On the Blues …
- Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Darren Dreger on TSN 1050 on the Blues.
“And Doug Armstrong is trying to get some work done too. But he doesn’t want to make a trade through a position of weakness. But I do see St. Louis doing something when they get healthy and in better form. They’re in the market for a top-six forward, but it’s going to cost them one of their coveted defensemen. Maybe Carl Gunnarsson and something else to acquire that piece.”
- Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Blues GM Doug Armstrong said that when they brought in Martin Havlat and Dainius Zubrus on tryouts, he had hoped to make a decision on them within 10 days. Today marks 10 days since they brought them in. As of yesterday, there has been no indication on which way they are leaning.
On the Flyers …
- Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Teams will be calling the Flyers at the trade deadline about defenseman Mark Streit. The soon to be 38-year old defenseman will be a free agent at the end of the season. Matheson notes he’d be a great No. 4 defenseman in Chicago if they can create the cap room for him. (Matheson notes his contract is up at the end of the year … but he has a year left)
On the Jets …
- Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Bob McKenzie on TSN 1200 on Jets pending UFAs Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien.
“Byfuglien is going to be a tough one. Because I’ll tell you what – He’s 30 years old. He’s got a $5.2 million cap hit. And if he goes to the open market this summer, there’s no doubt in my mind that Dustin Byfuglien is going to get a seven year deal in excess of $7 million a year. No doubt in my mind whatsoever. He’s making $6 million this year. He’s got a $5.2 million cap hit. I don’t know if the Winnipeg Jets can go seven or the permissible eight years at the kind of money that he wants and do everything else they want to do, but he’s such an important part of their team.
“So it’s going to be fascinating to see how all of this unfolds between now and the trade deadline.”