- Jeremy Rutherford of St. Louis Post-Dispatch: (mailbag) On speculation of Bruins and Blues trade. Have to believe something has been discussed. GM Doug Armstrong did have credentials to attend the Bruins-Wild game in Minnesota. He didn’t attend, was with the Blues in LA. Rutherford has heard that one or two of their top-six could be dealt, and wouldn’t be surprised if one or more of T.J. Oshie, Patrik Berglund and Alex Steen is moved. Rutherford has heard Milan Lucic’s name as a player the Bruins could move out.
Rutheford doesn’t think that Jaden Schwartz’s injury will increase the likelihood of a trade.Rutherford thinks from the info he’s gathered, the Blues will go with Brian Elliott and Jake Allen when Elliott is ready to return. If Martin Brodeur does play terrific and the Blues want to create cap space, Elliott could be traded. There would be a bigger market for Elliott than Brodeur.
- Joe Haggerty of CSNNE: Something could be brewing around the Blues and Bruins. Bob McKenzie brought up on NBCSN T.J. Oshie and Patrik Berglund. GM Peter Chiarelli and assistant GM Don Sweeney have scouted the Blues. Berglund fits due to his size, but he’s left handed center. Chiarelli may have laid some ground work on salary dump trade or two in case a bigger/better trade becomes available. Repeating that Chris Stewart is still the most likely solution.
- Bruce McCurdy of the Edmonton Journal: Ray Ferraro on the Jason Gregor Show on Wednesday on the Oilers and Taylor Hall rumors.
“When that stuff came out of the east, I think what maybe was missed is you’re not making a one-for-one trade. If you’re not knocking it out of the part and getting two players — or two players and a first-round pick — and the two players are young, in the same range but they expand your roster a little bit, you’re not even thinking of making a trade. You just can’t.
The general critique of Taylor is that his numbers … matter more than the wins or losses. Right or wrong, that’s how he’s perceived.”
On timing of a major deal and keeping all their options open.
I would say the guy least likely to be traded is Nugent-Hopkins because of the position that he plays. However, if they finish last and they’re going to draft Connor McDavid, maybe you think ‘Nugent-Hopkins might bring us the best bounty in return’. There can’t be anything off the table. But you can’t do that now. There’s no deals to be made now with the core I wouldn’t think, until you get to a pressure point, which the first one is the deadline, the second one is the draft. I wouldn’t anticipate nor if I were in charge would I look to make anything happen at this time, I’d probably line some ducks up and see what might be possible. If you get to that point, say ‘call me back in the last week of February if you’re really serious’.
- Hope Smoke: Darren Dreger: “Doubt it will happen in season. I wouldn’t be surprised if we start to hear that in the off-season” … “I’ve asked Nonis about that . We’ve all seen what is going on in Edm & they’ve struggled in goal” … “It would make sense that MacT would hook up with Nonis RE Reimer. I don’t know that that’s happened but the asking price & return would have to be substantial for the Leafs considering how well Reimer’s played & complements Bernier”
- Nichols on Hockey: Pierre LeBrun on TSN 690: The Blues weren’t happy that Vladimir Sobotka left for the KHL, but he could return to the Blues next season. His KHL deal has a one month window at the end of the season that he can opt of his deal. LeBrun is almost sure that he will opt out. As of a few weeks ago, GM Doug Armstrong had no intention of trading him.