NHL Rumors: Avalanche, Canucks, Capitals, and Sharks
Would the San Jose Sharks be interested in Evander Kane?
On the Colorado Avalanche …

Jimmy Murphy: Source is saying that despite teams like the Florida Panthers and Pittsburgh Penguins possibly looking at goaltenders, the Colorado Avalanche are not getting much interest in goaltender Andrew Hammond.

On the Vancouver Canucks …

Rick Dhaliwal: Spoke with Dan Milstein, Alexander Burmistrov’s agent, about trade rumors involving his client.

Rick Dhaliwal: Milstein: “Alex likes it in Vancouver, but at the same time you want to play. Whatever happens, happens.”

Rick Dhaliwal: Milstein said he has spoken with the Canucks about Burmistrov, but has not asked for a trade.

On the Washington Capitals …

Igor Eronko: Capitals GM Brian MacLellan is meeting with goalie prospect Ilya Samsonov in Moscow. Samsonov’s KHL contract expires on April 30th.

Isabelle Khurshudyan: The Capitals are making a push to bring Samsonov to North America next year. It makes sense for the Capitals as Philipp Grubauer is an RFA again this offseason.

Bob McKenzie: The Capitals can’t sign Samsonov until his KHL contract is up. It is “reasonably safe” to assume that the Capitals will get him signed to an NHL when his KHL is expired.

On the San Jose Sharks …

Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Pierre LeBrun was on TSN 1040 and was asked if Buffalo Sabres winger Evander Kane would be a fit for the San Jose Sharks. LeBrun notes the Sharks have the salary cap room and GM Doug Wilson usually considers all options.

“But certainly in the overarching picture, not only before the February 26 trade deadline but even perhaps more so in the offseason when the cap goes up, the Sharks I think are a real wildcard team in terms of what their willingness is to go out and be aggressive, and have the corresponding cap room to do it.”

LeBrun also said that the Montreal Canadiens are another team to watch leading up to the trade deadline are they have a lot of salary cap space. The Canadiens aren’t afraid to make a big deal.