- Joe Haggerty of CSNNE: (answering questions in his mailbag) A T.J. Oshie deal is possible, and the Blues and Bruins are talking. Oshie would be a better fit with the Bruins than Loui Eriksson will ever be. Shane Doan doesn’t really want to play in the East. Keith Yandle would be a good fit for the Bruins. The Coyotes may be waiting for their ownership situation to get settled before they make any moves. If the Bruins were to try and pull off a ‘blockbuster-type’ trade, wouldn’t rule out Brad Marchand, Milan Lucic or Carl Soderberg. Untouchables are Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Tuukka Rask, and for at least this season, Zdeno Chara. Teams may be interested in prospect goalie Malcolm Subban. Bruins may look to move Niklas Svedberg before Subban. Can’t see the Bruins trading Rask. Canucks Zack Kassian’s name has come up, and if the cost is reasonable, Haggerty thinks they should do it. He would likely fit in on their third line and is not a top line guy. Kevin Bieksa’s name has also come up in a potential package. Lucic could be used as a trade chip in a potential Taylor Hall deal, but would more likely be an offseason deal than in-season one. Haggerty doesn’t think the Oilers will move either Jordan Eberle or Hall by the trade deadline.
- Rory Boylen of Sportsnet: Recently fired Dallas Eakins could end up back with the Maple Leafs.
“Don’t be surprised if he ends up back in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization,” Cox said. “He has held a number of jobs, including being head coach of their AHL affiliate the Toronto Marlies. This season, the Marlies are not having as strong a season as they’ve had in recent years. Gord Dineen, formerly Eakins’ assistant when they were both with the Marlies is now the head coach of that team. But Eakins as I said has done a number of things for the Leafs organization including player personnel and assistant coach
- Friedman: Predators pending UFA Mike Fisher is hoping to start contract extension talks soon.Kimmo Timonen will meet with doctors for his blood clot issue that may, or may not clear him. Likely won’t happen.Blues GM Doug Armstrong said that the Blues and Bruins are not talking trade involving T.J. Oshie. Oshie has term left on his deal and the Bruins will need to re-sign RFAs Reilly Smith, Dougie Hamilton and Torey Krug.Cox: The AHL will be expanding. The Oilers may want to use their ECHL affiliate in Bakerfield to replace their AHL team, Oklahoma City. The Flames are close to buying the Stockton Thunder to replace Adirondack.Friedman: New KHL president Dmitry Chernyshenko may want to talk with the NHL about a player transfer agreement, which currently doesn’t exist. The NHL prefers the IIHF style transfer where they pay the team a capped sum, believe to be several hundred thousand dollars. The KHL may want a open amount, similar to what happens in soccer.