- Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Pierre LeBrun on TSN 690 on Patrick Sharp, the Blackhawks and Capitals.
“Patrick Sharp is a guy that I think still has some good hockey left in him. He’s a clutch player. He’s got three Cups under him. And he’s also lived the experience of going from the worst team in the league, basically, to building a dynasty. That’s a pretty valuable process to have under your belt. It’s not just dropping in on a team and winning a bunch of Cups. He went from the bottom to the top and I think there’s some valuable experience there.
“I think the Washington Capitals are a team that I see as a fit for him – among the many – but I think they would like to add a top-6 player there and a guy that’s won. We know what the Caps’ issues are, right? So that would be an interesting fit for me. But who knows?
“The bottom line is this – because of his age and the fact that Teravainen is pushing from behind and Brandon Saad is already a top-6 star really in his time. It might have even been time for the Hawks to do this even if they didn’t have the cap crunch, just because of the top-6 talent they have – the top-9 talent they have.”
- Jonathan Willis of the Edmonton Jounal: Willis thinks the Oilers should try to offer sheet Bruins defenseman Dougie Hamilton to a deal over $7 million. Jason Gregor on the idea of an offer sheet for Hamilton.
“I’d be surprised if a team extends and offer sheet for Hamilton. He is good, but how good will he become is the question. I spoke to four different NHL scouts and they all thought he’d be a solid top-pairing defender, but none were willing to say he’d be a lock top-ten #1 defender. If you pay him over $7 million/year you are expecting him to be that very soon.”
- Jonathan Willis of the Edmonton Journal: Oilers Boyd Gordon is entering the final year of his deal and is at $3 million. The Oilers could look to move him as he’s likely not in their long-term plans and it would clear up some cap room. Gordon might have more trade value to the deadline where more teams are looking for veterans that kill penalties and are good on the draw.
- Ansar Khan of MLive: The Red Wings could be interested in right-handed defenseman Mike Green in free agency. They could use a top pairing partner for Niklas Kronwall. It might take five years at $6 million a season to get him. Three key questions regarding Green and the Wings.
1. Would the Red Wings be better off pursuing a defenseman who is more dependable defensively?
2. Would $6 million be too large of a cap commitment for a team that needs to sign many of its own players over the next two summers?
3. How imperative is it for the Red Wings to have a right-handed shot among their top four defensemen?