NHL Rumors: Scouting, Avs, Blue Jackets and Flyers
Tyson Barrie of the Colorado Avalanche

Scouting the Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars on Thursday night …

  • Judd Sirott: The Jets had two people from their hockey operations department watching the Blackhawks – Stars game.
  • Ken Wiebe: The Blackhawks are expected to be one the teams interested in Andrew Ladd if the Jets make him available.

Scouting the Sharks …

  • Kevin Kurz: The Canadiens have been scouting the Sharks a lot lately. Two of their scouts were listed for Thursday’s game. Maple Leafs assistant GM Kyle Dubas was also at the game.

On the Colorado Avalanche …

  • Adrian Dater: There have been some talks between Tyson Barrie’s agent, Don Meehan, and the Avalanche. Talks will continue.

On the Columbus Blue Jackets …

  • The Fourth Period: Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen talked the Senators about Fedor Tyutin, but those talks ended. The Blue Jackets have been dangling Scott Hartnell, Kerby Rychel and Cam Atkinson. Teams have been calling the Blue Jackets about Brandon Dubinsky and Jack Johnson. Dubinsky may not be available. Rene Bourque is available.

On the Philadelphia Flyers …

  • Dave Isaac of the Courier Post: Flyers GM Ron Hextall on the trade deadline.

    “I have some ideas in my mind,” Hextall said Wednesday. “We’ll look at everything as we go along here. We’ll monitor where our team’s at, what we think our needs are, what people want from us. We’ll monitor everything and make decisions closer to the deadline.”

    Hextall has some money available and the Flyers could use a winger that can score. It wouldn’t likely be for a rental

    “I don’t believe so,” Hextall said. “If we can help ourselves this year and moving forward (we will), but we’re not gonna give something up just to help us this year. That’s not gonna happen.”

    If the Flyers fall out of the playoff race by the deadline, Michael Raffl, Sam Gagner, Ryan White and Evgeny Medvedev are all unrestricted free agents and could be moved.