On the Dallas Stars …
- Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: (mailbag) On if the Stars would try to trade for Dustin Byfuglien, and what would the cost be? The Stars will be interested in high-end defenseman, and they will be in trade talks if any are made available. Alex Goligoski, Jason Demers and Jordie Benn are pending UFAs. They have young guys in Patrik Nemeth and Jamie Oleksiak, and three great prospects in the minors. Stars GM Jim Nill has to decide if he wants to trade some of those young guys for someone like Byfuglien or Brent Burns.
On the Montreal Canadiens …
- Brian Wilde: The CBJ-NSH and PHI-LA trades put more pressure on Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin. The Canadiens have lots of defenseman and are in need of scoring, especially on the right side.
On the Minnesota Wild …
- Craig Custance: The Wild are the real losers of the Johansen-Jones trade. A division rival landed Johansen and the Wild needed and wanted him as well.
On the Los Angeles Kings …
- Dennis Bernstein: There is still seven weeks to the deadline, but if the Kings don’t have any injuries, there isn’t really another move for them to make.
On the NY Islanders – Edmonton Oilers and NY Rangers – Arizona Coytoes …
- Daniel Friedman of CBS Local: Friedman makes some predictions for the year.
Travis Hamonic will be traded to the Edmonton Oilers on deadline day – Islanders GM Garth Snow would likely prefer to wait this out as long as he can until the best deal comes along, but if Johnny Boychuk recovers and the Oilers want to play ball, Snow will pull the trigger and put this situation behind him and his hockey team.
The Rangers will trade Marc Staal to Arizona in a deal for Mikkel Boedker – They have to shed some cap space and they need some help on offense. No one’s taking Dan Girardi, so Staal’s the odd man out. The Coyotes will likely be sloping downward by the trade deadline and could look to sell high on Boedker, who has historically produced less than he has this season. It could be a fit.
- David Staples of the Edmonton Journal: Staples asked Friedman why he thinks Hamonic will be traded to the Oilers, and what would the Oilers have to give up?
A: I think the fact that both sides have already had discussions about Hamonic has significance. Isles want D, will get a forward. As for which forward, depends on which one Oilers deem most expendable. Don’t think Isles would want Yakupov. As much as I have a hard time believing Snow turned down (Oilers winger Jordan) Eberle, I think he’d do it at the end of the day.
Q: Is that a rumour in New York, that Snow turned down Eberle?
A: It is. I’m not buying it, and if it did happen, had to be posturing.