- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson:
“We’re going to be open to discussions, yes,” Howson said. “There’s nothing imminent right now; I don’t have anything on the burner right now. But certainly between now and over the next couple of months, we’re going to be very active, yes.”
Rick Nash likely isn’t going anywhere but what about Jeff Carter?
“I have no intention of trading Jeff at this point,” Howson said.
Derick Brassard will be in play, as well as rental players like Vaclav Prospal, Sammy Pahlsson and Kristian Huselius. LeBrun thinks the Kings and Red Wings will be interested in Ales Hemsky if he becomes available. The Predators are now able to negotiate with Shea Weber and GM David Poile is expected to chat “sometime in January.” Ryan Suter is a more pressing need as he’s a UFA at the end of the year. From Suter agent, Neil Sheehy:
“David and I continue to talk, but there’s nothing new to report at this point.”
The Bruins will have 6 UFAs: Chris Kelly, Shawn Thornton, Daniel Paille, Gregory Campbell, Joe Corvo and Johnny Boychuk.
The Hurricanes have 5 UFAs that may be traded: Tim Gleason, Bryan Allen, Jaroslav Spacek, Tuomo Ruutu and Alexei Ponikarovsky. The Hurricanes are about $3 million over the salary cap, so they can’t just dump salaries. By the trade deadline the cap numbers may not have as much of an impact as it would if they made a deal soon.
- Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Oilers winger Ales Hemsky practiced with a non-contact jersey, but he’ll skate today to see if he’s able to go. There are 25 games for the Oilers before the Feb. 27th trade deadline day. The Red Wings and Kings might be interested in Hemsky. It’s unlikely the Red Wings would give up their top defenseman prospect, Brendan Smith, for him. The Oilers would likely want a Dman in any Hemsky deal.
“I’m not worried about it (trade or new deal). You guys can talk about this,” Hemsky said. “Whatever happens, happens.
“If it happens here or somewhere else, it’s out of my hands.”
- Mike Zeisberger of the Toronto Sun: Before Christmas there were rumors that Eric Staal could be heading to Toronto. Bill Watters was one of the main sources for the rumors. Eric Staal:
“(Trade talk) just kind of comes with the territory with what’s going on with the season. But I’m trying to focus on what I’m trying to do here.”
Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford has said that Staal and Cam Ward won’t be going anywhere.
“To be honest I wasn’t that worried about it,” said Staal, who has a cap hit of $8.25 million US on a contract that runs through 2015. “Those are things that are out of my control. If it comes to me, I’ll deal with the situation when it arises.
“It’s obviously nice that Jim said what he said. He’s a guy I have the most respect for and someone I won a Stanley Cup with.”
- Tom Jones of the Tampa Bay Times: One way for the Lightning to fix their season is to find a goalie. Big names like Roberto Luongo and Ryan Miller could be available, but Evgeni Nabokov would be a much cheaper target.
- Kevin Paul Dupont via twitter: Dupont is more intrigued with Bobby Ryan than Rick Nash. “I might–again, might–be intrigued by a Ryan-for-Bruins Seguin discussion.”
- Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Oilers defenseman Ryan Whitney didn’t skate yesterday, but did travel with the team and hopes to return to the lineup sometime during their 6-game road trip.
- Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune: Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Nobody is suggesting he has a concussion. Eric Brewer was able to practice.
- Josh Cooper of the Tennessean: Predators defenseman Shea Weber didn’t skate yesterday and is doubtful for Friday.
“Every day that they don’t skate makes them less probable that they will play the next game,” Trotz said. “It’s still day-to-day with no definite time frame. He didn’t skate today, so at this point, it’s looking doubtful for Friday.”
- Eric Stephens of the OC Register: Saku Koivu has been practicing with the Ducks and when he returns to the lineup will be up to him according to coach Bruce Boudreau.
- Mike Zeisberger of the Toronto Sun: Ron Wilson hasn’t spoken with doctors regarding Matthew Lombardi, but he’s getting close.
“Pretty close, I think,” Lombardi said when asked about a possible return date following the Maple Leafs’ spirited and physical practice on Tuesday. “Just waiting on the OK to go. We’ll see what the medical staff says and go from there.”
- John Vogl of the Buffalo News: Sabres defenseman Andrej Sekera has an upper-body injury and will be out for weeks.