- Aaron Portzline: Trade rumors surrounding Blue Jackets Cam Atkinson intensified last night. GM Jarmo Kekalainen working late. Nothing official.
- Aaron Portzline: Was told that Cam Atkinson’s camp tried to get an extension done with the Blue Jackets the past couple weeks. He’ll be a RFA at the end of the year.
- Aaron Portzline: Bruins seem to have a strong interest in Atkinson.
- Joe Haggerty: Lots of chatter around the Bruins and Atkinson.
- The Fourth Period: Three sources were saying last night that the Bruins were putting the final touches on a on a trade. GM Peter Chiarelli has been working hard to get a deal done on a top-six forward. The Bruins have been looking at Chris Stewart and Cam Atkinson. A source that is close to the Bruins said they are close to a deal for Atkinson. The Bruins are also talking with the Oilers, Stars and Flames.
- Shawn Hutcheon: Told the Bruins have added some speed to their lineup but haven’t heard specific names.
- Andrew Gross of The Record: The Rangers are looking to trade Mats Zuccarello according to reports.
“There’s no doubt in my mind, and I’ve made this very clear, that I’m a big Mats fan,” Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. “That being said, history, since I’ve been here, from this organization would dictate if Glen doesn’t think he’s getting a deal that can satisfy both the organization and the player, he won’t hesitate to move anybody. I’m just keeping my fingers crossed that both the player and the organization can come to an agreement.
“That’s the business part of it, I can’t do anything about it,” Vigneault added. “I would say though that if somebody thinks that Glen is bluffing, they should know that he traded his captain last year a couple of minutes before the deadline. It’s got to be something that he thinks is fair. In a cap era, there’s got to be a little bit – I don’t know if it’s common sense or give and take – but the dynamics are different. I just hope that they can get this done.”
