Blue Jackets getting closer … Vultures circling Avs … Roy can be had … Ward out with LBI … Nabokov – Isles to talk contract
  • Aaron Portzline via twitter: Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson: “We’re waiting for the right deals. We’re getting closer. But we’re not there yet.”
  • The Globe and Mail: Burke has said he isn’t interested in adding a goalie at this point. They could look for one in the summer. Jhonas Enroth or Anders Lindback or any other goalie not going to Columbus could be available.
  • Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun: The Sabres are looking to move Derek Roy. Flyers GM Paul Holmgren said he won’t be looking to add another goalie.

    “I like our goalies,” Holmgren said, presumably with a straight face. “They believe they are going to play better. They are not happy with their performances either. They both realize they have to play better.”

    Colorado could be sellers by the end of the week, and JS Giguere could be available. He carries $1.25 million cap hit, and has 1 year left on his deal.

  • Bucky Gleason of the Buffalo News: Derek Roy’s days in Buffalo could be numbered. He has another year at $4 million, which may make him attractive to some.

    “Right now, this is my team,” Roy said. “I’m not a GM. I have no idea what they’re going to do. All I can do is play for my team, play for my linemates, go out every night like it was my first year and play as hard as I can every game.”

  • Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer: Justin Peters will start in net for the Hurricanes tonight as Cam Ward is out with a lower-body injury. “I’m not going to take any chances (with Ward),” Muller said. “We’ve got a lot of games in March. … We need to assess (the injury) and stay on it and make sure it doesn’t get worse. Before he goes back in the net he needs to be 100 percent and ready to go.”
  • Arthur Staple of Newsday: Evgeni Nabokov’s agent, Don Meehan, said that negotiations with the Islanders will “start soon.” Isles GM Garth Snow would not comment.
  • Erik Erlendsson via twitter: Lightning center Vinny Lecavalier left practice with a lingering upper-body injury. It’s not believed to be serious.
  • Gene Principe via twitter: Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin will be out 7-10 days with a groin injury. Yann Danis has been recalled. Dan Tencer via twitter: Potential trade partners for Khabibulin don’t like the extra year on his deal.
  • Stephen Whyno via twitter: Capitals lines: Ovechkin-Perreault-Brouwer, Chimera-Johansson-Semin, Hendricks-Laich-Knuble, Beagle-Halpern-Ward.
  • Rob Longley via twitter: Jonas Gustavsson will start in net for the Maple Leafs tomorrow. Joffrey Lupul and Carl Gunnarsson will be in.