- Sarah McLellan of the Arizona Republic: It’s going to be a long week for some of the Coyotes with the trade deadline a week away.
“I think anybody would be lying if they told you it wasn’t in the back of their mind,” said winger Dave Moss, one of seven pending unrestricted free agents on the team. “It’s something that’s part of the game, and I think as a player you try to focus on the games that we have to play. You’re not worried about what might be happening towards the trade deadline, but I think for sure you try to prepare like a professional and play the games and whatever happens, happens. But it’s going to be sad if guys are gone.”
- Renaud Lavoie: The Coyotes were close to trading Zbynek Michalek before he suffered an upper-body injury, which halted the trade.
- Bruce Garrioch: Senators Patrick Wiercioch will be interesting to watch as the deadline approaches. Have been led to believe that there is little or no interest in him.
- Ansar Khan of MLive: The Red Wings week could go a long way in determining their course of action on Monday. Jeff Petry, Zbynek Michalek, Andrej Sekera and Marek Zidlicky could be among the defensemen available. It’s not known what the Coyotes will do with Keith Yandle. The Capitals appear to be holding on to Mike Green.
- Chuck Gormley of CSN Washington: Elliotte Friedman reported on the weekend that if the Capitals were to trade Mike Green, it would have to be in a major deal, and that it’s unlikely to happen. The Capitals are focusing on adding a No. 6 defenseman to play with Green. The Caps could be interested in Jeff Petry for the remainder of the season and a possible summer signing. The Capitals have two third round picks, so they might be willing to part with their second round pick for Petry or one of the other available depth defensemen.
- Patrick Williams: The Jets have been hit with injuries. The trade market and what is available may not mix with the Jets philosophy according to head coach Paul Maurice.
“It seems different this year to me,” Maurice said. “The number of, and the names that are out there, it’s not that are waiting for five or six big guys to move that usually do.”
“There just is not an awful lot out there, and given my choice, I really don’t necessarily want to see anybody come in that takes ice time from one of our younger players,” Maurice said. “It’s too important a time for them. They need to play now. That’s the whole point of having some younger guys in those positions.”