- Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer: The Philadelphia Flyers are still interested in Erik Cole, but the Hurricanes are holding on to the 8th spot, and likely wouldn’t move him if they are still in the playoff hunt.
- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Ottawa Senators GM Bryan Murray has asked Chris Phillips if he’d waive his no-trade clause or not,
“I have talked to (Phillips) about what he would like to have happen for him, but Chris has not come back to me,” said Murray. “The door is open, ‘Come in and tell me what you want me to do and what you would like to do.’
“I think he wants to stay in Ottawa. I’m not quite sure how that will work.”
- Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun: Sens GM Murray hasn’t asked Jason Spezza if he’d waive his no-trade clause. Spezza says he wants to stay and help turn things around, and that it should be a short rebuilding process.
- Tim Sassone of the Daily Herald: Marty Turco will get the start for the Blackhawks tonight against his former team, the Dallas Stars.
- Adrian Dater of the Denver Post: Craig Anderson has left the Avalanche and returned to Denver for personal reasons. John Grahame has been called up to be the backup. Dater believes it is a day-to-day thing.
- Adrian Dater of the Denver Post: TJ Galiardi (wrist injury) and Kyle Cumiskey (head) have flown back to Denver for further evaluation. Forsberg will be at practice today and could play tonight.
- Jim Jamieson of the Vancouver Province: Jamieson wonders that if the Avalanche continue to fall out of the playoff race, would they look to trade Peter Forsberg? Forsberg has a no-trade and no-movement clause, but did he come back this year to play for a team not going to the playoffs? Jamieson wonders if the Canucks would be interested if this scenario.
- James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail: Kris Versteeg could be the next one moved by the Maple Leafs. The Leafs have denied a report that Versteeg is unhappy in Toronto, and wants to be traded. Burke is likely looking to get a center with size. Versteeg hasn’t filled the top-line role in which they had hoped (um, when is the last time he got a shot on a top line? He’s been playing for the 3rd line for as long as I can remember). “I’ve been through a lot already in my career,” Versteeg said. “Just another thing. Now it’s just you’re going to have to deal with until trade deadline. Who knows what happens? I’ve liked it here, I’ve had fun here and I guess whatever happens, happens.”
- David Pagnotta via twitter: Talk going on between the Maple Leafs and Flyers, and between the Flyers and Panthers. Philly scouting the Leafs and Panthers, Panthers scouting the Flyers.
- David Pagnotta via twitter: Scouts at the Maple Leafs-Devils game last night: Bruins, Canadiens, Predators, Flyers, Blues, Capitals, and 2 from the Penguins.
- Shelly Anderson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: The Penguins have lost center Dustin Jeffrey to a lower-body injury. Jeffrey is the 4th Penguin center to hurt.
- Tim Sassone via twitter: The Brent Seabrook trade rumors are laughable.
- Jimmy Murphy via twitter: Murphy thinks that if the Bruins want to get the guy he wants at the right price, he been do it now.
- Scott Cruickshank of the Calgary Herald: Blackhawks exec Scotty Bowman on the Fan 590, “A couple weeks ago, we were looking at Calgary. We were maybe going to move some players. There was talk they might move a (Curtis) Glencross or (David) Moss. But I doubt now with them solidifying a playoff spot . . . .”
- Adam L. Jahns of the Chicago Sun: The Blackhawks may not be done dealing, and may still be looking to add a defenseman.
“We’ll keep an eye on things,” Bowman said Wednesday night. “We’re certainly out there looking to improve our team. That’s probably common to every team. we’re not going to shy away from making another trade if it’s there to be made.