On the Islanders …
- Arthur Staple: Not hearing that there were any sort of off-ice issues with Ryan Strome. He needs to re-gain his form and he’ll be back soon.
On the Lightning …
- Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times: Defenseman Matt Carle has been a healthy scratch in two of the past four games, but he’s not bitter about it. He’s not happy about it and is frustrated, but he’s not going to change his attitude and work ethic. Carle knows he can’t control the trade rumors that the Lightning are shopping him around. He is their highest paid defenseman at a $5.5 million cap hit, and is under contract through 2017-18. The Lightning could use the future cap space for Steven Stamkos and others. Carle has a modified no-trade clause. He watched Eric Brewer go through a similar situation last year before he has traded to the Ducks for a third round pick.
“Brew had been around the league a lot longer than I have,” Carle said. “To me, I feel like I have a lot of good years left in this league. That’s where it’s kind of frustrating. But it’s one of those things is out of my control. Obviously I love being here and I love playing with these guys, and playing the type of hockey we play and being as competitive as we are. You want to be here and be part of the success that this team can have.
“I don’t really look at my situation compared to Brew and hope it works out the same way. That’ not my mindframe at all. I want to be here and I want to be playing.”
If Carle decides he’s okay with moving on, GM Steve Yzerman might have some difficulty moving him due to his contract and the fact that GMs know Yzerman could use the cap room.
On Chris Pronger and Niklas Lidstrom …
- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Back in June of 2006 the Maple Leafs were one teams that then Oilers GM Kevin Lowe talked to with regards to Chris Pronger’s trade request. Then Maple Leafs GM John Ferguson.
“The deal just didn’t come together,” Ferguson said Friday over the phone. “But I do recall Scotty Howson coming by the draft table and dropping a little shredded piece of paper with hand-written names and a draft pick. Believe me, I saved the piece of paper and I’ve still got it.”
On the paper – Tomas Kaberle and Alex Steen plus a high draft pick.
- Red Wings GM Ken Holland on a 1992 trade package …
“I can remember when Lindros was traded (in June 1992), Quebec was trying to get us in the mix and they wanted Lidstrom as part of a package,” Holland said. “We had no interest though.”