- Tom Gulitti: Pending Devils UFA Michael Ryder was finally able to get back into the lineup after being a healthy scratch for the past seven games. He has six goals and 12 assists in 42 games. Ryder said he hasn’t spoken with GM Lou Lamoriello about the upcoming trade deadline.
“Lou’s professional about everything,” Ryder said. “He’s got to do what he sees is best for the team and whatever he thinks he’s got to do. So, I’ll guess we’ll have to wait and see.”
- Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer: The Hurricanes could trade Andrej Sekera, Jiri Tlusty, Jay McClement and Tim Gleason.
“We’re still in the process of talking to players and their agents,” he said. “Until the door completely closes, there’s a chance. At the same time we’re seeing what’s out there in the market.”
Sekera could be looking for more than $5 million on a new deal, and that is more than the Hurricanes are likely wanting to go.
- Bob McKenzie: Pending UFAs Jiri Tlusty and Jay McClement haven’t been able to get a deal done with the Hurricanes and will likely be traded.
- James Mirtle: The fact that the Maple Leafs are trying to trade Tyler Bozak is a big positive. The time to trade him was in the summer, as his trade value is low right now.
- Adrian Dater: There Avalanche were highly interested in Zach Bogosian, with Ryan O’Reilly as an obvious bargaining chip. It’s unclear what will happen with O’Reilly, but they won’t just give him away.
- Nichols on Hockey: Elliotte Friedman on Calgary’s Sportsnet 960 on the interest the Flames had in Evander Kane.
“They were a team that was definitely into the Evander Kane and Tyler Myers talks. They were interested. I talked a little bit about it last night with Rob and since then I’ve had a few more conversations. I think that both the Jets and the Sabres were really interested in potentially making a move with Calgary, but the Flames were being really careful about what they were willing to do.
“And the ask was pretty big. They definitely asked for Bennett and/or Monahan. I think one team may have asked for both, just to see if they could get away with it. And Calgary stepped back and said, ‘We’re not going to do that.’
“I can’t pin it down exactly. But I think one of the teams may have asked for one of the two and possibly Mikael Backlund and again Calgary said no. They were both looking for centres. Winnipeg in particular until Adam Lowry developed a bit more this year, was really looking for centres. Buffalo is looking for just about everything.
“But the Flames, they were in it. They were interested. But both of the offers or whatever they were demanding, Calgary just said, ‘We’re not going to pay that.’ “