- Darren Dreger via twitter: The NHLPA rejects realignment for next season, the jets will stay in the Southeast. Bruce Garrioch via twitter: The Players are not a fan of one conference have 14 teams and the other 16, a better chance of playoffs for the one conference. Darren Dreger via twitter: Dreger warns us to get ready for a brawl between the NHL and NHLPA in the upcoming months. Pierre LeBrun via twitter: The NHL could file a grievance against the NHLPA if they feel they can prove the union unreasonably withheld consent.
- Craig Custance of ESPN: There will be plenty of teams calling about Ducks Bobby Ryan, who is the most likely of the ‘big 3’ to get dealt. The Red Wings, Maple Leafs and Sabres are expected to busy on the trade front, but pretty much every team would be intereted.
- John Vogl of the Buffalo News: Sabres GM Darcy Regier said after their 7 loss in 9 games that no big changes are imminent.
“At this time of the year and where we are, I’ve done a lot of talking to teams around the league, so I’m aware of some of those situations,” Regier said. “Right now there’s nothing imminent, and that’s part of the business. We’ll keep working.”
“I wouldn’t call it a shake-up,” Regier said. “If there’s a move that makes sense for us, we’ll do it if something is going to improve our hockey club. There’s nothing imminent, as I said, right now.”
“Without specific rumors, there’s truth to those rumors,” Regier said. “But the price right now, and I think things will build between now and the trade deadline. I think teams that are going to be sellers are going to try and maximize what they can get for what they are selling. I think that will build as we get closer to the trade deadline.”
- Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: Mailbag: The Stars have a decision to make with Nicklas Grossman. If they don’t sign him to an extension before the trade deadline, they could trade him for an offensive player.
- John Vogl via twitter: Sabres center Derek Roy suffered an upper-body injury and left last night’s game.
- Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune: Lightning forwards Adam Hall and JT Wyman suffered upper-body injuries on Thursday. Brett Connolly is returning to the team. Ryan Malone has missed 2 games with a lower-body injury is day-to-day but seems ready. With the addition of Brendan Mikkelson, the Lightning have sent Evan Oberg to the AHL.
- Blue Jackets via twitter: Blue Jackets forward Kristian Huselius has been placed on the IR. He’s week to week with a lower body injury.