- Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune: Steven Stamkos on if the Lightning players are concerned about potential changes and the trade deadline.
“We are not worried about that stuff, that’s still a long ways away, and we can’t control that other than the fact that we want to be buyers at the deadline,” captain Steven Stamkos said. “Every team wants to add a piece and be in the mix like we did last year and previous years where we have been in the playoffs. So you don’t really think about that stuff until it gets a little close, but we want to be in a position where management can say we have a chance this year if we add a piece, so we want to be in that position.”
There will be lots of trade speculation around the Lightning now and in the upcoming weeks. The Lightning have been scouting the Blues recently.
The Lightning would like to add a right-handed defenseman, especially one that could play on the power play. The Blues do have Kevin Shattenkirk. Elliotte Friedman mentioned on Sportsnet 960 radio that the Blues are interested in Jonathan Drouin.
“There are teams out there, and I think St. Louis is one of them, that are interested in Drouin,” Friedman said. “(The Blues) are going to go down, and some other teams are going to go down, see him skate and seem him do three (games) in three (days), and if Drouin holds up and he does pretty good, I think there is a chance you could see (Drouin) moved pretty quickly.”
- Mike Johnston of Sportsnet: Johnston looks at seven teams who are in position to make a trade for Jonathan Drouin: Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, Anaheim Ducks and the Colorado Avalanche.
- Darren Dreger of TSN: There will easily be over 10 teams interested in Jonathan Drouin. Some GMs want to see him play before making their best offer. Lightning GM Steve Yzerman is not in rush to trade him, and he may prefer to trade him to the West. Teams in the East will have to pay a premium. The Blues may be most interested team.
- Terry Frei of the Denver Post: Lightning assist GM Pat Verbeek scouted the Avs-Blues game earlier this week. Not outlandish to think the Avs could be looking to trade for Drouin.
