- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: So will the Avs be trading Ryan O’Reilly after they acquired the rights to Carl Soderberg – and if they sign him?
“O’Reilly is in play, but they’ll want a boat load for him,” said one rival NHL executive on Thursday evening.
The Ducks are thinking about trading the rights to winger Matt Beleskey after he rejected their four-year offer. He is looking for a longer term.
The Canucks are talking to teams about defenseman Kevin Bieksa.
The Maple Leafs aren’t stressed about a deadline for trading Phil Kessel. If they don’t get the offer they like this week, they won’t trade him. Teams that are looking for a top-six winger and come up empty this week and in free agency, may circle back to the Leafs. Moving Kessel now would mean they would get a decent 2015 pick.
The Blackhawks would like to trade Patrick Sharp for a draft pick or two, but like the Leafs, if they don’t get an offer they like, they can re-visit trades in early July.
The Penguins are searching for a top-six winger and are dangling Brandon Sutter according to teams.
The Coyotes had two firm offers for the No. 3 pick outright, and several offers on picks(s) and player(s). A scout on why they may be willing to move down:
“Because there isn’t that much of a drop-off between the quality of players at the No. 3 spot down to the 11th or 12th spot. You’re getting a real good prospect either way.”
Gap between the Jets and Michael Frolik is big and he could be hitting the open market. The Jets are still talking with Drew Stafford.
A half dozen teams have shown interest in Paul Martin. Martin’s agent will speak with the Penguins tomorrow.
- Pierre LeBrun: Milan Lucic’s name is out there. It doesn’t mean the Bruins will trade him, but they are listening.
- Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Darren Dreger on TSN 1260 on the Oilers and Dougie Hamilton.
“Not available defensemen, but I think we need to button down and define ‘available.’
“Dougie Hamilton is a restricted free agent for the Boston Bruins. Here’s a guy who that represented by CAA Sports and J.P. Barry, who has done a mountain of work in coming up with the comps of those who they believe Hamilton should compare to in terms of salary and what he’s accomplished. Alex Pietrangelo of the St. Louis Blues is high on that list of comps.
“And then again, you have to – CAA does their work based on a percentage basis. What is the salary cap. Well, when Pietrangelo signed his deal with the St. Louis Blues, it was a $64.3 million cap. Now, it’s projecting or will be 71.4 next year. So what’s the percentage for Dougie Hamilton? And is that going to be too much for the Boston Bruins to handle?
“So teams I know have already talked to Boston about the potential of trade. I’d be surprised if the Oilers aren’t in on that. And I’m confident in saying that if there isn’t a trade and a more amicable way to do it, why wouldn’t Peter Chiarelli throw down the offer sheet on someone like Dougie Hamilton.
“When he talks about not wanting to trade the 16th pick overall, I think that if the right defenseman is available, then it soon changes a little bit for sure.”