- Platinum Seat Ghosts: Darren Dreger on TSN radio this morning on players who may not be back with the Blackhawks next season:
“Well you talked about Patrick Sharp, you’re talking about Johnny Oduya. I’ve heard Seabrook’s name out there but again I dismiss that.
You know you never say never in today’s NHL and trade possibilities are always there but, you know, Seabrook fits nicely into that top-four and that top-four has been heavily utilized and have to be exhausted to some degree as they now prepare for the Stanley Cup Championship.
I think Seabrook’s name is a stretch. Would he fetch a great return? Of course he would, but Oduya’s name is out there.
It seems like Patrick Sharp’s name has been out there for a months if not longer, but one thing we know about Stan Bowman, he is very methodical and does incredible work and you know, he’ll have a platform and he’ll have the environment of a real sound deal in place going into the draft or at least have the framework of conversations going into the draft. So while his team is solely focused on the Stanley Cup, management has to look beyond that.”
On Martin St. Louis’s future in New York.
“Are the New York Rangers interested in bringing him back? I think automatically you say yes just given the leadership value of Martin St. Louis, the experience he brings to the organization. He still has hockey left in him. We didn’t see as much of that from a scoring perspective in the playoffs as Alain Vigneault and the New York Rangers and St. Louis would like. Lets be honest here, he’s a performer and you know he probably would admit he didn’t perform up to his standards offensively speaking.
That’s not to say there isn’t a place for him. I wonder though if he wants to stay with the Rangers. I think he’s going to have to take a considerable haircut.
You look at what Brad Richards has done. You know, Brad Richards leaves the Rangers and signs with the Chicago Blackhawks to fill a hole in their lineup up the middle of the ice, but you know anybody who has watched Richards play in the playoffs, I mean he looks invigorated. He looks like he’s accepting of the added responsibility that Joel Quenneville is throwing his way. He’s thriving, but he’s doing it at what? $1 million dollars? You know, this guy took a considerable gamble. Why? Because he wanted the opportunity to win another Stanley Cup. Perhaps St. Louis will do something similar, but he’ll have some options.”
- Eric Stephens of the OC Register: Do the Ducks make a change behind the bench? Bruce Boudreau did come within one win of taking them to the Final. Coaches that were available that are now employed include Mike Babcock, Todd McLellan, Peter DeBoer and Dan Bylsma. Ken Hitchcock signed on for another year in St. Louis. Claude Julien could become available. Paul MacLean is available, and Randy Carlyle isn’t really an option.
- Steve Simmons: The Maple Leafs are not confirming, but not denying that they have given the Sharks permission to talk to fired assistant coach Steve Spott.
- Damien Cox: Simon Gagne doesn’t plan on retiring just yet. He’s planning on training this summer and hopes to get a NHL contract in the fall.