- Mike Johnston of Sportsnet: A look at the top 15 rentals and who could be interested in them.
1. Antoine Vermette – New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Nashville Predators2. Cody Franson – Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks.
3. Jaromir Jagr – New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators.
4. Andrej Sekera – Detroit Red Wings, Tampa Bay Lightning.
5. Chris Stewart – Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Nashville Predators, New York Islanders.
6. Mike Santorelli – New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, New York Islanders, Nashville Predators.
7. Zbynek Michalek – Tampa Bay Lightning, Detroit Red Wings, San Jose Sharks, New York Islanders.
8. Michael Del Zotto – Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks.
9. Marc Methot – Detroit Red Wings, Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins.
10. Mike Green – Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings.
11. Daniel Winnik – New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Tampa Bay Lightning, Minnesota Wild, Washington Capitals.
12.
Michael Neuvirth– New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers.13. Martin Erat – Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, New York Islanders.
14. Daniel Briere – Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks.
15. Erik Cole – Vancouver Canucks, San Jose Sharks, Minnesota Wild.
- John Glennon of the Tennessean: Predators Mike Fisher is a pending UFA and he hopes to remain in Nashville.
“I love the city and I love the guys here in the organization,” Fisher said. “It’s been great. Hopefully the business part of things will take care of itself, but I definitely want to be part of it for sure.”
GM David Poile has said he’s more likely to deal with contracts after the season as opposed to during, but he’s made it known that they see Fisher as part of their future.
“We’ve reached out to Mike and his agent,” Poile said, “and we’ve made it clear we want him back.”
- Nichols on Hockey: Darren Dreger on TSN 690. Dreger thinks the Oilers still see value in Nail Yakupov. The value the Oilers see in him isn’t the same as other GMs see, even the ones who are interested in him.
“So a bit more time, I think, is required if Edmonton wants to trade him, for them to realize any definitive value.
“But there’s still hope in terms of what he might develop into. He just doesn’t appear to be on a path where he’s going to be the player they thought he might be.”
Dreger doesn’t know if the Canadiens have interest in Yakupov, and would be surprised if they do. The Oilers top priority remains goaltending and a defenseman. Boyd Gordon and Matt Hendricks are getting interest, but the Oilers are unlikely to move them. Sounding like GM Craig MacTavish will do most of his shopping during the offseason, unless someone comes offering a top defenseman or quality goaltending.