- Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen: The Senators will have a bunch of RFAs to deal with this summer: Mika Zibanejad, Mark Stone, Alex Chiasson, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Mike Hoffman. Hoffman has arbitration rights. He’s tied for the team lead in goals, and is fourth in rookie scoring. The Senators will have to decide on either short-term or long-term deals.Pending UFA Marc Methot has been battling a back issue all season. They weren’t able to reach a deal during training camp. If the Senators drop out of the playoff race (and if he’s healthy), they will consider trading him.
- Larry Brooks of the NY Post: Rangers John Moore will be a RFA with arbitration rights at the end of the season. If they don’t see him as part of their future, they could look to trade him in the offseason instead of going to arbitration, where he could be awarded a deal in the $1.75 million range. The Rangers don’t have the depth to trade Moore before the deadline, unless they can get a puck moving defenseman in return.
- Nichols on Hockey: Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 960: Friedman thinks it is a “virtual lock” that Coyotes Antoine Vermette gets traded. The Coyotes don’t really have good, young offensive players and they need to re-stock that area. With Vermette and Keith Yandle, they have an opportunity to do that.Friedman on Sportsnet 590: Friedman thinks the Maple Leafs talked to teams last year about Joffrey Lupul, including the Canadiens. Friedman asked GM Dave Nonis about Lupul in the summer.
“And Nonis made what I think was a really good point and that is that Joffrey Lupul, when healthy, is a guy who is worth his salary. And if you get rid of him, all of the sudden you’re going to be paying the same amount of money, if not more – plus whatever you have to give up in a trade – to get what he can bring to you. You know, guys who can get 60 points for you are guys who make $5.5-6 million.”
Obviously the big issue with Lupul is staying in the lineup.
Friedman on 630 CHED: Not sure that the Oilers are interested in Blues Patrik Berglund. The Oilers have the option to keep or trade the first round pick they got from the Penguins. Wasn’t realistic that the Oilers could have gotten Derrick Pouliot or Scott Harrington in a David Perron trade.