- Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen: When Marc Methot is ready to return to the lineup, they’ll need to make a roster move. Colin Greening, Erik Condra and Patrick Wiercioch have been the odd men out for the most part this season. GM Bryan Murray will be at the GM meetings in Toronto today.
“Approaching the 20-game mark, you always have to look at where you are and how you match up against other teams,” said Dorion. “We match up very well. We’re very confident in this group of players, but you’re always looking to improve the team.”
Wiercioch is making $2.2 million this year and $2.7 million next year. He has a $2 million salary cap hit. Greening is in the first year of a three-year, $7.95 million deal. Condra is in the last year of a deal that pays him $1.25 million. If they don’t see Condra in their long-term future, they will trade him.
- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: The Senators will see if they can get something for their extra players before placing them on waivers.
“When Bryan is there, and there are 29 other GMs, there’s going to be a lot of discussion,” said Dorion. “When you put 30 GMs in a room together, before, after and at lunch break, they get a chance (to talk).
“It’s not through a phone call. It’s in person and more things can get done. A lot of people talk about American Thanksgiving being a time when you see more player movements happening. Also, injuries pile up at a certain point during the season.”
Chris Johnston: Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin said that he liked Morgan Rielly at the 2012 NHL draft, but he listened to his scouts and selected Alex Galchenyuk.
- Kevin McGran: Brian Burke said the wanted to draft Jack Johnson over Bobby Ryan when he was with Anaheim. The scouts wanted Ryan.
- Kevin McGran: Burke said the salary cap has made trading really hard. Added that he doesn’t think they’ve figured out how to monetize cap space.
- Joe Smith: Rangers Dan Boyle said there was some interest from the Lightning at the start of free agency, but there were no offers exchanged: “This is where I wanted to come.”
- Nichols on Hockey: Pierre LeBrun on TSN 1260 on Josh Harding.
“Well, it’d be interesting. I think that contract is probably going to scare off most teams.
“But the Anaheim Ducks are another team that with John Gibson out long-term and whether or not Jason LaBarbera is really an answer as the backup to Fredrik Andersen. So the Ducks are a team that I know have internally talked about whether or not they’re going to stand pat or not in terms of their goaltending.
“But I think, and I almost feel like it’s unfair to mention this about Josh Harding, but obviously with his situation with M.S…. that probably gives some teams some pause for thought. And that’s just the reality.”