NHL Rumors: Emelin, Capitals, Flames, Sabres, Canadiens and Wild
What the Buffalo Sabres were asking the Montreal Canadiens for when they discussed Ryan O'Reilly at the draft.
Emelin turned down the Capitals

Igor Eronko: Defenseman Alexei Emelin said that he turned down a one-year offer from the Washington Capitals because it was only for one-year.

On if the Calgary Flames have ever been close to trading Sam Bennett

Chris Nichols of Nichols on Hockey: Elliotte Friedman was on Sportsnet 960 radio and was asked if the Calgary Flames had ever been close to trading forward Sam Bennett.

“I don’t get the sense that it’s ever been close to the point where it was actually imminent,” began Friedman. “I think they’ve gone far down the road at times. I think there are situations where maybe people thought they were getting close to a deal, but I don’t think it’s ever been at a point where anyone ever said, ‘We’re about to get this done.’”

Friedman believes the Flames look at the Oilers trading Taylor Hall and wonder if the same could happen if they traded Bennett.

What the Sabres were asking the Canadiens for when they talked about Ryan O’Reilly

Arpon Basu and Marc Antoine Godin of The Athletic: The Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres had discussed a potential Ryan O’Reilly trade back at the draft in June.

“When I asked about O’Reilly, they’re asking for Poehling,” Bergevin said while sitting in a luxury suite at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto just prior to the season opener last week. “That’s a starter. And a second (round pick), and this, and that and whoa, whoa, whoa.”

The Sabres asked Canadiens for the No. 3 pick as well, which was a non-starter for GM Marc Bergevin.

“I said no way I’m doing that,” Bergevin said. “Then Poehling’s name came and, again, it’s tempting, but no.”

Back at the 2017 draft when the Canadiens selected Ryan Poehling in the first round, the Minnesota Wild made an offer to the Canadiens for their first-round pick. The Canadiens obviously said no and selected Poehling. The Wild GM at the time was Chuck Fletcher, who approached Bergevin and said that is who they had wanted to select.