- Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News: Sabres GM Tim Murray said he’s looking at trades every day. Looking at NHL goalies and other positions from teams that are looking to shed some salary.Their 21st overall pick could be available to either move up or for an NHL player.
Murray said they need two goalies – a No. 1 for Buffalo and one for Rocherster in the AHL. Chad Johnson is expected to be the backup.
The Sabres will send qualifying offers to Johan Larsson, Phil Varone, Tim Schaller and Jerry D’Amigo. Kevin Sundher and Zac Dalpe won’t get qualifying offers.
They are undecided on Nathan Lieuwen, Jerome Leduc, Jordan Samuels-Thomas and Matt Hackett.
- The Fourth Period: Source saying that contract talks between the Kings and Andrej Sekera are “ongoing.” Both sides would like to do a long-term deal, but salary appears to the be the issue. Sekera is thought to be looking for something around $4.5 million.If the Kings can re-sign Sekera, they could look to the free agent market.
They are close to re-signing Martin Jones according to a LAKingsInsider.com report. They have started contract talks with RFA Tyler Toffoli.
- Ansar Khan of MLive: (mailbag) Red Wings GM Ken Holland feels better positioned now to make a trade due to their overall depth.
“I’ve talked to a number of managers, expect to continue to do so,” Holland said on Wednesday. “Is there a fit? It appears the cap isn’t going to go up a whole lot. We’re exploring, but part of what we’re doing is youth.”
A trade for Rick Nash would at least cost the Red Wings a player like Gustav Nyquist.
Doubt the Red Wings would be interested in Martin St. Louis.
Wouldn’t rule out a potential Patrick Sharp trade. His $5.9 million cap hit may be more than the Wings would want to take on.
- Damien Cox of Sportsnet: Kings GM Dean Lombardi said he’s not expecting to make any “major moves” this offseason. They have some uncertainty on their blueline with Robyn Regehr retiring, Slava Voynov’s legal issues and pending UFA Andrej Sekera. Lombardi will start to have contract extension talks with Anze Kopitar next month. Lombardi could try to trade Dustin Brown. If he decides to trade Martin Jones, he could get a nice return. They could trade their No. 14 pick. There were trade talks with the Leafs about Dion Phaneuf, but the Kings want the Leafs to take back Mike Richards.