- Craig Custance of ESPN: Trade speculation hasn’t surrounded the Devils much as GM Lou Lamoriello isn’t ready to bail on the season just yet.
“That’s not even in my vocabulary right now as far as I’m concerned,” Lamoriello said. “Right now, it’s a day-to-day situation. It’s a game-to-game situation, and it’s just an observation about how people respond to the set of circumstances we’re in.”
Jaromir Jagr has said he wouldn’t object to a trade if that is what Lamoriello wants to do.
“If wants to move me, he will,” Jagr told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “If he doesn’t, he doesn’t. He knows I like it here, but it’s all about whatever is best of the team.”
One GM said he wasn’t sure he’d want Jagr at this point in his career. Other Devils that are in the last year of their contracts that could interest some teams include: Michael Ryder, Martin Havlat, Steve Bernier, Scott Gomez, Jordin Tootoo, Bryce Salvador and Marek Zidlicky.
“Zidlicky can still play. He’s a quality, right-handed D man. He can help a power play,” the scout said. “If I was a Detroit, I’d make that call.”
The scout added that Adam Larsson is player he’d make a pitch for.
- Ansar Khan of MLive: (mailbag) The Red Wings aren’t trading Anthony Mantha, Dylan Larkin or their 2015 1st round pick. It’s doubtful that they move any roster players that are in their top-nine (forwards) and top-four (defense). Don’t think the Red Wings will meet the Sabres asking price for Tyler Myers. Mike Green wouldn’t cost as much, but if the Capitals are out of the playoff race and are looking to move him, they likely prefer to send him to the West. The Wings would likely be interested in Keith Yandle, but the cost to acquire him may be too high – a top prospect, good young roster player and/or a first round pick. If the Wings are able to bring in a defenseman, it’s likely going to be a second- or third-pairing defenseman. Jakub Kindl’s $2.4 million contract may make him hard to trade, and they are likely not just going to dump him for nothing.
- Vancouver Canucks: Benning said that he’s happy with his roster, but is always open to making the team better.
- Jason Brough: Canucks GM Jim Benning said that they are not trying to trade Zack Kassian but adds: “But that’s not going to stop other teams from calling and inquiring about him.”
- Jeff Paterson: Kassian on being scratched: ‘he obviously doesn’t see me fitting in right now and that’s a coach’s decision.’
- The Fourth Period: If the Kings and Justin Williams can’t get a contract extension done by next week, it’s expected they will put talks on hold until after the season.
- The Fourth Period: If the Hurricanes can’t re-sign defenseman Andrej Sekera, they are expected to trade him by the March 2nd deadline. A source said the chances of him being trade “are pretty high, at this point.”