On the Arizona Coyotes …
Craig Morgan: The Coyotes are involved in lots of trade talk, but nothing is imminent. Don’t expect the Coyotes to sign any of their restricted free agent soon.
On the Tampa Bay Lightning …
Joe Smith of the Tamp Bay Times: There are still some defensemen that could be moved before the expansion trade freeze and the Lightning could be one of the teams in on it.
“We’ll look at anything,” Yzerman said. “(Sergachev) doesn’t take me out of trying to acquire another defenseman. If another defenseman is out there and a fit and makes us better, we’d look at it for sure.”
Defensemen that could be moved that might interest the Lightning are Matt Dumba and Jonas Brodin of the Minnesota Wild, Sami Vatanen of the Anaheim Ducks, and Travis Hamonic and Calvin de Haan of the New York Islanders.
On the Defensemen Market …
Maple Leafs Hot Stove: Bob McKenzie on TSN 1050 on the market for defensemen.
“I feel like there is a real good chance Jonas Brodin could get dealt. There is a real good chance Vatanen is going to be dealt.
I don’t think Dumba is going to be dealt; I’m not saying there is no chance, but the thing that Dumba has going for him in Minnesota is that dollars are precious in Minnesota. I think trading Dumba and keeping Brodin might make sense from a hockey point of view, but from the salary cap side of it, trading Brodin — who makes close to $4 million — would make more sense than trading Dumba, who is still on a lower-level contract. Also, the return on Brodin would likely be higher. The theory is, if they trade Brodin, they’re going to get a fairly significant offensive player to help out up front.
I think Hamonic is more than likely going to be traded.”
