- Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: The Penguins will definitely be looking for a rental at the trade deadline now that Olli Maatta is done for the season. Would think that Pens GM Jim Rutherford would be interested in Hurricanes Andrej Sekera.The Wild may have looked at Martin Brodeur, but they are in the same division as the Blues which makes things a little harder.
The Coyotes will look to move Martin Erat and will listen to calls on Antoine Vermette.
- Larry Brooks of USA Today: The Rangers and Marc Staal are progressing on six-year deal somewhere between $5.6 and $5.9 million per season. A ‘well placed source’ said they had “a productive meeting” on Wednesday. The Rangers have about $20 million in cap space for next season. Pending UFAs: Staal, Martin St. Louis, Mats Zuccarello, Lee Stempniak and Matt Hunwick. Pending RFAs: Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin, Jesper Fast and John Moore.
- Nichols on Hockey: Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 960 thinks that Keith Yandle could get $7 million on his next deal, which is one reason the Coyotes will look to move him before he becomes a UFA at the end of next season. A team trading for him now would have him for at least two playoff runs.Bob McKenzie on TSN 1200 … The Canadiens could look to upgrade their blueline, someone with size, heaviness and some mobility. They are always looking for scorers and want to get bigger.
McKenzie on the Hurricanes:
“Right now, none. And that also includes Jordan Staal. And he’s younger than his brother, but by the same token you’ve got to talk about the Carolina Hurricanes closer to the bottom of the league than the top, in the running for McDavid and Eichel. But here’s the thing – both Staal brothers and Cam Ward have no-move clauses and they have no desire at this moment in time to consider going anywhere other than Carolina.
McKenzie on the Avs and Ryan O’Reilly
“What they’re saying is they’re identifying some teams they think might be a real good fit that have some assets. They’re looking for defense. They need help on the blueline. They’ve got some depth up front with guys like Duchene and Landeskog, but they need help on the blueline and Ryan O’Reilly will likely get them that.
“Everybody in hockey assumes it’s a given that Ryan O’Reilly will be traded before he gets into that final year in the summer. So there’s nothing that says Ryan O’Reilly’s got to be traded between now and the deadline. But I think the Colorado Avalanche, they’re certainly looking and gauging and seeing what the return would be right now.”
