- Elliotte Friedman of CBC: The Jets have a lot of options if they look to make some moves. A lot of their key players are still under contract from two to six years. Talk is that the younger they are, the harder it is to get them. Friedman wouldn’t trade Evander Kane unless the return was massive.
Friedman thinks Dustin Byfuglien would be a defenseman that Capitals Adam Oates would love to coach.
Sabres GM Tim Murray said there are no untouchables on his team, but prepare to make a big offer if you want someone like Zemgus Girgensons, Tyler Myers or Rasmus Ristolainen.
- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Senators GM Bryan Murray may look to move some of their young talent to bring in some missing pieces.
“I think we do have a good number of young people I would think other organizations would be interested in,” Murray said. “The Bobby Ryan deal required us to give up a young player, a couple of young players. I think it’s been a good thing for us, and I believe it’ll be a good thing for Anaheim.
“But, yes, we’re open to talking about moving a young part or two to get the required player that we would need.”
They won’t trade Curtis Lazar though. Murray would like to add a forward that could have an impact, either through scoring or physical aspect.
- CP on SportsNet: Senators GM Bryan Murray:
“We do have a number of players that probably are deserving of playing some games or playing in the NHL that may not get a chance because of our numbers up here that we would talk to teams about for a more veteran-type player,” Murray said.
“We hope to have kind of an objective by the trading deadline, by the Olympic break, whatever the case may be, and then we’ll see where we go,” Murray said.
- Kevin Kurz of CSN Bay Area: Kurz thinks the Sharks are already looking for a scoring winger, but not to expect anything until closer to the trade deadline, possibly just before the Feb. 8th Olympic break. Kurz doesn’t think it would be a big name. The Sharks have their first and second round picks, along with the Penguins second round pick from the Douglas Murray trade.
- Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: The biggest question surrounding the Blues is their goaltending despite how productive they’ve been. Ryan Miller’s name keeps coming up, but they are tight against the salary cap and it may be difficult to move out enough money to offset Miller’s cap hit. The Blues may also not be willing to part with the young prospects/players and picks the Sabres would want in return. The Blues could look trade one of Brian Elliott or Jaroslav Halak and bring up Jake Allen to be their backup.
- Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe: If the Sabres decide to part with Ryan Miller, teams like the Blues, Islanders, Panthers, Flames and Oilers could use a frontline goalie. The Sabres can’t let Miller go for nothing. Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff needs to improve their goaltending situation. The Ducks have four goaltenders: Jonas Hiller, Viktor Fasth, Frederik Anderssen, and John Gibson. The Kings have three goalies behind Jonathan Quick: Ben Scrivens, Martin Jones, and Jean-Francois Berube. Even if it requires a Blake Wheeler, Dustin Byfuglien or Evander Kane, so be it.
- Dave Stubbs of the Montreal Gazette: Pending UFA defenseman Andrei Markov would like to stay with the Canadiens.
“Maybe I’m going to sign another contract tomorrow. Maybe in another month. We’ll see,” he said. “I’d like to stay here for the rest of my career. You can see some players in their 40s who still play. I don’t want to think that far. Whatever is going to happen tomorrow will happen tomorrow.”
Preliminary talks have begun.
- Adrian Dater of the Denver Post: The Avalanche and Ryan O’Reilly’s camp haven’t talked contract since the summer. They will talk again after the season, and things seem to be good between two sides. There is optimism that a new deal could get done. Things are different now with Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy.
- Hope Smoke: Bob McKenzie: “The Senators gave been available to make a deal all year. Speculation has always been money is limiting them.” … “If right offer comes along & it requires Melnyk to loosen the purse strings. I believe that he will do that if its within reason”
- Hope Smoke: Bob McKenzie: “I think the guys that run the Jets are aware that they are not a Western Conf juggernaut.” … “With their roster though, they expected better play. They were basically underperformimg. Pavelec’s goaltending now in focus”
- Brian Wilde: “McGuire on the Jets: They’re built with wingers. Nobody wins with great wingers. Build down the middle and with defence. That’s how to win.”
- Jason Brough of Pro Hockey Talk: Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff:
“I think we still need to acquire pieces to either establish a larger core, or maybe move some pieces that re-establish some different things,” Cheveldayoff said this afternoon on TSN 1050 radio.
“This is still a project that’s in the works.”
- Darren Dreger: Hurricanes Tuomo Ruuttu name is back in trade talk, as he could draw some interest.
- Howard Berger: A Western Conference source said the Maple Leafs are looking for a “big body” forward.
