Gagne for Thomas? Zherdev Coming back to NHL? 2011 Winter Classic in Pittsburgh

Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe: At the trade deadline, it was rumored that the Philadelphia Flyers offered Simon Gagne to Boston for Tim Thomas. Gagne has 1 year left on his deal at $5.25, Thomas has 3 years and a $5 million cap hit.

Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette: The Jaroslav Halak – Carey Price debate goes on in Montreal. Cowan thinks the Canadiens should keep Halak and trade Price. It may turn out to be a good move by not trading either at the deadline, see what Halak can do in the playoffs, and then make their decision in the off-season. It will definitely be interesting to see which goalie they decide to keep, and what they can get in return for the other.

Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal:

Mathson thinks the Blackhawks will buyout Cristobal Huet after this season. It would be a $1.8 cap hit for the next 4 years.
The Detroit Red Wings could offer Nicklas Lidstrom a “Joe Sakic one-year-at-a-time” contract at around $5 million a year.

Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal:

If Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne retire, there should be plenty of room to re-sign Bobby Ryan and bring in a top blueliner. Matheson thinks Ryan could be re-signed for about $4 million a year, a deal similar to Nathan Horton’s 6 year, $24 million. I think it will take more than that, somewhere in the $4.5 to $5 million neighborhood.
The Edmonton Oilers are one of about 8 teams interested in Finnish goalie, Jussi Rynnas.
Matheson thinks it makes more sense for the Oilers to take center Tyler Seguin over LWer Taylor Hall. Seguin could center RWer Jordan Eberle and LWer Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson. If the Bruins win the Lottery with the Maple Leafs pick, they’d most likely take winger Taylor Hall as they have Savard, Krejci and Bergeron up middle.

Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: The Penguins are rumored to be the leading candidates to host the 2011 Winter Classic. The January 1st game would be played at Heinz Field, with the Washington Capitals the potential opponents.

David Staples of the Edmonton Journal: Nikolai Zherdev is considering returning to the NHL next year, and has already received 3 offers. Zherdev’s contract ends at the end of April.

Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Sergei Gonchar has missed the last 3 games with an illness, but is expected back soon. Evgeni Malkin has missed 6 or 7 (4 consecutive) with a bruised right foot, could resume skating in the next couple days. The Pens want to make sure he’s 100% before they put him back in the lineup.

Eric Stephens of the OC Register: Teemu Selanne is unsure if he’ll retire following the season. “Dealing with what I’ve had this year, in many ways it has been a nightmare because of the injuries,” Selanne said. “But everything else, I really enjoy it. Anytime I have been healthy, I think I have played well. I have enjoyed playing. That’s what I want. “It’s hard to get hurt all the time. Especially at this age.”

Bob McKenzie of TSN: Milan Michalek of the Ottawa Senators say he will miss a couple weeks with a knee injury, and will attempt to comback wearing a brace. McKenzie thinks differently, and that an ACL injury (if surgery required) can take anywhere from 6 months to a year.