On the Senators …
- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Senators GM Bryan Murray has been making calls around the league, and his priority may have moved to adding some help on the blueline.
- The Sens kicked tires on Matt Duchene over the weekend, but talks have quieted as GM Joe Sakic likely isn’t ready to make that big of a move.
- Patrick Wiercioch and Jared Cowen’s struggles have turned the Senators attention to the blueline.
- Two executives have said that if they are interested in Blackhawks Trevor Daley, the asking price is likely a second round pick and one of Matt Puempel or Shane Prince. Daley has a year left at a $3.3 million cap hit.
- Other options include Ron Hainsey, Kris Russell, Carl Gunnarsson and Matt Carle.
On the Avalanche …
- Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Darren Dreger on TSN 1260 on the Matt Duchene trade rumors.
“I’m always amused by it though because we reported last week on Insider Trading that Sakic is calling around, and he’s gauging interest in Matt Duchene. And then a few days later, those who are trying to get in the story are knocking it every which way but sideways, right, and saying, ‘Well, it wasn’t actually Sakic that was making the calls. Other teams are calling and asking about the possibility.’
“Well, that’s not how it went down.
“Regardless, for Joe Sakic and the Avs, this has turned out to be a good thing. Now, even before the rumors started to circulate – it was initially posted by Adrian Dater, who’s a long time Avs beat reporter and a writer in Denver – Duchene was headed back into the right direction. So he scores four goals, has eight points, he’s named the first star of the National Hockey League last week and all is well.
“But it’s not all well. There’s still a lot of holes in that Colorado lineup that Sakic is concerned with and IF – and it is an enormous if – the right fit would come along, would he consider trading Matt Duchene? I believe he would.”