- Craig Custance of ESPN: Red Wings GM Ken Holland.
“I’m not going to pay a price to bring in someone to be a sixth or seventh defenseman or bottom-six forward,” Holland said when we chatted over the weekend.
Dylan Larkin isn’t going anywhere. Players who the Red Wings should target.
1. Cody Franson – they are looking for a right-handed defenseman. They have the cap space next year, so he may not just be a rental.
2. Keith Yandle – if they are willing to give up top assets, why not give them up for a legit top-pairing defenseman, even though he’s left-handed. If Custance was Coyotes GM Don Maloney, wouldn’t do a deal unless Anthony Mantha was included.
3. Mike Green – doesn’t sound like the Capitals want to trade Green for just prospects and picks. The Red Wings have plenty of NHL-ready players on defense.
4. Brian Campbell – he has one-year left and a cap hit of $7.14 million, so the Panthers may have to retain some salary.
5. Ryan O’Reilly – a long-shot and no talks have taken place. The Avs are looking for a high-end defenseman, something the Red Wings don’t really have.
- Ted Wyman of the Winnipeg Sun: The Jets are in need of some offensive help in their bottom-six and they have no depth players. They need to trade of their defensemen for help upfront. Wyman suggests moving a one of their top-six defenseman for a top-six forward. The Jets also have prospects and picks for forward help.
- The Fourth Period: The Capitals don’t appear to be close to signing Mike Green to a contract extension, which could lead to them trading him by the deadline. The Canadiens are looking for a top-four defenseman and may be willing to move prospects and picks for him. The Red Wings, Stars, Ducks and Sharks are also thought to be interested. If the Capitals were to move Green, they would need to find a replacement. Green has a limited no-trade clause.
