The Fourth Period: Contract talks between the Hurricanes and pending UFA defenseman Andrej Sekera are non-existent. It is unclear when they will discuss an extension. It was thought that the Hurricanes reached out the Sekera’s camp, but a team source said that is not the case. The Hurricanes would like to keep Sekera, as well as pending UFA winger Jiri Tlusty. If they can’t reach a deal with either, they could be moved at the deadline. The Kings, Red Wings and Stars have been looking at Sekera.
TSN 1050 Radio: Darren Dreger: “It is implied around the league that Gardiner is available”
Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: (chat) Look for the Stars to move out some expiring contracts at the trade deadline if they are out of the playoff race. Heika doesn’t see the Stars trading for Mike Smith if the Coyotes are looking to move him. The Stars will ride Kari Lehtonen and believe that he can get out of slump. Heika thinks the Stars will remain patient with their blueline and will look to add a top-two defenseman in the offseason.
The Fourth Period: Kings GM Dean Lombardi is looking to acquire a top-four defenseman before the trade deadline. Injuries and Slava Voynov’s suspension has them looking to trade for someone. They are looking at both rentals and players with term left. They have been linked to Andrej Sekera, Keith Yandle and Braydon Coburn. Nothing is imminent. The Kings continue to dangle Mike Richards, and possibly Jordan Nolan and Kyle Clifford.
Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Talk is that the WHLs Kelowna Rockets are interested in trading for Leon Draisaitl’s CHL rights from the Prince Albert Raiders. The Oilers have several ties with Kelowna. The Oilers felt that allowing Draisaitl to play in the World Junior Championship with Germany wouldn’t be beneficial. The Oilers have already burned one-year of Draisaitl’s entry-level contract after he played in his 10th NHL game. The next number is the 40 game mark, which would knock a year off with regards to unrestricted free agency. The Oilers won’t comment on if it would be an option to send to Kelowna if they trade for his rights. Kelowna is a top team in the WHL.
John Shannon: Kelowna has been interested in acquiring Draisaitl’s rights before they made the Josh Morrissey trade.
Hope Smoke: Ray Ferraro: “It could be that . Could also be that you change the coach and the player is still the player.”
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