Chris Nichols on Today’s Slapshot: Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 960 radio on the Canucks and Kevin Bieksa.
“Well, there was a bit of confusion today in the sense that it was reported that Bieksa was asked to waive his no-trade. I don’t think they’ve gone that far yet. But I think they’ve let him know that they’ve kind of talked about him and would he be willing to move.
“I do think the Canucks have a sense here that Kevin Bieksa did a lot of good for them over a long period of time. He was everything that their organization could have asked him to be and more, and they want to treat him properly.
“He has a complete no-move. They had a bit of a fiasco last year with Kesler where Kesler pinned them down to one team. I think they realize you can’t always do that. Even though it’s the same agent, I think they’ve told Bieksa, ‘You know what? If there a way if we get a list of teams, we’re going to make it work.’ And I think that’s what they’re doing right now.
“A couple of teams I could see potentially being on that list. One is Buffalo. He’s from Grimsby, Ontario… It would be very easy for him to live at home and be near his family if he went there.
“The other team I would be curious about is Colorado, a team that needs defense. Patrick Roy is on record as saying he needs a left-hand shot. Bieksa’s a rightie, but I still think he’d be an upgrade for them.
“So I’m curious to see about those two teams. And if Buffalo was one of them, I’d be curious to see if the Sabres would be interested in doing both Bieksa and Lack. That could get Vancouver something that they’d be looking for. They’re looking for picks and Buffalo has got a lot of picks.”
Chris Nichols on Today’s Slapshot: Dreger on TSN on the Rangers getting four offers for Cam Talbot.
“But the New York Rangers have four solid offers. Now, the equivalent of a first round draft pick without being a first round draft pick. So maybe two second round draft picks or a second round draft pick and a prospect included.
“The Oilers have made their offer. The Dallas Stars. The Buffalo Sabres. And the San Jose Sharks.
“Now all it takes is for one of those teams to blink and go elsewhere – jump over to Martin Jones of L.A. or Eddie Lack from the Vancouver Canucks – then we can be critical of the approach of the New York Rangers. But right now, time is on their side. Whether that deal happens tonight or it happens tomorrow or it happens right before the start of the first round, the Rangers are in control.”