- Dan Rosen of NHL.com: (mailbag) 50-50 on the Rangers re-signing defenseman Keith Yandle as a lot will depend on how the team plays this year, where they sit at the trade deadline, the maturation of Brady Skjei, and their salary cap situation. Yandle is only 29 and his next contract could be around his current cap hit of $5.75 million (the Coyotes are covering a portion of his current cap hit). $5.75 million may be too much for the Rangers unless they look at trading one of Marc Staal or Dan Girardi.
Rosen thinks the Canadiens should trade Alexei Emelin and his $4.1 million cap hit if they can. That would open the door for one of Jarred Tinordi or Greg Pateryn.Rosen doesn’t see logic in the Maple Leafs trading for Travis Zajac unless Tyler Bozak is included and not Nazem Kadri. Also doesn’t see the logic of James van Riemsdyk being included (mentioned in reports) unless the Maple Leafs are able to get a defenseman like Damon Severson or Eric Gelinas. Including someone like Severson may not make sense for the Devils. Zajac is 30-years old and has five years left on his deal at a $5.75 million cap hit.
- Brian Wilde: Wilde thinks that Canadiens defenseman Jarred Tinordi should be traded to get a fresh start somewhere else.
- Rich Chere of NJ.com: Devils Travis Zajac knows he’s been linked to trade rumors involving the Maple Leafs.
“It’s part of the business,” Zajac said of the talk that several trade proposals have been discussed. “I don’t know how much truth is behind any of that, but I’m committed to this team. I’m trying to get better and prove myself to the coaching staff here. I can be a player to help this team and get it going on the right direction.”
The Devils are not opposed to trading Zajac. He does have a no-trade clause.
- The Fourth Period: A source close to the Islanders is saying that the contract talks between Kyle Okposo’s camp and the Islanders have not progressed and that unless there is a big change, a contract extension won’t get done before the start of the season. A trade or extension does not appear to be imminent.
- Jeff Neiburg of the Philadelphia Daily News: The Flyers have eight defensemen on one-way contracts still in camp. Brandon Manning is a likely candidate to be waived and sent to the AHL, but he’s had a good camp. Luke Schenn could be a trade chip, but he carries a $3.6 million salary cap hit, which is not easily moved. GM Ron Hextall wouldn’t talk about any on going trade talks. Radko Gudas could be another trade chip for the Flyers.
- Matthew Sekeres: Pierre McGuire thinks that Linden Vey would get claimed off waivers if the Canucks put him on it.