Sabres and Skinner are moving forward with talks
WGR 550: Darren Dreger on the Buffalo Sabres and Jeff Skinner contract talks: “Both sides are trying to keep the daily play-by-play to a minimum. They are having amicable conversations and they’re moving forward with talks. Skinner believes he’s a part of what’s coming in Buffalo and he wants to be a part of it.”
Kreider would draw interest at the deadline, but does it make sense for the Rangers?
Larry Brooks of the NY Post: If the New York Rangers are serious about competing and attracting free agent they should be looking to extend Chris Kreider this offseason and not trading him at the deadline.
Kreider has another year left at $4.625 million and would be in demand at the deadline.
It doesn’t make sense to move unless there were to get a “young player of at least equal value in exchange” for Kreider.
Someone like Colorado Avalanche defensive prospect Cale Makar would make sense, but there is no indication that the Avs are interested in moving Makar. The Avs may make their own first-round pick available.
Would the Carolina Hurricanes consider Martin Necas?
The Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs could have an interest.
It’s unlikely the Maple Leafs would trade William Nylander, but what about a first-round pick and a B-level player?
Would the Bruins consider including any of Jake DeBrusk or Anders Bjork or Ryan Donato? Defenseman Charlie McAvoy would be an interesting starting point.
Other possible options: Anaheim Ducks (Troy Terry), Nashville Predators (Eeli Tolvanen), and Vegas Golden Knights (Cody Glass).
An extension for Kreider could come in the six-year, $6 million per year range.
The Predators could be active at the deadline
TSN: Bob McKenzie was on TSN 1290 and suggested that the Nashville Predators could be one of the more active teams at the trade deadline.
“They’ve got an opportunity here to do things not just this year. So it’s not so completely crazy our of your mind ‘Sacrifice all the elements of the future, do it for this year,’ but there’s an enormous drive – I don’t want to say pressure, because it’s all self-imposed – I think there’s an enormous drive on the part of David Poile to do everything he possibly can to give this team a shot to win, and that moment is now.”
