- The Fourth Period: The Bruins and Coyotes have been talking trade of late, with the Bruins possibly targeting Keith Yandle. Coyotes GM Don Maloney may finally be ready to move Yandle and will be looking for package of young, NHL ready players. The Coyotes could also trade Antoine Vermette and Martin Erat before the trade deadline. The Bruins had shown some interest in Vermette, but may be focusing on Yandle now.
- Matthew Sekeres: Canucks GM Jim Benning: “We’re keeping our first-round pick…won’t be trading.”
- Josh Yohe of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review: The Penguins and pending UFA Paul Martin haven’t held any contract extension discussions. Martin carries a $5 million cap hit and the Penguins could look to trade him, clearing space to add a big-name winger. Trading Martin also isn’t really a move for a team trying to win the Cup.
- Steve Zipay of Newsday: Mats Zuccarello would like some stability and a long-term deal with the Rangers. Zuccarello signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal this offseason.
“If they want me . . . I haven’t heard anything, so I don’t know,” Zuccarello said. “It’s too early to worry about it, I’m just focusing on the next games. If they don’t have room for me, I’ll be somewhere. Next year, I think I’ll play somewhere; where it is, I don’t know. I hope it’s here, that would be the best thing for sure, but it’s not up to me, all I can do is play hard.”
He’d like a multi-year deal.
“I would like them to have faith in me for longer years,” he said. “I’ve had one-year deals for a long time now, so it’d be nice to get some stability.”
- Helene Elliott: Scouting the Rangers and Ducks: Sabres, Bruins, Flyers, Blues, Predators, Stars, Penguins, Leafs and Canucks (2)
- Hope Smoke: Bob McKenzie on TSN radio: “How about if Claude Julien gets fired in the next 7-10 days? How would that be for shock waves or wow?”