- Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet: On why Lightning GM Steve Yzerman will be patient with regards to Jonathan Drouin’s trade request.
“Yzerman will be methodical. I’ll give you a reason,” one exec pointed out Monday. “Tyler Seguin.”
…
“If there was a trade Tampa wanted to do,” another exec said, “Drouin would be gone already.”
Some executives think you take the best deal and not worry about if it’s from the Eastern or Western conference. There are teams with young talent to make a deal happen, with Friedman using examples of Teuvo Teravainen (CHI) and Nikolaj Ehlers (WPG). The Lightning have been looking for defenseman, and the Ducks, Hurricanes and Predators have those. The Devils are interested in young talent and they have some pieces that might work. The Senators would make sense, but may not be a match for the Lightning. If looking at the Canadiens, could Alexander Galchenyuk come up in talks?
The Lightning may have to hold off on Drouin until there is more clarity with Steven Stamkos.
The Patick Marleau trade demand may go way.
Sam Gagner cleared waivers as no team wanted to take on his full salary, but GM Ron Hextall hinted that there was a trade possibility. He can still provide a team with some scoring.
Talk is that Brooks Orpik’s injury isn’t season ending, so talk of the Capitals interested in Dustin Byfuglien is not likely to happen. Their salaries are within $300,000 of each other. If Orpik was out for the remained of the regular season, Friedman could see the Capitals being interested.
Shouldn’t be a surprise if the Panthers were interested in Dustin Byfuglien. Panthers GM Dale Tallon was with the Blackhawks when they drafted him.
The Coyotes are trying to trade forward Steve Downie.
Think that the Senators had been trying to trade Patrick Wiercioch, but now Jared Cowen is in coach Dave Cameron’s doghouse. Not sure if they would want to trade both players. GM Bryan Murray hasn’t wanted to give up on Cowen, but that time may be nearing an end.
John Michael-Liles could be an under-the-radar rental pick up for someone.
The Maple Leafs want to hold the 2017 Winter Classic, rumored to be against the Rangers. Pierre LeBrun reported it could be Pittsburgh-Philadelphia if it’s not Toronto. Talk of a doubleheader are “very unlikely.”
Makes sense for the Blues to make a pitch for Ryan Johansen and maybe Jonathan Drouin.
The Blues drafted Colton Parayko 86th overall in the 2012 draft. Parayko knew the Coyotes, Blackhawks and Maple Leafs were interested.