the Panthers may still not be finished dealing. Tomas Vokoun, Dennis Seidenberg, Rostislav Olesz, Cory Stillman, and Steven Reinprect, could be some of the few that are moved.
Robert Tychkowski of the Edmonton Sun: The Oilers acquired a 2nd round pick for Denis Grebeshkov yesterday, and they will still make several other moves. From GM Steve Tambellini, “I wouldn’t say everyone is on the block, but given where we are I’d be crazy not to listen to everything,” he said. “That doesn’t mean we’re going to do it, but I’ll listen to everything.”
Michael Russo and Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune: The Minnesota Wild and Marek Zidlicky have contract that is all but complete. It is a 3 year deal for the 33 year old, but the sticking point is the full no-trade clause that Zidlicky wants. The Wild only want to include a no-trade clause for part of the contract. If they can’t agree on the contract, they’ll most likely trade Zidlicky. They are also getting some calls about Owen Nolan, and it’s also rumored that they might be willing to trade Eric Belanger.
Adrian Dater of the Denver Post: Marek Svatos is waiting to be traded, his bags are already packed, now he’s just waiting for the Avalanche to trade him. Svatos was in the lineup last night playing on the 2nd line, with scouts from at least 2 teams in attendance, the Blackhawks and Sharks.
Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Ladislav Smid’s name was creeping into a few trade rumors, but that will probably be the end of them as he has bulging disc in his neck. In the next few days he’ll visit a neurologist to decide if he’ll just need a short rest, or if it will be a season ending injury, that might require surgery.
