- Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period: There are rumors that the Oilers are talking about a significant trade. There were more than 22 team representatives watching their game on Wednesday against the Coyotes, including a couple teams with more than one representative. The Blues, Blue Jackets and Maple Leafs had their scouting directors watching.
“I’ve never seen that type of action unless something big is going down,” he said, regarding that many team representatives scouting a game this early in the season, “and I’m not talking about Jeff Petry for a fourth-round pick.”
Jeff Petry is reportedly on the trade black, with the Red Wings among the teams interested. A source said that trade talk around the Oilers has increased. Some speculation involves Nail Yakupov and Jordan Eberle. Nothing appears to be imminent, but trade talks continue.
- Tony Gallagher of the Vancouver Province: Jason Garrison was first asked to waive his no-trade clause this past offseason for a deal to reportedly the Blues. He turned it down as he wanted to remain in Vancouver.
“They had a specific team in mind when they called and it wasn’t Tampa. It was a shock. I wanted to stay in Vancouver. It was a little bit of a tough couple of weeks. It goes back and forth and there is a business side of things you don’t really see, and while I had a no-trade contract, there are certainly things a team can do that make you think you don’t have a no-trade clause at all. But I’m glad it’s over with and it all worked out.”
- Chris Nichols of Nichols on Hockey: Darren Dreger on TSN 1050 Radio talking about how aggressively the Maple Leafs tried to trade James Reimer this offseason.
“Not aggressively Dave, to be honest. Their interest was in signing him, but the agent through James Reimer, of course, and his input wanted him to at least explore the opportunity of trade. And they did that.
“I don’t know exactly what the asking price was for Reimer, but I know that it never was close to being met. And there wasn’t a ton of interest, which really isn’t an indictment on his play. But it was a bit of a bizarre goalie market to say the least, especially when you look at where Reimer likely would have been – which would have been a backup. And that wouldn’t have solved his issue anyway, because the reason he wanted out of Toronto was a better opportunity to become a starter.
“But every time I checked in on it, there was some interest; but nothing that the Leafs were considering.”