A Christmas wish list …
- USA Today: Looking at some team needs.
- Boston Bruins – they could use a strong two-way defenseman.
- Carolina Hurricanes – keeping Eric Staal and losing him at the end of the season for nothing would not be good. They could use some young assets for their future.
- Chicago Blackhawks – GM Stan Bowman isn’t done. The extra cap space they received in the Rob Scuderi – Trevor Daley trade could be used to help bring in another defenseman.
- Florida Panthers – could use some more offense, especially on the wing.
- Nashville Predators – the Preds have been looking for an elite scorer for years, and now might be the time to trade some of their defensive depth.
On the Tampa Bay Lighting and St. Louis Blues …
- Joe Smith: The Lightning have been scouting the Blues recently. GM Steve Yzerman was at their game on Thursday, and assistant GM Pat Verbeek was at the Blues game on Saturday.
On the Philadelphia Flyers …
- Dave Isaac of the Courier-Post: The Flyers will be activating defenseman Mark Streit from the LTIR soon, and it might mean that Shayne Gostisbehere is sent back to the AHL.
“We’ve got too many defensemen,” general manager Ron Hextall said. “That’s the reality. It’s a good problem to have, but we do. We’ll wait and see how it plays out. We’ll have to make a move. We’ll wait and see what happens.”
Streit is scheduled to come off the LTIR on December 27th. The Flyers could reassign Scott Laughton, but that would only leave them with around $5,000 in salary cap space and too many defensemen.
On the Columbus Blue Jackets …
- Michael Arace of the Columbus Dispatch: Arace notes that whatever happens with Ryan Johansen, it will take some time to play out. The Blue Jackets should not trade Johansen anytime soon, if at all.
Johansen is a prime asset. He has taken responsibility for his poor play. I believe him. He says he’s a Blue Jacket and that he does not want to be traded. I believe him, absolutely.