- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: The Kings may getting some salary cap relief if the NHLPA approves it. Slava Voynov’s $4.16 million cap number is still on the books even though he is suspended. They played a player short on Tuesday. What it does to escrow payment is what is holding things up a bit.The Kings have started preliminary talks with pending UFA defenseman Alec Martinez. With Jake Muzzin locked up at $4 million a season starting next year, the Kings would like to get him below that. Martinez would like to stay with the Kings, but realizes he could have a big payday if he tests the open market. Tanner Pearson’s and Tyler Toffoli’s entry-level contracts expire at the end of the year as well.
Teams are calling Hurricanes GM Ron Francis, but there is nothing of interest so far.
“Nobody is really looking to make a hockey trade at this point, more to move bad contracts or things in our eyes that don’t make sense for us,” Francis said. “We have to roll up our sleeves and find a way to make ourselves better short term, but the key is also not losing sight of what we’re trying to do here long term and not sacrifice that.”
There is nothing going on with regards to Eric Staal according to Francis.
“I’ve not had any conversations with anybody regarding Eric this season,” Francis said. “To say you would or wouldn’t trade anybody moving forward, I think it’s the same I’ve said all along, if there’s a deal that makes sense for us, then you have to consider everything that makes your team better short term or long term. But I haven’t had any conversations at this point.”
The Sabres will eventually trade Chris Stewart. The Bruins and Senators have talked to the Sabres.
- Sarah McLellan of the Arizona Republic: Don’t count on the Coyotes making a trade to spark them. The trade market is filled with “cumbersome contracts handcuffing teams.” The Coyotes may have some more financial clarity in a few weeks away when Andrew Barroway is approved to join their ownership group.
“It’s more likely that we’ll maybe introduce some new players as call-ups, change the mix up, see if that can shake things loose,” Maloney said.
- Lyle Richardson in The Hockey News: Si’s Allan Muir thinks that if the Stars could looking for a backup goalie after Anders Lindback’s rough start. Tomas Vokoun could be an option. They have around $3 million in salary cap space. Richardson adds that Martin Brodeur could be another possibility as he’s not looking to be a number one goalie and wouldn’t be a threat to Kari Lehtonen.
- Igor Eronko: Five NHL teams and four KHL teams have shown interest in Andrei Loktionov according to his agent.
- Shawn Mitchell: Teams have been calling Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalinen a lot lately.
- Lisa Dillman: Leafs Steve Kasper was scouting the Kings-Penguins game last night.