- Craig Custance of ESPN: (mailbag) The Penguins will likely look to add at least one depth forward by the deadline.The Penguins were very interested in Evander Kane before he was injured. Daniel Winnik would be a fit.A source on Jaromir Jagr: “It all depends on what him and Lou have cooked up with each other — if he wants to go anywhere. I’m sure Lou would give him the option of doing whatever he wants. If he wanted to go somewhere to a team that had a shot at the playoffs, he will.”
Some scouts are a bit frustrated as they haven’t been able to scout Michael Ryder as the Devils have been scratching him.
Along with the Penguins, the Islanders would a good landing spot for Winnik. A second round pick is going to be the starting price for the Maple Leafs. A second may be a bit high, but at this time of year, selling teams usually get what they want.
- Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: On Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis.
A close hockey friend has described Dave Nonis as a “dead man walking” and has urged the Maple Leafs general manager to go down swinging if he’s going to be fired in Toronto.
The associates of Nonis — and there are many in the hockey world who trust him and believe in him — are pushing him to be active, forceful and aggressive in what could be his final days as Leafs GM.
While no one from the Leafs, not CEO Tim Leiweke or president Brendan Shanahan, has given any indication that Nonis will be let go with three years remaining on his contract, there seems to be an assumption amongst NHL executives that his days are in fact numbered.
The Leafs are expected to make at least five trades before the deadline, and are not likely to include Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf. Injuries to Joffrey Lupul and Cody Franson has complicated things.
Issues with the Leafs trading Phil Kessel.
1) there are only eight teams they can deal him to, as based on his contract.
2) Quite likely, the teams that want him at all may not be on his list.
3) The clubs with interest must have salary cap room and a willingness to spend, otherwise it doesn’t work.
4) The history of trading this quality of player works against the Leafs.Pending RFA Jonathan Bernier would like a long-term deal, but the Leafs would like a short-term deal, maybe a one-year deal. Teams have been calling the Leafs about Bernier.
- Joe Haggerty of CSNNE: How trading Zdeno Chara now or in the offseason will allow the Bruins to re-tool their roster.
“I think the only way out of the situation they’re in right now is to trade Zdeno Chara,” said Haggerty. “He’s still less than a year removed from being a Norris Trophy finalist. You can still get some value for him… Get rid of the aging player, get some value and start building towards the future.”
