On the Nashville Predators …
- Adan Vangan of The Tennessean: (mailbag) Answering a question about Shea Weber trade rumors. They are becoming difficult to ignore as the Predators have been inconsistent this year. If the Predators decide to make a bold move, it would be moving some of their depth on the blueline for some offensive help.Weber does not have any trade protection.Elliotte Friedman last week on Predators GM David Poile.
“(Poile is) specifically being asked about his top three (defensemen): Seth Jones, Roman Josi and Shea Weber. He doesn’t want to do that. But, in this big game of poker, who’s willing to wait the longest? And, if Poile doesn’t bend, can he get what he needs?”
On the New York Rangers …
- Steve Zipay of Newsday: The Rangers haven’t filled the top-six void left by Martin St. Louis when he retired at the end of last season. The Rangers are close to the cap and have limited flexibility.They will have decisions to make on pending unrestricted free agent Keith Yandle. Yandle could interest teams in the Western Conference. The Coyotes are retaining have of his $5.5 million salary. Zipay wonders what the Rangers could get in return for Yandle. He could get $6 million or more on the open market this summer. Zipay wonders if Yandle and a pick or prospect would interest the Jets or Avalanche for a top-six forward.
On the Minnesota Wild …
- Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe: After signing Jared Spurgeon to a four-year, $20.75 million contract extension, GM Chuck Fletcher will now turn to pending restricted free agent defenseman Matt Dumba. With the depth the Wild have on the blueline, it has some teams wondering if Dumba could become available. The cost to acquire Dumba would be very high.
On the Columbus Blue Jackets …
- Aaron Portzline: (last night) “Trade freeze lifts at midnight. Tortorella has done what he can, waited for players to step up. This is quickly becoming management’s issue. Time for management to swallow their pride, admit this isn’t working, that they badly erred in putting together this mix of players. Scary thing is,
#CBJ management doesn’t seem to have any answers as for why this collection of good players is so toxic as a team.