- Wayne Scanlan of the Ottawa Citizen: Senators GM Bryan Murray hinted over the weekend that he’ll continue to search for a top-six forward. They are 11th in the Eastern Conference and are faced with two options.
1) sell some veteran talent – goaltender Craig Anderson being the best bet to fetch a return of young potential.
2) add a veteran in the hope it might help secure a playoff position.Dan Rosen of NHL.com: Sabres GM Tim Murray on Tylers Myers.
“I’ve never made a call to another team on Tyler Myers,” Murray told NHL.com. “I’ve had some calls, and I think it’s kind of a domino effect where one or two teams see in other press, not Buffalo press, and called asking if it was true. I have not tried to trade this guy. Some teams have asked about availability. I’ve plainly said, ‘I’m not trying to trade the guy, if you want to knock my socks off with an offer I’ll listen,’ but it would have to be a major, major trade for me to move this guy. I’m not pursuing that.”
If the Sabres trade a player like Myers, they will likely be looking to add a player like him in two years.
“That’s why I’m not trying to trade him,” Murray said.
- Craig Custance of ESPN: For the time being, the Red Wings will ride it out with Petr Mrazek and Tom McCollum.
The goalie market is thin. One of Jhonas Enroth or Michal Neuvirth could be moved. The Sharks could be looking to move some contracts out and Antti Niemi could be one of them.
Sergei Bobrovsky’s new deal (four-years with a $7.425 million cap hit) could affect Jonathan Bernier’s talks with the Maple Leafs. Source saying there haven’t been talks between the Leafs and Bernier, but his next deal won’t be cheap. Semyon Varlamov’s five-year, $5.9 million cap hit could be another comp for Bernier. The Leafs might have to add term to get the cap number down.
There haven’t been any significant talks between the Penguins and pending UFA Christian Ehrhoff, but source saying the Penguins will try to re-sign him at some point.
- Nichols on Hockey: Pierre LeBrun on TSN 1260 on the Kings. Hear rumors that the Kings are trying to trade Mike Richards, and it could be more than just him. GM Dean Lombardi may be thinking about how long he can hang on to some others. They are not having the year they had hoped.
The Blackhawks have a lot of depth and will try to add a piece before the deadline that will put them over the top.
- George Richards: There has been no contract talks between the Panthers and with pending UFAs and RFAs.
- Dennis Bernstein: Scouting the Kings-Maple Leafs last night: Rangers (2), Predators, Bruins, Ducks (2), Blues, Canucks, Stars, Blackhawks (2), Blue Jackets, Sabres, Islanders, Canadiens, Coyotes, Avalanche, Capitals, Jets (2), Penguins, Lightning and Flames.
- Adam Kimelman: Scouting the Flyers-Lightning last night: Canadiens, Canucks, Penguins and Oilers.