- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Things seems to be the same with regards to the trade market.
“It’s the same teams, offering the same players, for the same price,” said a league executive Friday with the clock ticking towards March 2 at 3 p.m. EST.
“Everyone is still waiting. That’s all that’s happening. There will be 20 trades within two days. It’ll happen. Right now, teams are just trying to act like they’re smarter than everybody else.”
The Canadiens, Blackhawks, Rangers and Bruins have shown some interest in Antoine Vermette. The Penguins may be looking for a forward now.
The Sharks have been offering up the same players all season: Andrew Desjardins, Tye McGinn, James Sheppard and Tyler Kennedy. Some teams are wondering why the Sharks haven’t tried to re-sign Antti Niemi.
The Flames are getting a lot of interest in Curtis Glencross.
The Stars are unlikely to do much. There is some interest in Erik Cole.
Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin isn’t expected to make any blockbuster deals, but he’d like to add some depth. Belief is they are interested Roman Polak. They are just one of the teams interested, and are a division rival. Bergevin has told teams he’s only interested in players with term.
The Predators have started contract talks with Mike Fisher. He could be in the three-year, $5 to $6 million range.
A lot of teams are interested in Hurricanes forwards Jiri Tlusty and Jay McClement, and defenseman Andrej Sekera. The Penguins, Lightning, Blues and Canucks are among the teams interested in Sekera. The Hurricanes have tried to trade Cam Ward, but nobody wants his $6.3 million cap hit next year. The Hurricanes may be willing to talk a Jeff Skinner trade in the offseason.
The Oilers tried to re-sign Jeff Petry with no luck. Interested teams include the Ducks, Penguins, Canadiens and Lightning. If the Oilers are able to get a forward with their first round pick, they could move either Taylor Hall or Jordan Eberle.
If the Devils want to get a draft pick for Michael Ryder, they should stop making him a healthy scratch.
The Blue Jackets could trade Mark Letestu, Cam Atkinson and Jordan Leopold.
Top 5 Sellers: Coyotes – Antoine Vermette, Zbynek Michalek and Martin Erat. Could possibly trade Keith Yandle.
Sabres – Chris Stewart, Andrej Meszaros and Michal Neuvirth
Hurricanes – Eric Staal is unlikely. Want to move Cam Ward. Looking for a prospect and pick for Sekera
Maple Leafs – Everyone but Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner are available. Long shot that Dion Phaneuf and Phil Kessel are moved.
Devils – Jaromir Jagr and Michael Ryder could bring experience. Marek Zidlicky could get some interest.
Top Trade Targets – 1. Antoine Vermette 2. Jeff Petry 3. Andrej Sekera 4. Chris Stewart 5. Jaromir Jagr
Going Shopping – 1. Bruins: still looking for a forward 2. Jets: another forward 3. Kings: a defenseman
Canadian teams that are buyers – Canucks: a forward. Flames: coach Bob Hartley likes players with edge. Canadiens: depth on the blueline. Jets: foward help
Canadian teams that are sellers: Maple Leafs: take my players please. Senators: have depth on blueline. Oilers: who knows what they are doing.
