Chris Kuc: Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman said they are “getting pretty close” to making a trade.
The Fourth Period: There is reportedly considerable interest in Maple Leafs Tyler Bozak. Bozak has three years left at a cap hit of $4.2 million. Teams that have shown some interest include the Avalanche, Rangers and Oilers. There is no urgency for the Leafs to trade him before the deadline, as they could revisit trade conversations in the offseason. If interest levels continue to increase, they could move him. The Leafs have also been getting calls on Joffrey Lupul, Phil Kessel, David Booth, Nazem Kadri, Olli Jokinen, Jake Gardiner, Roman Polak, Korbinian Holzer and James Reimer.
David Staples of the Edmonton Journal: Responding to TFP post that the Oilers have some interest in Tyler Bozak.
If Bozak were on a short-term deal or at a lower price, he’d be a player of interest.
With three years to go at $4.2 million, and with the Oilers having plenty of expensive contracts and more coming on their own roster, it’s hard to imagine the Oilers would take on his contract, unless they were shedding a big ticket contract going the other way.
Pat Leonard of the NY Daily News: On talk of the Rangers interest in Tyler Bozak. The Rangers have Derick Brassard locked up at $5 million and have Derek Stepan as an RFA at the end of the season. The Rangers currently have about $1.5 million in cap space. They would have to clear some space or have the Leafs eat some salary in order for the Rangers to fit him in. Price for Antoine Vermette will be too high for the Rangers.
Jeremy Rutherford: Blues GM Doug Armstrong said the Blues have been aggressive at the past two deadlines and doesn’t think he will be this year: “You have to be careful. We don’t have a first-round draft pick this year and we want to make sure we keep our first-round pick next year and the year after. This just isn’t the year to get involved in that market. Our needs aren’t as great as they were.”
Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun: Senators Patrick Wiercioch loves playing in Ottawa, but would be okay with a trade. He’s been a healthy scratch 18 times this season.
“I’ve talked to her about it,” he said. “It’s a possibility. I don’t have a no trade clause. And with the situation we have, I think I’d welcome an opportunity to at least play consistently, especially if I’m playing well, and not be taken out of the lineup.
“If it’s not here, it might be somewhere else.”