Recruited some help for a rumors post. Below was written by @Dale_Lamontagne
- Kevin Kurz of CSN Bay Area: The last thing the San Jose Sharks should do is make a reactionary deal if/when the Los Angeles Kings do anything. The Sharks are in a better place than the Kings, and look more viable threat to make a deep playoff run.
- John Shannon of Sportsnet: Hearing the Phoenix Coyotes are kicking tires on Ales Hemsky.
- Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet: Columbus Blue Jackets’ Marian Gabroik name is picking up steam. He’s now becoming a cheaper alternative for a few teams looking for scoring like the Los Angeles Kings.
- Chris Botta: The Anaheim Ducks view Thomas Vanek as distant buck up plans. The Ducks really want a center.
- Elliotte Friedman of CBC: There is serious doubt the Vancouver Canucks would keep Ryan Kesler in the Western Conference. Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman denied any interest via email.The preference is to deal Kesler to the Eastern Conference, although the Canucks won’t rush into anything they don’t like.One league executive said. “What they wanted for Alex Edler is unreasonable enough that you can tell they don’t want to move him.” Unless, of course, the return is massive.
It appears Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman is working around eventual extensions for Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Brandon Saad. All three players can sign new deals this summer.
Nashville Predators GM David Poile:
‘’If we trade David Legwand for a draft pick or prospect that’s not going to come in and play here , you could argue quite convincingly that that’s not going to make us a better hockey club.’’
During the Sochi Olympics, word was Ted Nolan, who coached team Latvia in Sochi, had a three-year extension waiting for him. John Vogl of The Buffalo News reported last week there was supposed to be an announcement last Tuesday.
At least one NHL team was told the New Jersey Devils are not trading Jaromir Jagr.
The Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers are in a bit of a holding pattern waiting for teams to look into other situations before circling back.
The Oilers seem confident they will move Ales Hemsky and Nick Schultz.
There’s also the question of Ryan Smyth. It sounds like Edmonton are sensitive about making sure he goes somewhere where the fit really makes sense.
Friedman thinks the Oilers had interest in Michal Neuvirth of the Washington Capitals.
It was denied by both the team and agent: Cam Ward wants the Carolina Hurricanes to trade him.
Ottawa Senators Eugene Melnyk:
“We’re definitely not sellers. We are definite buyers if the opportunity arises.”
Kings GM Dean Lombardi doesn’t like rentals… If he thinks he can extend Marian Gaborik or Matt Moulson, he’ll be more inclined to pay.
Lombardi wants a left-shooting defenceman like Andrew MacDonald. New York Islanders GM Garth Snow is asking a lot for both he and Vanek. If the Kings are willing to take the two of them, Friedman wonders if the price is reasonable in Lombardi’s eyes?
- Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: If Pavel Datsyuk doesn’t play Thursday, he is most certainly not playing Friday against the Devils, either.There is no interest for the Red Wings in adding a rental at the cost of a first-round draft pick.The Wings aren’t going to ante up at the current asking price for Kesler, as it would cost some combination of Gustav Nyquist/Tomas Tatar/Tomas Jurco/Riley Sheahan, along with the Wings’ first-rounder from last year, Anthony Mantha, plus the first-round pick in this year’s draft.
All in all, the Wings would appear to be better off hanging on to their young talent.
- The Fourth Period: The Montreal Canadiens are not expected to trade defenseman Andrei Markov or captain Brian Gionta before Wednesday’s trade deadline.Markov has attracted the interest of a few clubs, but the Canadiens want to sign him to an extension.The Canadiens offered Markov a one-year contract, but they are willing to go to two-years.
Montreal is also planning on discussing a contract extension with Gionta.
