- Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: The Sabres may continue to hold on to Tyler Myers for awhile to see if the Red Wings become more interested in the right-handed defenseman or if the Stars come calling. Neither the Stars, nor Red Wings, are in dire need just yet. The Sabres would like either Anthony Mantha or Dylan Larkin as part of the package. Mantha is a non-starter for the Wings. The only high-end offensive forward the Stars have is Valeri Nichushkin.
Ducks Sheldon Souray hasn’t officially retired, but wrist issues may have ended his career. He’s in the last year of his three-year deal.
Olli Maatta has taken Paul Martin’s spot on the Penguins second power play unit, which makes you wonder if they will re-sign the pending UFA or look to trade him before he hits free agency.
- Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: The Penguins could use another scoring winger, they won’t win without one.
- Howard Stutz of the Las Vegas Review-Journal: The CFO of MGM Resorts International said yesterday that they have had preliminary talks with a group looking to bring a NHL team to Vegas. They will operate the $350 million sports complex that will seat 20,000. MGM is in a partnership with AEG, who own the Kings. If they are looking to relocate a current team or if through expansion is not known.
“We would be supportive of an NHL team coming to our arena,” D’Arrigo said. “We’re highly interested and we have been in discussions with a group.”
- Nichols on Hockey: Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 590 talking Jets.
“And I think other teams are starting to circle around them and say, ‘Exactly what are you guys going to be doing here with some of your parts?’
“I know there’s always a lot of rumours about Evander Kane, who returned, but I think Ladd and Byfuglien next year are going to be heading into the last years of their contract. They’ve got – each of them have some no-move protection, or no-trade protection, but I do think you’re going to start to see some teams ask Winnipeg, ‘What are you thinking with those two guys? Are you thinking keep, or are you that thinking you may want to see what you can get for them?’ Because I think there would be a lot of interest in both of them.”
- Nichols on Hockey: Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 960 on the Flames, Wild and Hurricanes.
“I think one guy who is available, although I think the Minnesota Wild have injuries and illness issues right now, is Kyle Brodziak. But I don’t think it would be easy. I think that the Wild and other teams realize that you can never have – like, there’s two positions you can never really have enough guys. And that’s centre and defence. So I think centres are very hard to find. I don’t know what the options are going to be for other teams. Like I said, I heard it wasn’t easy for Edmonton to try to get Brodziak, so unless Calgary has a line on somebody else that they can look at…
“And I wonder, the thing that would make some sense to me for Calgary, if Carolina was interested in doing it – is a guy like Jay McClement. But I don’t know a) if Carolina is willing to do it, and b) what the cost would be. I mean, Brian Burke and Jay McClement obviously have a bit of a history.”