On the Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers …
Matthew Sekeres: Talked to the Canucks about the Alexandre Burrows trade rumors to the New York Rangers – it is not accurate.
On College Free Agent Neal Pionk …
Craig Custance: A good 20 teams have shown interest in UMD free agent defenseman Neal Pionk. Vegas is one of the teams.
On the Tampa Bay Lightning …
Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times: Trade rumors have followed Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop all season, they will continue for the next week. Bishop has turned things around late, which is helping his trade value, but also helping the Lightning get closer to a playoff position.
“I don’t want to lose any of our guys at the trade deadline,” Cooper said.”We’re in a different position now than we’ve been since I’ve been here. I don’t believe in the whole buyers and sellers. It’s how are we going to make the playoffs? We’ve got an unreal management team that’s looking beyond this year.”
If they hold onto Bishop, they could lose him nothing. They would gain the savings in cap space though – $6 million.
The Dallas Stars are basically out of the playoff race, and would need to move one of their goaltenders.
The Calgary Flames could be interested, and they had a scout at the Lightning’s game on Sunday.
Things are quiet on the Bishop trade front at the moment.
Bishop wants to remain with the Lightning, but could open to a trade if he can play more.
“Obviously we have a great team, a great organization and great place to play,” Bishop said. “Obviously the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. You want to win where you are. You don’t really think about next year, or anything but the next game.
“But we’ll see where it takes us. That’s my feeling. But at the same time, I want to play too.”
