- Nichols on Hockey: Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 960 radio on the trade market.Ryan O’Reilly’s name is starting to come up.
Panthers Drew Shore is a name that has come up recently. After he plays two more games, he’s going to need to clear waivers to between the AHL and NHL (currently in the AHL). Some teams have been scouting him. He’s a center and they already have Aleksander Barkov and Nick Bjugstad.
The Bruins and Blues are going to be interesting teams to follow.
The Coyotes may have already decided they can’t keep Antoine Vermette on a deal north of $6 million, and he’ll likely get traded.
- Dreger on TSN 1200 on Chris Stewart.There is a market for Stewart and the asking price has dropped a bit. The Senators would be in the mix.
“And Chris Stewart is going to be a player that’s on the move. And the same teams that have kicked tires to this point will probably circle back. Maybe not Ottawa so much, unless they jump back into the playoff picture here in short order. Pittsburgh had limited interest initially. I think that still remains the same.
“But he’s a gritty, physical guy who’s got some upside. And as long as he continues to play well – or as we said earlier, improves his performance – that’s also going to better the teams on the list of those who are most interested.”
- Hope Smoke: Darren Dreger on TSN radio on the Maple Leafs: “The only point that mgmt in Toronto embraces the thinking that it’s not working & they have to fix it is when the market dictates that it’s worth stepping in & doing something significant” … “That’s why Nonis for the most part since he’s been GM has virtually left all players as marketable. There are no untouchables.” …. “Then you get into the semantics of are they listening on Lupul & Gardiner or shopping?” … “The gap between that semantics game will narrow if things go poorly for the Leafs in the 2nd half of the season.” … “The players that would fetch a decent return are players that this team still feels they need to build around” … “What I can tell you is talking to other teams around the league they look at the Leafs & say they’re doing great.” … “Those other teams look at the standings. They don’t analyze like we do.” … “Closer to home it seems more desperate than how it really is around the league.” … “Where is this organization? Are they a playoff team? Maybe, but they’re not a contending team.” … “Maybe they do have some, not glaring, but weaknesses that mgmt is going to have to address. Can Kadri develop into that 1C?” … “If Kadri doesn’t develop into that 1C is Bozak good enough as a 1C to lead you deep into the playoffs? We don’t know. I like him, but I’m not convinced on a deep team he’s a 1C.” … “Are any 1 of the Leafs so called top 4 D screaming to be a #1 on a real good contending team? No they’re not.” … “So yeah there are some holes that, if they’re not filled internally by development, that maybe sooner rather than later in the next year plus that Toronto as a mgmt group is going to have to address that.” … “Big question always the same: how? Top players aren’t available often by trade & Leafs are a cap team unable to spend in the summer” … “Gauthier & Nylander are top prospects but part of the issue again is that there are no blue chip guys coming up. That’s part of the problem when you’re drafting 10 or lower””