- Mark Masters: When asked if he’s thought about asking for a trade out of Arizona so that he could get one more shot at the Stanley Cup, Shane Doan said that it rarely works out for players:
“Everyone talks about the way Ray Bourque did it … storybook ending, but there’s a lot of guys that it doesn’t work for. If you make that decision you have to understand the consequences that go along with it. This is my home.”
- Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: (mailbag) The Stars think they can still make their backup goalie situation work: Anders Lindback/Jussi Rynnas. Kari Lehtonen is at $5.9 million and doubtful to be moved. They could be open to an available backup, but it would have to be at the right price.No inside information on if the Stars would pursue Dion Phaneuf or not, but Heika thinks he would be a good fit. It would be a very tricky trade to make if they were interested.
Heika would hold off on a trading for a big name defenseman (Phaneuf brought up in the question) until the offseason. The Blackhawks will have to make a decision on Brent Seabrook who will be a UFA at the end of next season. The Blackhawks will likely have to clear some money off the books for Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane’s new deals.
- Darren Dreger on TSN 1260 Edmonton: It’s not a full rebuild in Arizona.There are some around the league that think the Leafs will do something pretty drastic before the trade deadline, be it trading Tyler Bozak or maybe Dion Phaneuf or one of the big guys. Doubtful that it’s Phil Kessel or Phaneuf due to the lack of financial flexibility for teams in-season. Could see a Bozak, Jake Gardiner or Nazem Kadri moved.
- Nichols on Hockey: Sabres GM Tim Murray on WGR 550 on Mike Richards.
“No, you think about it. Certainly. He’s right in my wheelhouse for… scouting. For being on the road. For looking at players. That’s a 2003 draft. In my opinion, the best draft that I’ve been involved in.
“Mike Richards is a – and I don’t know if I’m allowed to comment, but he was on waivers, so I’ll comment. And I’ll saying nothing but nice about him. World juniors. Two Stanley Cups. I mean, that’s my heyday of amateur scouting. I loved him. I mean, who didn’t love him?
“So yeah – you see that, you have a lot of internal discussion. You’d have to discuss his contract. Obviously. You have to discuss term and money. But, I mean, you know me. Scouting is what it’s about. And a player like that is what scouting was about.
“Lots of conversation and yeah, a lot of internal discussion on a player like that that was on waivers. No question.”