On Steven Stamkos …
- Bob McKenzie of TSN: McKenzie doesn’t think that Steven Stamkos will be wearing a Tampa Bay Lightning jersey next season. The Lightning have three options.
- Trade him by the deadline – get a first round pick and a prospect or two.
- Sign and trade – would likely get a better return than if he was a rental.
- Don’t trade, play out the season and take the extra cap space.
Stamkos holds the hammer on the first two options with his no-movement and no-trade clauses.
If Stamkos goes to free agency, Toronto isn’t a sure thing. Other teams that could be interested include the Canadiens, Predators, Sabres, Red Wings, Oilers, Rangers and Blues.
On the Toronto Maple Leafs …
- Luke Fox of Sportsnet: Jonathan Bernier is 0-8-2 with a .881 save percentage this season for the Maple Leafs. He has only one win in his past 20 games for the Leafs.Do the Leafs hope that he can figure it out? Put him waivers? Try to trade him?Gord Stellick on Sportsnet 590 thinks a trade is a possibility.
“I think something’s on about moving him somewhere. There’s some teams that are interested.”
Chris Johnston reported last month that two teams had internal talks about the possibility of trading for Bernier.
Nick Kypreos tweeted that Flames GM Brad Treliving and Brian Burke were in Toronto on Tuesday to watch the Leafs-Lighting. Stellick notes that Burke is in Toronto 10 days a month, but adds it’s not the norm for Treliving. The Flames have pending UFAs in Karri Ramo ($3.8 million) and Jonas Hiller ($4.5 million). Bernier carries a $4.125 million cap hit through next season.
On the Columbus Blue Jackets …
- Aaron Portzline: The Blue Jackets may now be making calls regarding Ryan Johansen and not just taking them.
- Aaron Portzline: Johansen name is out there too much for the Blue Jackets to not be looking at trading him.
- Darren Dreger: May not be surprise if Ryan Johansen is a healthy scratch tonight.