- Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet: Islanders GM Garth Snow may not be done trading as they still have an excess of forwards. Friedman wonders if they would trade Josh Ho-Sang. His trade value is low and they have the time to let it play out.The Jets were one of the teams that looked at trading for Kris Versteeg before the Blackhawks traded him to the Hurricanes. Though Friedman isn’t sure who the Jets would have traded back, guessing that Grant Clitsome’s contract may have been part of the talks.
Some NHL executives think that Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello would love to acquire Devils Travis Zajac.
Patrick Roy said that Eric Johnson’s defensive partner will be Francois Beauchemin.
Contract extension talks between the Blackhawks and Brent Seabrook could be moving in the right direction. One GM doesn’t think Seabrook will hit the open market.
John Tortorella said he did not receive any calls this past offseason regarding a coaching position.
Teams are watching Rangers Oscar Lindberg as he would have to clear waivers if he doesn’t make the team.
- AP in the Toronto Sun: GM Steve Yzerman on Steven Stamkos and his pending unrestricted free agency.
“Every player’s contract expires at some point, and you go through the process,” Yzerman said.
“I’m not going to elaborate. I’m not going to give regular updates on it,” the general manager added. “Talking with Steven and Don Meehan and his colleagues at Newport Sports, we’re going to keep it between us and hopefully work toward getting an extension done at some point.”
Stamkos said it won’t be a distraction.
“Whether it happens or it doesn’t happen,” the team captain added, “it isn’t going to change the person that I am or the work ethic that I bring to the rink.”
- Randy Miller of NJ.com: The Flyers have eight defensemen on NHL contracts, with Luke Schenn and Brandon Manning likely on the outside. The Flyers have been trying to trade Schenn and his $3.6 million cap hit for the past two years, and it’s possible that it happens for the season opener. The Flyers may not get more than a third round pick for him. Management may be getting desperate to move him.
- Joe Haggerty of CSNNE: With Bruins Dennis Seidenberg out for possibly two months, Bruins GM Don Sweeney said he’ll continue trade talk about defensemen that could be available.
“It’s a void that internally we’re trying to assess. As I’ve always said, I’ll continue to talk to other teams, and people that may, or may not, be available to see if we need to fill that void,” said Sweeney. “ under the right circumstances, if it’s going to be the right fit for us relative to the guys that we have, and that we’ve been assessing overall.
“We’ve felt that we had very good depth, albeit some of it inexperienced. But now they’re getting an opportunity, and hopefully they can take advantage of it.”
Haggerty thinks that Dustin Byfuglien rumors to the Bruins will start to pick up again.
- Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun: With TJ Brodie out up to six weeks, and Ladislav Smid not ready for contact, Sportak lists five players that could grab one of the open spots on the Flames blueline: 1. Tyler Wotherspoon 2. Rasmus Andersson 3. Oliver Kylington 4. Jakub Nakladal 5. Ryan Wilson.
