- Will DePaoli of Inside Pittsburgh Sports: Best trade fits for the East and West on some of those who are available.1. Erik Cole – Dallas Stars
Best Fit in the East – Capitals (article posted before Glencross trade)
Bets Fit in the West – Wild2. Jeff Petry – Edmonton Oilers
Best Fit in the East – Rangers
Bets Fit in the West – Ducks3. Zbynek Michalek – Arizona Coyotes
Best Fit in the East – Islanders
Bets Fit in the West – Blues4. Curtis Glencross (before trade to Capitals)
Best Fit in the East – Lightning
Bets Fit in the West – Blackhawks5. Chris Stewart – Buffalo Sabres
Best Fit in the East – Bruins
Bets Fit in the West – Flames
- Will DePaoli of Inside Pittsburgh Sports: The Penguins are intrigued by Avs defenseman Jan Hejda. The price for Jeff Petry remains to high for the Penguins. The Penguins have scouted Hejda a lot in the past month. Hejda’s $3.25 million cap hit is an issue.
- Will DePaoli of Inside Pittsburgh Sports: Trade that didn’t happen: Two sources say the Blackhawks approached the Penguins about a deal earlier this year involving Chris Kunitz, potentially Simon Despres and Patrick Sharp. The Penguins weren’t really comfortable with moving Kunitz in-season, something they could consider in the offseason. The Blackhawks would be interested as it would shave just over $2 million off their cap. Kunitz lives in Chicago in the offseason and his wife is from there.
- Renaud Lavoie: The Oilers have been looking at goalies. They were looking at the Maple Leafs goaltenders the past few weeks.
- Craig Custance: In the past 48 hours, a couple new teams have called the Sabres about Chris Stewart. The Bruins are still in the mix.
- David Pagnotta: The Sabres are also expected to trade Torrey Mitchell.
- David Pagnotta: The Ducks are getting calls from teams for Matt Beleskey. Have been told that contract talks between the Ducks and Beleskey are still ongoing. The Ducks are just covering all their bases.
- David Pollak: Confirming that Joe Thornton hasn’t been asked to waive his no-trade clause.
- Dave Molinari: The Penguins don’t appear to have anything imminent on the trade front.
- Chad Graff: Wild GM Chuck Fletcher on if he’d be disappointed if they weren’t able to make a move by tomorrow: “I think that’s probably the expected course. I’d be surprised if we did something (by the trade deadline). … I don’t feel any urgency at all.”
- David Pagnotta: The Kings would love to trade Mike Richards, but not sure if there is a fit. The Maple Leafs don’t want anything to do with him.
- Dennis Bernstein: Mike Rickards in playing with Manchester today. If they were close to something, would doubt he’d be playing.