Friedman 30 Thoughts Rumor Roundup …
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet: GM meetings are next week and some GMs may ask for the offside reviews to go to Toronto.
The NHL is working on putting cameras in the crossbars in time for the playoffs. They will also install cameras along the blueline.
There was some talk at their last GM meetings to ban opening bench doors during play to prevent injuries if someone were fall into the bench. Doesn’t look like it will happen. Would mean there would be more skates going over the bench, which could lead to more injuries.
The Maple Leafs have sent Jared Cowen home for the season and he has been told he’ll be bought out. He won’t be filing a grievance against the Leafs.
“We’re going to take the time to get Jared right,” agent Rick Valette said Tuesday. “He’s not injured, but he’s not right. Any doctor would clear him to play. But there are compensation issues when your hip isn’t 100 per cent, other parts of your body are affected. Rather than having him sit as a healthy scratch with the Leafs or the Marlies, we’re going to have him go see some people and get healthy.”
Jonathan Drouin can be traded, but won’t be eligible for the playoffs. He is eligible for the Lightning’s playoff roster.
Looking like the salary cap won’t change much next season.
Teams may be holding on future assets for offseason trades – like Dougie Hamilton and Brandon Saad last year – which may have helped lead to a quiet trade deadline day.
The Canadiens could be auditioning Alex Galchenyuk in the No. 1 center role – for themselves or for someone else? Friedman thinks Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin could have moved him at the deadline if he wanted too.
Looking like Mike Hoffman’s time in Ottawa could be coming to an end. The pending RFA is one year away from being a UFA, and the contract power moves from the Senators to Hoffman this year. Unless they want to sign him to a long-term deal, they might not give him the opportunity to leave for nothing after next season.
There were lots of rumors surrounding Scott Hartnell leading up to the trade deadline. Not sure if a deal was close. The Blue Jackets weren’t interested in a salary for salary trade. Teams that were interested but backed off after finding out the asking price include the Wild, Predators and Penguins.
The Flames tried to trade for Penguins goalie Matt Murray. A source said the Maple Leafs tried to get Murray included in the Phil Kessel trade, but the Penguins wouldn’t include him.
