On the Calgary Flames and New Jersey Devils …
- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Usually there are more teams waiving the sellers flag, but not this year. There is still plenty of time for things to change, but LeBrun doesn’t think that is going happen. Devils GM Ray Shero on the trade deadline.
“As a manager, you always want to help the group out,” Shero said over the phone last week. “It’s why in September we signed Jiri Tlusty and Lee Stempniak, there were a couple of holes up front and those guys have done a good job. When it comes to Feb. 29 … when it comes to New Jersey, it’s about our assets and trying to retain them to a certain extent. If there’s something that needs to happen, maybe it’s more of a hockey deal than a rental deal.”
Even if the Devils are in a playoff spot at the trade deadline, don’t expect Shero to be trading high picks or top prospects for short-term help.
Flames GM Brad Treliving could be in a similar spot.
“No. 1, there’s always going to be activity,” said Treliving. “No. 2, have people distanced themselves in one or two groups in terms of buyers or sellers? And No. 3, you always have the issues — which plays a little bit into where you are in the standings — but you always have those pending UFAs. Do you sign, do you hold on to them for a playoff run and hope you can get something done in the summer? Or are you looking to maximum return and get some young assets?”
The Flames will have to make decisions on pending UFA defenseman Kris Russell.
On the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers …
- Damian Cox of Sportsnet: One GM on the Jonathan Drouin situation.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they kissed and made up,” said one NHL general manager on the weekend.
GM Steve Yzerman doesn’t have to do anything, and it’s not an easy deal to make unless a team makes a big offer. One executive suggested that Drouin is basically Jordan Eberle.
Can forget about the Maple Leafs trading James van Riemsdyk now that he’s out six to eight weeks.
The Rangers are only having to pay Keith Yandle $2.625 million, with the Coyotes covering the other half. The Rangers can’t lose him for nothing to free agency after giving up so much to get him. He’ll likely get $6 million plus on the open market and will likely be dealt at the deadline.