On the Vancouver Canucks …
Rick Dhaliwal: The Canucks haven’t started contract talks with pending RFAs Troy Stecher and Derrick Pouliot. Contract talks should start after the season.
On the Edmonton Oilers …
Jim Matheson: “If P Chiarelli says it doesn’t pay to have 3 C’s making the dough they are ($27 mil next yr for McDavid, Draisaitl and RNH), then either Nuge or Leon has to play wing. No other way around it.”
On Seattle …
Andy Strickland: John Ferguson Jr. is rumored to be one general manager candidate for the potential expansion team in Seattle.
On the Nashville Predators …
Aivis Kalnins: Eeli Tolvanen has confirmed that he’ll be signing with the Predators once Jokerit’s season is over.
On John Tavares …
@Prospects_Watch: Pierre McGuire said that if John Tavares hits free agency, the Montreal Canadiens would be one of the teams interested. The Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres would be heavily interested.
@Prospects_Watch: McGuire adds that the Red Wings would have a chance as they are close to Ontario, pay American taxes, and the Wings have some prospects ready.
On the Calgary Flames …
Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun: The Flames kicked tires on Max Pacioretty, Mike Hoffman, Evander Kane and Brendan Gallagher.
They ended up claiming Chris Stewart off waivers and moved a 7th round pick for Nick Shore.
“These aren’t the big sexy moves, but if you go back in history and see how many times the big sexy moves have paid off, more often than not they haven’t,” said Treliving.
“We looked at specific roles in which people can help us and while we couldn’t get some things done, we got some things accomplished.”
Mike Smith‘s injury status lead some think they could look at goaltenders.
“We looked at that option (of trading for a netminder) and just felt it didn’t make any sense,” said Treliving, who had no desire to spend heavily on rent-a-goalie options like Robin Lehner, Antti Raanta or Cam Ward.
The Flames are hopeful of Smith’s return, and they’ll also counting on Kris Versteeg‘s will get the go-ahead to pay.
