On the Montreal Canadiens …
- Eric Engels: Three thoughts on the Canadiens future: “1. Marc Bergevin has a chance to build his #habs. This summer he can change so much and put his fingerprint on the team. 2. The Canadiens need to have an honest look for the best coach available. Period. Get a translator if you must. 3. Some of the core players have to move. This much losing does irreparable damage.”
- TSN Hockey: Francois Gagnon thinks the Canadiens should consider trading some of their core players, possibly P.K. Subban.
- Shawn Simpson: Will be curious to see if/when ownership in Montreal forces GM Marc Bergevin to make a move.
- Brian Wilde: The way Carey Price looked on the ice yesterday, and with Michel Therrien saying how hard it will be to make the playoffs, GM Marc Bergevin has to be out of the short-term trade market right now.
- Brian Wilde: Wilde talked to someone yesterday that he really respects, and he said a trade for James Reimer back in December was the right move. He was undervalued.
On the Winnipeg Jets …
- Ed Tait of the Winnipeg Free Press: Contract negotiations between the Jets and Dustin Byfuglien have picked up in recent weeks. Byfuglien’s agent, Ben Hankinson, met up with the Jets in Minnesota last month. Asked if he’d like to re-sign with the Jets.
“Yeah. I’d love to. I’ve met a lot of good people and now some really good friends,” said Byfuglien, voted the game’s third star. “I’ve been here for a long time. You never want to leave home. I’ve been here long enough; my family has been here and I’ve had two kids here.
“It’s somewhere you don’t want to leave.”
Contract talks between the Jets and Andrew Ladd’s camp have cooled. Ladd’s agent J.P. Barry said hello to GM Kevin Cheveldayoff at the Top Prospects Game over the week, but that was about it.
On the New Jersey Devils …
- Rich Chere of NJ.com: The Devils are in the playoff race, but they might get a trade offer (draft pick or prospect) for 33-year old pending UFA Lee Stempniak, that they can’t refuse. Stempniak realizes it’s out of his control and is not trying to focus on it.
“You never know what is going to happen,” Stempniak told NJ Advance Media. “Last year in New York I was traded and they (the Rangers) ended up winning the President’s Trophy. Things happen and they’re sort of out of my control. I really hadn’t thought about this at all until I was asked the last two days. So it’s not weighing on my mind very much.
“I’m not really focused on it. There is a lot of hockey left to be played. I’m trying to play the best I can and help the team win games. If we’re in the playoff hunt I think they’ll be looking to keep guys and maybe add a player or two, so I think that helps me sticking around. We’ll see. I’ll take it as it comes.”
Stempniak would like to stay as he likes the organization and where it’s heading in the next couple years.
“I would like to stay, but I have no idea what’s going to happen. A lot can happen in the standings over the next month and you never know what direction Ray (Shero) is going to take with the team.”