- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun:
- Boston has held talks with teams who are looking for goaltender. The 35 year old Tim Thomas has a no-movement clause, and has a $5 million cap hit until 2011-12. Chicago could be interested, but would have to bury Huet in the minors or find a trade partner for him. The Stars, Blues and Blue Jackets could be interested, though the price would be steep. Garrioch thinks they’d be able to get a top 6 forward, top 4 defenseman, and a backup goalie.
- The Kings offered Alexander Frolov, Teddy Purcell and a 2nd round pick for Kovalchuk, Waddell wanted Jack Johnson.
- Oilers GM Steve Tambellini tried to make the Kovalchuk sweepstakes in to a 3 way deal, offering Horcoff, Souray and Visnovsky as part of any package.
- The Blackhawks would like to get Jaroslav Halak, but it might look like Price is the odd man out.
- There could be up to 15 teams calling about Ray Whitney. The Penguins, Rangers, Flyers, Senators, Flames and Canucks will be interested.
- San Jose is looking for another Dman, after the Wallin trade fell through.
- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN:
- The Blues and Flyers were in running for Ilya Kovalchuk. The Thrashers wanted T.J. Oshie as part of the package, the Blues wouldn’t budge on that. Wadell wanted either James van Riemsdyk or Claude Giroux to be included.
- Ray Whitney and Niclas Wallin used their no-trade clause to nix deals to the Kings and Sharks as they both didn’t get the contract extension they wanted. Whitney wants 3 years, the Kings offered 1. They might be able meet half way at 2 years. (During HockeyCentral last night on Sportsnet, they said that Whitney could be looking for 2 years, at over $10 million.)
- Marek Svatos is still be shopped around. His cap number is $2.05 million.
- Barry Rozner of the Daily Herald: The Blackhawks and Ducks could be looking at a Cam Barker for James Wisniewski deal. Wisniewski is a RFA after season, and is making $2.75 million this year. Barker is at $3.1 for another 2 years.
- Steve Gorten of the Sun-Sentinel: Panthers GM Randy Sexton is trying to make some moves, but is having trouble finding a partner. He’s been speaking more frequently to Western Conference teams compared to Eastern Conference teams. He’s looking for a forward that could play on the power play, and depth on defense. “If you’re going to acquire a player, what teams want from you in return is ridiculous,” Sexton said. “I don’t mind paying a fair price for a player we’re going to keep, but for some of the rental players that are out there, some of the prices being asked are ridiculous.”
- David Pollak of the San Jose Mercury News: Even after Niclas Wallin wouldn’t waive his ‘no-trade’ clause on Friday to go to San Jose, the teams continue to discuss the trade. I don’t understand this.
- Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: The Red Wings were finally getting healthy, well that was until yesterday. Tomas Holmstrom left in the first period with a bruised knee. Patrick Eaves sprained his ankle in the second. Drew Miller left after taking a shot off the ankle. All will be re-evaluated today.
- Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer: Ray Emery was held out of last nights game due to ‘tightness in his left hip’ and is listed as day-to-day. Jeff Carter is an alternate for Team Canada if a forward is injured.